as they attend a protest against the government’s response to the
oil spill disaster that happened in early August at St Louis
Cathedral in Port Louis, on the island of Mauritius, on August 29,
2020. Beekash Roopun / L’Express Maurice / AFP
Tens of thousands of Mauritians protested Saturday in
the capital Saint-Louis over the government’s handling of a giant
oil spill off its pristine Indian Ocean coast.
The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio crashed into a reef off
southeastern Mauritius last month spewing more than 1,000
tonnes of oil into waters that are home to mangrove forests and
endangered species.
After the bo at split in two, the larger piece was towed out to
sea and sunk, but the smaller section remains stranded on the
reef.
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The call for the march came from an ordinary citizen, Jean
Bruneau Laurette, who has become a hero among many for daring to
oppose Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
flag and placards as they protest against the government’s response
to the tanker oil spill disaster that happened in early August in
Port Louis, on the island of Mauritius, on August 29, 2020. Fabien
Dubessay / AFP
Laurette, a maritime security expert, says the government has
been hiding the truth about the circumstances of the oil spill. He
has filed a case against the environment ministry.
Up to 75,000 protesters thronged the square in front of the
cathedral in downtown Port-Louis, an AFP reporter said, in the
biggest demonstration in 40 years.
Many of them were dressed in black — the colour of mourning.
Public anger has boiled over in Mauritius after at least
34 melon-headed whales were found dead or seriously ill near the
site of the spill.
Fisheries minister Sudheer Maudhoo had said there was “no trace
of hydrocarbons on them or in their respiratory system”.
“This rally is an occasion to send a message to tell Pravind
Jugnauth he has messed up,” marcher Jocelyne Leung, 35, told
AFP.
“This is the first time that a citizens’ demonstration has
gathered such a big crowd,” said Ajay Gunness, the number two of
the opposition MMM party.
Many protesters carried the national flag, sang the national
anthem, and called for Jugnauth to step down.
Authorities and experts from Japan and Britain are still
investigating the true extent of the ecological damage to an island
whose economy depends heavily on tourism.
This archipelago is a tourist haven and many of it’s 1.3
population derive their livelihood from tourism or fishing.
Veteran politician Jugnauth, whose current stint in power began
in 2017, has denied making any mistakes in handling the spill.
AFP
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