By Pauline ETIENNE

We?re like that in Mauritius. An incident or a tragedy occurs and everyone suddenly comes out of his/her usual torpor to cry out exasperation, disappointment or any other anguish against what happened. The authorities are also of those who get indignant about unfair actions. But then? What happens, after all the emotion has been cried out loud? What happens is simply that we all go back to our daily lives, going about our business without taking care of what will happen afterwards?

Last Wednesday, Véronique Topize, whose friends call Madame Kaya, went on her husband?s grave for his death anniversary. It has been eight years since Kaya was found dead in his police cell and Véronique still does not know what really happened to him. She has been given more than Rs 4 million compensation ? which seems as an acknowledgement that the state is responsible for his death ? but light have not really been shed on its causes. And yet, mention was already made at the time that a ?police of the police? would be implemented to try and eradicate police brutality.

Since then, what has happened? Another man was arrested and allegedly beaten to death. Another family is desperate and would like to have someone to turn to so as to know exactly what happened! But I am sure what all these families would like is to make sure that such tragedies will not occur again.

Just after Rajesh Ramlogun?s death in January last year, the attorney general, Rama Valayden, made it clear that he would come forward with the implementation of the police complaints committee. He indeed plans to come forward with his project in March. This initiative speaks well on him because the country can?t afford to face such a tragedy again.

It is true that the Complaints Investigation Bureau is there and is supposed to deal with such complaints but the CIB is an internal unit of the police. As such it is no independent body and it is not enough to guarantee that the police does not go beyond its powers.

Even if we did not focus on extremist examples ? the death of two prisoners in police custody ? the number of allegations of physical assault speaks for itself: 107 cases in 2000, 172 cases in 2001, 203 cases in 2002 and 214 in 2003. There are reasons to worryi and the country should remain on its guard because its reputation is at stake. And the authorities must know that we are also on our guards to make sure decisions are made before it is too late.