Gaza & Diego: Stand Against Oppression, Call for Action on 4 April

A united platform of around twenty organisations, including civil society groups, trade unions, and political parties, is set to host a peaceful march through the streets of Port-Louis, focusing on the issues surrounding Diego Garcia and Gaza. Alain Ah-Vee, a member of the left-wing Lalit party and spokesperson for this collective effort, declared firmly, “Mauritius cannot accept complicity in the bombing of innocent people in Yemen, Iran, or Gaza!”

The march will begin on the 4th April at 11 AM in the Jardin La-Compagnie, near Poudrière Street.

Participants are calling for the demilitarisation of the Diego Garcia base, demanding that Israel and the United States, along with their allies, put an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza. Ah-Vee articulated the sentiment prevalent among Mauritians, stating:

“We will never endorse a war in which innocent lives are lost to bombs launched from a military base that is ours!”

Just last month, the collective met with the Prime Minister to implore him to leverage the significant opportunity presented by the United Nations’ recognition of Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

“One hundred and sixteen countries voted in favour of Mauritius, including Iran,” he pointed out.

“Today, we are alarmed by reports that seven bombers have arrived at Diego Garcia, prepared to strike against Yemen, home to the Houthis, and against Iran—both of which actively support Palestine in the genocide inflicted upon it by Israel with U.S. complicity.

Will Mauritians stand idly by while innocent lives—children, women, the elderly—are at risk?

Are we ready to accept that bombers are stationed at Diego Garcia, ready to be deployed against Iran, a country that supported the return of the Chagos to Mauritius?”

Ah-Vee recalled the Gulf War, noting how bombers departed from Diego Garcia to attack Afghanistan.

“We must not allow such events to repeat,” he warned. The collective has vehemently condemned the existence of military bases across the globe, particularly on Mauritian soil, asserting that the Indian Ocean must remain a peaceful zone.

“We must close Diego Garcia and all military bases worldwide.”

The march will set off from Jardin La Compagnie, proceeding along the main road to the Government House, before making its way along Sir William Newton Street, Desforges Street, and returning to Jardin La Compagnie via Pope Hennessy Street.

Ragini Kistnasamy, another member of Lalit and this joint platform, reflected on last year’s effort, which called upon Mauritians, especially women, to unite in denouncing the atrocities in Gaza.

Numerous women from various political parties, including the PTr, MMM, PMSD, and others, responded to this call.

“Thanks to their support, alongside our anonymous allies, we formed a collective,” she explained.

She urged all Mauritian women to “come forward and support the cause we must all defend together.”

Shane Vencatasamy from the CTSP emphasised the importance of young people’s active and substantial participation, stating:

“We are all affected. Join us this Friday, 4 April.” The collective is also demanding reparations and compensation for the Chagossians uprooted from their homeland.

This coalition includes approximately twenty organisations, among them MLC, FPBOU, CTSP, NTUC, FCSOU, FTU, workers’ associations from Rodrigues, the Nurses Union, UPSEE, LPT, MLF, Dr Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre, ABAIM, and Lalit, among others.

Source: Le Mauricien