Extreme measures seemed to have borne fruit. Even if many sale by levy victims are bitter that they had to put their lives at stake to be listened to, they are relieved that the government has accepted to make a move towards them. After five days of hunger strike, representatives of the victims had a meeting with the prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who has finally committed to help them. ?In view of the situation, I will recall Parliament in January to discuss the Protection of Borrowers Bill. Moreover, the government will give power to a commissioner to enquire into these loans,? stated the PM.

About sixty strikers had been in front of the Supreme Court since Monday to show their disappointment and firm discontent with the government?s lack of action since it came to power more than a year ago. Despite great promises by the prime minister and the attorney general to help victims of the sale by levy system, the latter felt that they had once again been ignored. Despite meetings with the PM where the latter showed compassion and said he would take action, nothing had been done.

This time, Harish Boodhoo and Salim Muthy, the president of the movement, were not alone in confronting the head of government. Last Friday, Jean-Maurice Labour, vicar general, and pundit Ved Gopee, vice-president of the Council of Religions, who have supported the victims in their despair, joined the movement leaders in talks with the PM. And they proved fruitful.

There were a few casualties among the strikers ? their system could not stand lack of food and drink and they became so weak that they had to be taken to hospital ? but they are now recovering. However, Harish Boodhoo does not want to put the cart before the horse and prefers to wait and see before rejoicing fully.

He might feel cynical as successive governments had committed to do something for the victims but the situation had remained unchanged. As he can?t remember any occasion when Parliament was recalled in January, he is afraid that promises might remain promises. He even said he would let all other strikers stop but would go on alone. But the leader of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Civil Service, also a member of the support committee, Tulsiraj Benydin, finally managed to make him change his mind?