by Pauline ETIENNE

It has become a common feature. After the victims of the sale by levy and those of the Development Works Corporation (DWC) made redundant, it is now the turn of ?taxi malere? to go on a hunger strike. In short, each time people feel the government is not listening to their recriminations, they ?simply? resort to a hunger strike.

Hunger strikes are indeed a last resort solution to make unheard voices heard by society and particularly by the government. There is no doubt that this method is the result of a total distress of people who feel they have tried everything possible to be heard by the authorities but have totally neglected. It is an extreme measure, as people are risking their lives. And this is why such a measure should not be used non-stop.

In less than a year, Mauritius has witnessed at least three hunger strikes. The risk is that the impact of these strikes be diminished by the regularity of these protests. And they may be no longer heard by the government the more so as the Prime minister had already made it clear that he would not give in to such emotional blackmail. In the long run, such frequent strikes will definitely not serve their cause.

The success of the hunger strike by the victims of sale by levy had a double effect. It has led to all other people feeling frustrated by their situation within the society to hope that extreme measures would lead to them being finally heard by those governing us. So, every frustrated group now thinks it can win its case through going on a strike or at least threatening to do so. It has become a tool of pressure like any other one.

Even Manan Fakoo?s wife, Swastee, has been on a hunger strike for a few days when her husband was on the run. She wanted to obtain the guarantee that he would be treated ?with consideration? by the police if he decided ? finally ? to give himself in to the police. A sign that the hunger strike is not always used for a noble cause?

By putting their lives at stake, hunger strikers send a very strong signal to the politicians. If their action had to be translated in words, it would probably be something like ?You will be responsible for my death if you do nothing?. This is probably why the opposition parties often find a way of joining the movement at one point or another. There is always something good and extremely popular out of it. They may be considered as the most ?humane? ones at the top. The ?taxi malere? may have high hopes that their strike will change their situation for the better. If the sale by levy victims finally obtained that a bill be voted in parliament after their strike, why shouldn?t they try their luck to get their licence to operate legally?

Those threatening to go on hunger strikes should think twice to make sure they have been through all other avenues. The authorities SHOULD also review its communication networks. Those hunger strikes might be a symptom of a social unease?