Eight people were arrested on Thursday 14 April. They had participated in a peaceful demonstration, which the police said was illegal, in front of Amma Tookay’s temple, Camp Diable.
According to Veda Gounden, one of the demonstrators, these people do not agree with the Mauritius Tamil Temples Federation and are demanding that religious festivals are more politicised.
This Thursday, the Tamil community commemorates Varusha Pirappu, the new year. And for the occasion, the MTTF has invited Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth for a speech.
But the federation also invited the leader of the Opposition without asking him to speak.
This was deplored by the protesters. For them, this is contrary to tradition and democracy.
They therefore demanded that religious holidays should no longer be politicised.
The demonstrators were arrested under the Public Gathering Act and taken to the police stations of Camp Diable and Rivière des Anguilles.
They were defended by Kishore Pertab, Coomara Pyaneandee and Rama Valayden.
The lawyers were present on the scene.
After a few hours, the protesters were released.
No provisional charges were brought against them. According to the lawyers, this is an act of intimidation by some members of the ruling party. For Rama Valayden, the protesters respected the rules…
