Twenty eight organisations endorse a common Declaration to oppose the War of Aggression, demand Sugar Estates to Plant Food [updated 6.05.26]

16.04.2026

The Declaration was submitted today to the Prime Minister by a delegation of 8 representatives from different organisations. 

The 28 organisations represent more than 100,000 members in the Republic of Mauritius. [Edited 8.05.26]

Here is a copy of the Declaration

We, organizations listed below, re-iterate our demand that the Ramgoolam Government:

1. Calls for closure of the UK-USA Diego Garcia base! No to using our land in wars of aggression! 

2. Joins the South African ICJ genocide case against Israel, as Holland and Iceland did on 12 March, 

and, now that the USA and Israel attack Iran, as the genocide continues and Israel invades Lebanon, that the Ramgoolam Government:

3. Opposes the use of Diego Garcia by the USA and its ally Israel. Chagos is our land, the ICJ has said so, and we, representatives of a large proportion of the people of the country, do not agree to be “belligerents” by abetting the aggressors in this war. Aggressors commit the “supreme war crime” under international law, and their accomplices, who provide military bases do, too, 

4. Obliges the sugar estate bosses to convert a portion of their total land, say 30%, to food production from now onwards, while dedicating their infrastructure to the processing and preservation of the harvests – of crops like maize, beans, sunflowers for oil, potatoes and other basic food items. War demands urgent and bold economic action, as was taken in World War II when laws forced sugar estates to convert to food production. The bosses must take on workers on proper conditions. In Rodrigues Government must support agriculture by advance payments on crops to planters, insurance schemes and water infrastructure, while assisting fishers to increase their catches. Hotel bosses must be obliged to invest in a fleet of fishing vessels from Port Louis and Port Mathurin, and employ fishers and sailors, thus utilizing the 2.3 million sq. km. of ocean that is ours. Meanwhile solar and wind energy must be accelerated. 

Name of signatories:

Reeaz Chuttoo, President Confederation des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publique et Privé (CTSPP)

Haniff Peerun, President Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC)

Deepak Benydin, President Federation of Parastatal Bodies and Other union (FPBOU)

Atma Shanto, President Federation des Travailleurs Unis (FTU)

Clency Bibi, President General Workers Federation (GWF)

Arvin Bhojun, for Federation of Education unions (FEU)

Devanand Ramjuttun, for Joint Negotiating Panel (JNP) of the Cane Sector unions 

composing of Sugar Industry Labourers union (SILU), union of Artisans and Allied Workers of Cane Industry (UAAWCI), Artisans and General Workers union (AGWU) and Plantation Workers union (PWU)

Randheer Bundoo, Treasurer Government Teachers union (GTU)

Dain Jahajeeah, Secretary union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE)

Avinash Bundhun, Telecommunications Workers union

Ram Nowzadick, President Nursing Association

Russhid Golamaully, President Senior and Other Nursing Staff union

Prakash Baluckram, President Government Services Employees Association (GSEA)

Jocelin Louis, for Rodrigues Private Industries and Allied Workers union (RPIAWU)

Lindsey Collen, Ledikasyon pu Travayer (LPT)

Bhollah Salaahud Diin, Students for Palestine

Norman Tambanivoul, for Dr. Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre

Danielle Turner, for Leve Fam!

Rajni Lallah, for Muvman Liberasyon Fam (MLF)

Joceline Minerve, for Fam Ape Zwenn (FAZ) 

Sheila Bunwaree, for NGO/Think Tank People’s Voices Network

Marousia Bouvery, for ABAIM

Sarah Luchmun, for Never Again-Olive Resistance

Noor Denmamode, for Plateforme Mauricienne pour la Palestine (PMP)

Ram Nookadee, for Development Practitioners in Network (DPiN)  

Alain Ah Vee, for LALIT

Jayen Clellum, ACIM

Narendranuth Gopee, National Trade union Confederation

[updated 8 May 2026]