BACKGROUND NOTES ON THE POEM :
«COLONIAL TRANSGRESSIONS» (Translation of “Dérives colonisatrices”)
(1) On the wreck of the oil tanker “MV Wakashio” off the coast of Pointe d’Esny, Mauritius, in July 2020, we can refer to the following from a French Minister on a visit to Mauritius : “La France s’assure que Maurice prenne les bonnes décisions. » « Le DÉFI QUOTIDIEN » newspaper, Mauritius, 17 August, 2020, page 4. Extracts :
« (…..) On ne connait pas l’erreur qui a mené ce navire à s’échouer. Il ne faudrait pas qu’un accident semblable se reproduise ici ou dans les eaux territoriales françaises. (…..) »
My translation from French :
“(…..) <>
On shipwrecks near the French coasts, the English, the Spanish, etc., should have ensured that the French took in the future the right decisions…
(2) The French did send help to Mauritius to clean up the oil spills and pollution, but it was done for one overriding reason : to prevent any possible pollution from reaching nearby Réunion (about 180 kms away), which is under French control. There have been many shipwrecks that soiled French beaches and caused lasting damages to the fauna and the environment. What warnings did the French give to the foreign countries involved ?...
(3) See the following :
(a) https://www.france24.com/en/20190316-grande-america-starts-clean-prevent-oil-spill-damage-after-cargo-shipwreck (Internet, 18 August, 2020).
(b) http://wwz.cedre.fr/en/Resources/Spills/Spills/TK-Bremen (Internet, 18 August, 2020).
(c) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoco_Cadiz (Internet, 19 August, 2020).
« (…) superviser le dispositif d’aide contre la pollution maritime à Maurice suite à l’échouement du MV Wakashio, le ministre (français) … a déclaré que « le contrôle maritime mauricien n’a pas complètement fonctionné comme le nôtre aurait fonctionné. Ce n’est pas du tout un jugement de valeur. C’est un fait ».
« En ce qu’il s’agit de l’enquête, le ministre français a indiqué hier que « sur le volet judiciaire, le parquet n’est pas saisi. Il faut dire qu’on est dans les eaux territoriales et sur les côtes mauriciennes, et donc on est en dehors de l’emprise de l’Etat souverain de la république française » (… ) ».
« C’est à la république de Maurice de faire ce qu’elle doit faire et elle le fera, le Premier ministre mauricien s’est engagé près de moi », souligne … »
Note the word « emprise » … Stranglehold… Referring to a country, the French speak of “stranglehold”… And note the reminder that France is a sovereign state.
« C’est à la république de Maurice de faire ce qu’elle doit faire et elle le fera...\" Translation : \"It\'s for the Mauritian Republic to do what it must do and it SHALL do it...\"
The Minister said that the Mauritian Prime Minister made an undertaking towards him…
Translation of the words of the French Minister : “The Mauritian Republic knows what it has to do and it SHALL do it. The Mauritian Prime Minister has made a formal undertaking towards me on this matter.”
Arrogance do colonisateur… Vous vous trompez de siècle, Monsieur…
« (…) Le ministre (français) … qui a effectué une visite officielle à Maurice dans la journée du dimanche 16 août (2020), n\'a véritablement pas épargné les autorités mauriciennes lors d’une conférence de presse tenue à l’île de la Réunion quelques heures plus tard. Tout en tenant un langage des plus diplomatiques et, en parlant du sentiment de grande affection qui existe entre la France et Maurice, le ministre a utilisé une formule assassine qui résume en une phrase toutes les maladresses des autorités autour du naufrage du Wakashio. Il a ainsi déclaré que quand les autorités mauriciennes ont découvert le navire, il était déjà une épave. Un jugement sans appel sur la capacité de surveillance maritime du gouvernement de Maurice. (…) »
Mauritian Coastguards did detect the unauthorised movements of the ship towards the reefs and had called it over the radio, but it did not reply. We don’t have the same marine, surveillance, military, coastal and defence resources of sovereign France. We don’t have a population of some 70 million. We don’t have a gross national product of some 2 843 billion US dollars. But, we are forging ahead in a most honourable and successful way since our independence in 1968. Very few countries of a similar geographical size, of a similar population size and with similar resources can say the same… We have spectacular victories at the United Nations, at UNCLOS and at the International Court of Justice. In one stroke we made Japan stop dragging its feet and we made it do the decent thing over the “Wakashio.” From haggling over damages to be paid, overnight Japan promised “unprecedented help.” Whether or not we get the help does not matter. We will survive with or without it, and we will move forward. We have chalked up enormous losses due to Covid, but the country has NOT collapsed…
Some comments by readers on the newpaper’s website :
{1}
« Le ministre français, parle comme tous les ministres français, c\'est à dire, qui ont la bonne formule lorsque les faits se sont écoulés, (dernier exemple en date, la gestion de la pandémie, dont je suis convaincu que Maurice a su mieux gérer...) »
My English translation :
« The French Minister talks like all French Ministers, that is they are wise after the event, (latest example, the handling of the Covid pandemic, which, I am convinced, Mauritius managed better…”
{2}
« 10 réanimations = 10 morts, je ne suis pas sûr que cela soit si bien géré que cela. » (On Covid in Mauritius).
My English translation :
« 10 intensive care = 10 deaths, I am not sure that this was so well handled as it is being claimed.”
{3}
« (…) La France fine donne de main et li normale li négocier pour ki Maurice pas dump sa bateau n\'importe où cot capav affecter la réunion. (…) »
My English translation :
“(…) France gave a helping hand and it’s natural that it should negotiate so that Mauritius does not dump this ship anywhere that could affect Réunion. (…)”
{4}
In Creole :
My English translation :
My French translation :
{5}
In Creole :
My English translation :
My French translation :
(Tromelin is a territory under the full sovereignty of the sovereign state of the Mauritian Republic).
(6) On the attempted carving up of Réunion into two “départments” by the French, we can point out that :
(a) the island is of an area of about 2 512 square kilometres;
(b) in the year 2000 the French Senate shot down the idea by the French authorities to carve up the island into two;
(c) with the idea of splitting a territory of some 2 512 square kilometres into two, the same logic ought to be applied to other “départments” in France…
(7) On how the English offered to help Mauritius about the “Wakashio” wreck :
(a) “Le haut-commissaire britannique offre Rs 500 000 à la MWF. » (Mauritius Wildlife Fund). « Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN” newspaper, 21 August, 2020, page 5. Extracts : « (…..) This effort has shown the whole world that Mauritius can do great things in the face of adversity,” did he (the English High Commissioner) point out.” Extraordinary words… What Mauritius can do in the face of adversity…
(b) “La proue au fond de l’océan ce vendredi. » Extracts : « The English authorities have decided to bring their help to Mauritius. They have sent experts in marine ecology, in environmental sampling, in tropical ecosystems, in coral reefs and the elimination of wrecks, to give a helping hand to the country.” (Page 5). (My translation from French).
(8) See the article « Private Notice Question (in the Mauritian Parliament). Wakashio : La météo et un hélicoptère en maintenance ont rendu l’interception impossible. » “Le DÉFI PLUS” newspaper, 29 August to 4 September, 2020, page 8. From this article, we can quote the following :
“(…..) No helicopter or ship could be sent on the night of 25 July (2020). (…..) At a distance of ix nautical miles, the ship had become suspicious and no coastguard ship could go the intercept it because of the high waves and bad weather. (…..) Moreover, the three coastguard ships would have taken nine hours to get ready to reach the site. Also, only the (helicopter) has night-flying capabilities, but it is under maintenance since 7 August (2020).
“One should not wrongly interpret the words of ……, said Pravind Jugnauth. During his (the French Minister’s) visit on 16 August last (2020), he reiterated France’s solidarity with Mauritius and promised the presence of experts. He (the Minister) said he was sure that Mauritius would take the right decisions. <> pointed out Pravind Jugnauth. For him, one should well understand what the Minister had said. According to Pravind Jugnauth, ….. had phoned him before leaving Mauritius to say that he was satisfied with the handling of the crisis by Mauritius. (…..)” (My translation from French). France has many centuries of experience in diplomacy; as at the year 2020, Mauritius had 52 years’ diplomatic experience…
After assuring the Mauritian Prime Minister by phone before leaving Mauritius that he was satisfied with how the matter was being handled, the Minister, upon reaching Réunion, then indulged in disparaging public comments about Mauritius… Irrespective of how the matter was handled by Mauritius, the Minister was wrong to have publicly criticised the country. Is this how diplomacy works ?... Is it possible for the Minister to come again to Mauritius on an official visit ?... Will he have the moral authority to discuss with Mauritian authorities ?... Will Mauritian authorities trust him to act discreetly or fairly ?... If he tries to visit again, Mauritian authorities can very well say to the French : “Send anyone but this man. He is hostile to Mauritius and damages our mutual relations.” While still in Réunion, the Minister might have been ordered by Paris to return to Mauritius for further talks. How could he then have faced the Mauritian Prime Minister ? He had publicly disparaged the Mauritian authorities, including the Mauritian Prime Minister, and had provided munitions for the Opposition and public opinion to hit out more on the Prime Minister and the Mauritian Government. It was as if a Mauritian Minister had hit out publicly at the French President or the French authorities…
(9) (a) See the following on the Internet, 8 September, 2020, about a sea floor oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on 20 April, 2010, (drilling and pumping was being done by a foreign company).
(1)
https://news.mongabay.com/2017/04/bps-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-caused-17-2-billion-in-environmental-damage-to-the-gulf-of-mexico/
(2)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwig8JSF1tjrAhUGxIUKHXSxAJoQFjALegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fbp-paid-a-steep-price-for-the-gulf-oil-spill-but-for-the-us-a-decade-later-its-business-as-usual-136905&usg=AOvVaw2f6yAbROk8_6Gy4JzSo0Bt
(a) Some 210 million gallons of oil (about 780 000 cubic metres) were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. What were the reactions of various countries about this catastrophe ?... Did not some of the oil reach into the Atlantic ?... What were the reactions of the Western European countries concerned ?... Some 210 million gallons of oil : what happened to marine flora and fauna in the area ?...
“In total, we found that the oil spill has likely harmed or killed approximately 82,000 birds of 102 species, approximately 6,165 sea turtles, and up to 25,900 marine mammals (…) 11 April, 2011.”
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=gulf+of+mexico+oil+spill+what+mexico+got+as+damages
(Full acknowledgements are made to the rights-holders)
(10) “Le PM accuse encore le coup du direct… » « WEEK-END » 20 September, 2020, page 4. From this article, we can quote the following :
“(…) The PM (Prime Minister) has also spoken about the management of the MV Wakashio case and has repeated that the Government and Ministers responsible for the matter had done everything possible with the real means the country has. He said he was somewhat surprised by the attitude shown by the USA and England about their support to Mauritius about the oil spill at Pointe d’Esny and Mahebourg. He expressed doubts about the efforts done by these two superpowers to help Mauritius, making the link with the diplomatic dispute about claims over the Chagos Archipelago. (…)” (My translation from French).
We will recall the following from Section (7) above :
“(…) On how the English offered to help Mauritius about the “Wakashio” wreck :
(a) “Le haut-commissaire britannique offre Rs 500 000 à la MWF. » (Mauritius Wildlife Fund). « Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN” newspaper, 21 August, 2020, page 5. Extracts : « (…..) This effort has shown the whole world that Mauritius can do great things in the face of adversity,” did he (the English High Commissioner) point out.”. Extraordinary words… “What Mauritius can do in the face of adversity…”
(b) “La proue au fond de l’océan ce vendredi. » Extracts : « The English authorities have decided to bring their help to Mauritius. They have sent experts in marine ecology, in environmental sampling, in tropical ecosystems, in coral reefs and the elimination of wrecks, to give a helping hand to the country.” (Page 5). (My translation from French).
(11) See the article “Don d’équipements de protection pour le nettoyage des déversements d’hydrocarbures, » « WEEK-END » newspaper, 27 September, 2020, page 20. From this article, we can quote the following :
« The US Embassy in Mauritius and the Seychelles and AFRICOM have made a donation of personal protective equipment for oil spills to the value of USD 15 000 (Rs 600 000) to the Ministry of the Environment of Mauritius.
“(…) This donation forms part of humanitarian assistance of AFRICOM and completes the technical assistance given by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the USA.
“The deputy head of mission of the USA Embassy in Mauritius and the Seychelles, …. said that this donation is intended for their Mauritian partners for the cleaning up operations going on. (…) added : <>
“The US Government, through NOAA gave scientific and technical assistance. This includes the processing of satellite pictures to establish a chronological study of the zone affected. US Embassy personnel have also offered to help in the cleaning up of the oil spills.” (My translation from French).
(12) In the news bulletin of 7.30 pm of 29 September, 2020, on MBC television, channel 1, the new French ambassador, referring to the Wakashio, said that France had known shipwrecks near its coasts : “La France a connue des naufrages maritimes.” Naufrage diplomatique …
(13) During the stage rendition of this poem, after the lines :
« Oh, que l’aide que vous nous apportez, Sieur, ait un goût amer…
Ah, une bien meilleure saveur a cette noirâtre eau de mer… »
the narrator says these touching, poignant lines that do NOT appear in the poem :
« Cette marée noire qui va et vient sur les plages de Pointe d’Esny
Et qui dit : détrompez-vous, la France n’est pas votre amie… »
Lights in the hall are switched off suddenly; lights on stage remain. Some dramatic instrumental music plays for about four seconds (violin, electronic organ and drums). Immediately after, the videoclip of the song “LE France” by Michel Sardou is played.
Lighting resumes; the rendition resumes.
Michel Sardou (born 1947) :
(14) Recall the following about some of the shipwrecks near France :
(a) On the “TORREY CANYON” :
From Wikipedia, Internet :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrey_Canyon_oil_spill
“The Torrey Canyon oil spill was one of the world\'s most serious oil spills. The supertanker SS Torrey Canyon ran aground on rocks off the south-west coast of the United Kingdom in 1967, spilling an estimated 25–36 million gallons (94–164 million litres) of crude oil.(1) Attempts to mitigate the damage included the bombing of the wreck by aircraft from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Hundreds of miles of coastline in Britain, France, Guernsey, and Spain were affected by the oil and other substances used in an effort to mitigate damage.(2) (…)”
(Full acknowledgements are made to Wikipedia).
(b) On the “GRANDE AMERICA” :
(c) On the “AMOCO CADIZ” :
(d) On the “MT HAVEN” :
Internet :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestige_oil_spill
“The Prestige oil spill occurred off the coast of Galicia, Spain, caused by the sinking of the 26 year old structurally deficient oil tanker MV Prestige in November 2002, carrying 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. During a storm, it burst a tank on November 13, and French, Spanish, and Portuguese governments refused to allow the ship to dock. The vessel subsequently sank on November 19, 2002, about 210 kilometres (130 mi) from the coast of Galicia. It is estimated that it spilled 60,000 tonnes or a volume of 67,000 m3 (17.8 million US gal) of heavy fuel oil.(1) The spill polluted thousands of kilometers of coastline(2) and more than one thousand beaches on the Spanish, French and Portuguese coast, as well as causing great harm to the local fishing industry. The spill is the largest environmental disaster in the history of both Spain and Portugal. The amount of oil spilled was more than the Exxon Valdez incident and the toxicity considered higher, because of the higher water temperatures. (…)”
(Full acknowledgements are made to Wikipedia).
Note that the French, Spanish and Portuguese Governments refused to allow the ship to dock and the damages from the oil spills affected these three countries.
In the case of “Wakashio,” out of 4 000 tons of oil the ship carried, we recovered about 3 000 tons from the hull and quite a large amount of the remainder that was spilled in the sea. The ship broke later into two on the reefs. We cleaned thoroughly the forward part of wreck before scuttling it. We even tested for radioactivity in the wreck before scuttling it. Television footage showed this. We removed all oils and pollutants from the rear part of the wreck that remained on the reefs. Pardonnez-nous, Messieurs, Mesdames, en la circonstance, pour notre médiocrité, pour le peu… Et, souvenez-vous des autres naufrages maritimes près de vos côtes de la métropole… Car, figurez-vous, l’histoire a longue mémoire…
(15) From “Aucun risque de pollution pour La Réunion, selon un expert français, » in « Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN, » 27 October, 2020, page 2, we can quote the following :
« There will be no black tides at Réunion. Nor will it see on its beaches debris coming from the bow of the MV Wakashio which was scuttled off Vieux Grand Port in August last. This is what says … French expert in ocean currents in Monday’s edition of <> in response to the article published by the Forbes magazine.
“Such pollutions will not come soon and he gives the reasons for this : the hulls were cleaned according to observers who were present, and the bow of the ship had been sunk at more than 3 kms depth. Moreover, the bow contained no fuels, contrary to what had been claimed so far.
“It’s true that a floating object, a cork, for example, will rise up and drift. With currents and winds, this will happen, but will not happen with a wreck found at a depth of 300 atmospheres. (…) The currents go to the north of the Indian Ocean, thus very far from the beaches of St Benoît (in Réunion), contrary to what … wants us to believe. (…)” (My translation from French).
(16) France has contributed much to Mauritius since 1968. On 9 December, 2020, I tried, without success, to get information from a French agency in Mauritius about French help to Mauritius in aid, projects, etc., since 1968. Information about this contribution should be compiled and published. In 158 years of colonization, the English never gave us a helicopter. Yet, France gave us one after our independence in 1968.
(17) Diplomatic incident. What the French Minister did was a diplomatic incident. See the following about bat culling in Mauritius by the public authorities in 2015 to reduce damages to fruit trees and to reduce losses to the tree growers / buyers :
(a) \"Les chauve-souris sont les bienvenues chez moi.\" \"Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN\" newspaper, Mauritius, 17 November, 2015, (page 3). (Comments in the press by the (then) US Ambassador. A press photo had shown the Ambassador opening up her arms to show her welcome of bats on her premises).
At the time, when the Mauritian Agriculture Minister heard about the comments of the US Ambassador, he remarked : “C’était maladroit.” (Translation : “That was clumsy.”)
(b) \"Nou tou inn fané\" (Translation from Creole : « We have all mucked up”) and \"La controverse n\'en finit plus,\" \"WEEK-END\" newspaper, Mauritius, 22 November, 2015, (pages 6 and 24).
(c) \"Le ministère des Affaires étrangères temporise.\" \"Le DEFI PLUS\" newspaper, Mauritius, 28 November to 4 December, 2015, (page 6).
(d) Jayson Tin : \"Bat culling to be allowed under new Queensland permits.\" Courrier-mail, 14 May, 2012. courriermail.com.au (Australia). This report pointed out that shooting results only in about 5 % of head hits, with many of the remaining creatures dying a slow death.
Many fruit tree growers / buyers in Mauritius regularly lose a lot of money because of ravages done to the fruits at night by bats. The buyers, in many cases, pay upfront, before harvesting the fruits. In one night, the entire crop might be devastated by bats. The buyers buy fruit nets, pay for the nets to be set up, buy the fruits from the owners even before harvesting and end up losing everything (the nets might not be effective). To add insult to injury, after losing their fruits, they have to PAY people to remove the nets… Many of them rely on fruit selling to earn a living. On the other hand, bats should be shown some compassion.
(18) Diplomatic incident. When the Turkish President publicly denigrated the French President in October 2020, France recalled its Ambassador from Turkey. That was an extreme measure, but it was still taken. See the following on the Internet :
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/25/europe/erdogan-macron-france-muslims-intl/index.html
Note that the Turkish President denigrated just the French President; in Réunion, the French Minister publicly denigrated the whole Mauritian authorities about the “Wakashio” case, while a few hours earlier he had phoned the Mauritian Prime Minister before leaving Mauritius to express his satisfaction about how the matter was being handled…
(19) Diplomatic incident. See the following : Sir Anerood Jugnauth : “Les Britanniques m’ont parlé comme à un esclave. » « Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN” newspaper, 30 November, 2016, on how the English and American Ambassadors had threatened the (then) Mauritian Prime Minister in his office about “lasting bilateral damage” regarding Mauritius pursuing the Chagos case at the United Nations. The Prime Minister had expelled both Ambassadors from his office.
From this article, we can quote the following :
“The Prime Minister does not mince his words when he talks of the English and the Americans about the claim of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago.
“English and American officials came to my office and talked to me as one would talk to a slave. They threatened to put an end to exchanges and trade protocols if we go forward,” said Sir Anerood Jugnauth (SAJ) in reply to a Private Notice Question (PNQ) (in parliament) of the Leader of the Opposition, Paul Bérenger, about the Chagos.
“I find it strange that when we discuss with England, the United States behaves as if it supports England. I find that shameful ! They pretend to defend human rights, democracy, the rule of law in the world, but when we want our right to be re-established, they come to threaten me. Human rights are only useful when it matters to them. I told them <> and I told them to push off,” said SAJ. (…)”
Also see the following : “Get away from here !....” (Cartoon on how the Mauritian Prime Minister expelled the English and the American Ambassadors from his office when they had threatened him there). \"Le DEFI PLUS\" newspaper, 3-9 December, 2016, (page 23).
Some 206 years after the English arrived in Mauritius in 1810, after 158 years of colonisation, after 48 years of diplomatic representation in Mauritius (after Mauritian independence in 1968), the English Ambassador threatened the Mauritian Prime Minister in his office…
After 48 years of diplomatic representation in Mauritius (after Mauritian independence in 1968), the American Ambassador threatened the Mauritian Prime Minister in his office…
Clearly the two of them had connived to do the threatening, in total violation not only of diplomacy but of commonsense… They ended up being expelled from the Prime Minister’s Office… Is this how diplomacy is supposed to work ?... From studying the press and other sources, they should have known the Prime Minister’s character. The Prime Minister had studied law in England many decades earlier, had been made a knight by the English (they had to call him “Sir”) and had been appointed Queen’s Counsel… The French have a rather good term for this : “foutre le bon duel…” (Rake up flicking hell…)
Logically, after the expulsion, both Ambassadors should have asked their respective governments to recall them permanently and get them replaced, so as to start anew. But, this was not done… They had certainly lost any moral ground they had…
(20) Diplomatic anger / sulking. Due to the Chagos dispute, the English High Commission in Mauritius refused to hold the traditional function around 2019 to celebrate the English queen’s birthday.
(21) Diplomatic incident. A former Indian President was forced to remove his shoes at the airport, while he was already on the plane :
(1)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwje57qwhMD0AhWx3OAKHS08A44QFnoECAMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fkalam-frisked-in-us%2Farticle2624220.ece&usg=AOvVaw0ambnZHH34A3bJQLk_2eDC
(8)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwje57qwhMD0AhWx3OAKHS08A44QFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworldnews%2Fasia%2Findia%2F5893700%2FUS-airline-apologises-for-searching-former-Indian-president.html&usg=AOvVaw3w21_qqOt0bSnZzs-sWYxd
(22) See YAHOO News, Internet, 20 December, 2020 :
https://www.yahoo.com/news/mauritius-shipping-disaster-caused-lack-144953820.html
(23) See my documents “Les gilets jaunes” and « The <> case.”
(24) See “La NCG gênée par le feu roulant de questions sur les appels, » in “Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN” newspaper, 21 January, 2021, pages 8 and 9.
(25) See various articles on the “Wakashio” in “Le DEFI QUOTIDIEN” and « Le DEFI PLUS” newspapers, in January and February 2021.
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THE POEM \"COLONIAL TRANSGRESSIONS\" APPEARS SEPARATELY
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