Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are relieved; superintendent (SP) Prem Raddhoa continues to assert that he has absolutely no reproach to make to his MCIT staff; the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has submitted its report on the death of Rajesh Ramlogun in police custody in which it states there has been a ?violation of human rights? and recommends that those responsible be taken to court.

In view of these conclusions, the attorney general, Rama Valayden, has announced a major reform of the police in the coming months. ?Now we must implement recommendations made by the commission. And we will do so to make sure such events do not occur again.? He has promised that a ?package? will be proposed in Parliament as soon as it resumes in March concerning a ?police to control the police?. Rama Valayden does not intend to remain idle in view of the clear conclusions of the human rights commission. He also announced that the ?powers of the HRC will be reinforced.?

In his report, the HRC chairman, Dhiraj Seetulsingh, express most forcibly the opinion that such tragedies should never be allowed to occur again. What made the commission sceptic about MCIT officers? statements is their incoherence. ?No officer could clearly say what evidence or information there was that Ramlogun had something to do with the murder of the Jhurry sisters-in-law.? The way they related the details of Rajesh Ramlogun?s two days in police custody also left some doubts in the mind of the commission?s president, as they do not correspond to the Diary Book entries.

But the commission does not only castigate the MCIT, it also clearly points at the authorities that have not taken any action despite recommendations and criticisms by the commission over recent years. The prompt measures announced by Rama Valayden may imply that this time something will actually be done.

One of the main recommendations the commission has been making for quite a long time will become reality as from next month. The attorney general has promised that questioning for a certain number of serious crimes will be recorded on both tape and video.

In addition, the authorities are planning to set up a system of examining magistrates (like the French ?juge d?instruction?) adapted to Mauritian realities.

The police are currently working on a code of ethics for members of the police force. This should help them to better deal with and protect suspects? rights. The revision of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Bail Act will also be done to make sure suspects? constitutional rights are respected.

The authorities also want the public to feel concerned about the recent incidents. A campaign entitled ?Your rights, your responsibilities? will be launched soon. 6,000 copies of the Constitution will be handed to people at the university, students and many others. Likewise, the HRC complaint forms will now be available in all Citizens? Advice Bureaux.

<I>?The head of the MCIT, Prem Raddhoa, is unperturbed and continues to show solidarity with his team. He has denied all accusations against them in view of the enquiry that he led ?in a very discreet way?.?</I>

In view of the conclusions of the commission and the initiatives announced by the attorney general, NGOs appear satisfied. Amnesty International, who had recently said they were afraid the Ramlogun case would end up in a drawer like previous ones, are particularly happy. ?I feel that it is the beginning of the end of a culture of impunity that has prevailed in Mauritius for a long time,? commented the president of its local branch, Linley Couronne.

However, one of the main protagonists in this affair, the one in charge of the MCIT officers, Prem Raddhoa, says he is unperturbed. ?I insist that I continue to show solidarity with my team. These MCIT officers do a good job.? He has denied all accusations made against them, ?I have made my own enquiry in a very discreet way and I can guarantee that there has been no brutality perpetrated against Ramlogun by my team. I would never have supported them if I had any evidence that they had beaten a witness to death.?

He has even questioned the integrity of other policemen - from other departments - saying they have done everything to sabotage his work. Now, he intends to ?change his strategy? to show everyone that his team have done a good job while complying with human rights. The conclusions of the police enquiry are much awaited since they will probably decide the fate of the MCIT?