Violation of Pat Pillay’s and the LS followers’ fundamental human rights

We have received so many phone calls from irate Lalyans Seselwa (LS) supporters questioning the way Ton Pat, as they call him, has been treated by the current Electoral Commission (EC) and they have asked us to put forward their views as members of Seychelles Civil Society (SCS). After dedicating his whole working life for the wellbeing of Seychelles, now the EC has treated him unfairly, an unworthy citizen and for what purpose? First of all the law gives the EC power to set dates by which certain events must occur in order for matters to run smoothly. The EC has no locus standi (legal standing) to set a time on that date and when that time is not met the candidate is disqualified. This is a dictatorship approach which we are trying to get away from after allthese years of ek nou pas ek nou doctrine of mistreatment of our people. Ton Pat had up to midnight that day to get his papers in order and if anything was missing he had the right to go away and get the missing information as long as he was back before midnight of that day.

The other aspect that ‘smells a rat’ is when Ton Pat’s papers were handed in why didn’t someone in EC verify his papers on the spot with witnesses and then make copies for both parties to keep? Which management school did the current officials of EC go to and have they not heard of accountability, proof and evidence? If they have, then what is going on and what kind of “manboulouk”, as Ralph Volcere put it to Minister Lalanne during a press conference with the ministry of finance? There is today no excuse for such poor management of such an important event. This is a gross violation of human rights of not only Ton Pat but all the supporters of LS who have spent years supporting their party, only to be let down by something so simple,unless there is more to it than meets the eye. The matter must go to the High Court as a matter of urgency or Ton Pat’s submission is accepted retrospectively.

The worst scenario is if the matter is not rectified then Ton Pat wins his court case and the 2020 Presidential Election is adjudged unfair, unjust and illegal because the action of the EC violates articles of ICCPR, ACHPR, ECHR and OHCHR. This willbe a catastrophe for Seychelles and all Seychellois voters. EC needs to seriously reconsider its position.Contributed by Barry Laine