SEYCHELLES OPPOSITION BOYCOTTS OPENING OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000403

SIPDIS

AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID CH SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES OPPOSITION BOYCOTTS OPENING OF
CHINESE-BUILT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING

Classified By: CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) On December 4, The Seychelles National Party (SNP),
the main opposition party in the Seychelles, boycotted the
inauguration of the new Chinese-built Seychelles National
Assembly building. The official inauguration ceremony was
attended by President Michel, former President James Mancham,
the Chinese ambassador Weng Weiguo, cabinet ministers, Chief
Justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende, the speaker of the Namibian
National Assembly Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab (guest of honor),
members of the National Assembly from the ruling party, and
members of the diplomatic corps.


2. (C) Wavel Ramkalawan, head of the SNP and leader of the
parliamentary opposition, acknowledged China's generosity,
but publicly announced on the SNP website that the "SNP feels
that the building housing the institution that symbolizes our
country's democracy should have been erected from resources
of the Seychelles rather than be granted by another sovereign
nation." Ramkalawan's comments in a private conversation
with Poloff were more direct and pointed. He stated that
"receiving a building which houses our democracy from a
foreign government that doesn't believe in a multi-party
democracy and where the leaders are not freely elected is a
slap in the face to the people of the Seychelles." He
criticized the Office of the President for failing to use the
inauguration to show democracy in action and not just in
words. The official position of the SNP is that all the
personalities represented by the institution of the National
Assembly -- including the Speaker, leaders in the house, and
of all registered political parties -- should have played a
central role in the opening ceremony. Ramkalawan said he is
angry that the foundation stone of the building -- a building
where the Seychellois constitution is enshrined and a
building that should be the pride of the nation -- bears an
inscription only in Chinese (and not in English, French or
Creole -- the languages of the Seychelles). Ramkalawan fully
expects to be criticized for the opposition boycott, but
believes the action was necessary as a symbolic act designed
to "get people thinking about democratic principles."


3. (SBU) The National Assembly is only the first of several
Chinese government construction projects in the Seychelles.
A large primary school is nearing completion. The Anse Royal
Hospital is under construction and expected to be finished by
the second quarter of 2010. The Chinese Government has also
signed an agreement to build a new Supreme Court building,
which is scheduled to begin construction in 2010. Ramkalawan
objects to the decision to accept Chinese construction of the
Supreme Court building, given the PRC's "questionable
judicial system." Press releases revealed that the Chinese
government contributed approximately ninety percent of the
cost of the National Assembly building and the total cost of
the Supreme Court building and the hospital.


4. (C) COMMENT: Ramkalawan is irritated, if not offended, by
the Chinese construction of the National Assembly building,
and it is thus with glee that he has seized on the
inauguration of the building as an opportunity to lambaste
the government. It is doubtful, however, that much of the
Seychelles population shares his resentment regarding the
Chinese, seeing instead the benefits of schools and
hospitals. END COMMENT.
WALKLEY