MFA reacts to LSH article

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to LSH saying it ‘wholeheartedly rejects’ the claims made in our front page article of 18^th January.

The letter signed by the MFA Press Attaché disputed LSH’s argument that the Ministry’s communiqué dated 15^th December 2012 was a “lie to get the world’s attention off Seychelles” after reports in the international media that Sakhr El Materi was arrested at Pointe Larue airport.  

The MFA has since confirmed the presence of Mr. El Materi in the country.  It is also interesting to note how the MFA tried to come to the defense of the other Government agencies by claiming that “a better article would include research and consultation with the various agencies and offices implicated in the article.”

It is very easy for the MFA to assume that all other Government agencies have an open door policy like they do. Unfortunately that is not the case. In recent weeks we have emailed State House press office about the National Emergency Foundation, we have contacted the Ministry of Finance about the possibility of getting a copy of the National Budget document and also about the bonus scheme in Government and we have inquired about the A’ Level results with the School of Advance Level Studies (SALS) and the Ministry of Education amongst others. What has happened to all our efforts to research and consult with the various agencies and offices implicated in the articles we wanted to write about? Nothing! All of them are not interested in answering our questions; they simply want to feed us with prepared press communiqués.

The onus now is on the various agencies and offices to come clean and defend themselves. I hope they have heard about the phrase “Silence means acceptance.”