Against communalism of the best-loser system - Lalit Mauritius

It is up to those who suffer most from communalism to demand the elimination of the best loser
system from our Constitution. Politicians in power or in Opposition will naturally pay lip
service to the urgent need to decrease communalism in politics and elsewhere whilst at the same
time screaming that it is a “delicate” issue and that “we should be very cautious before we do
anything about it”. In the meanwhile, the very same politicians keep multiplying their links with
those who lead communal organisations and institutions.
The battle against communalism is an old one. It demands new energies and a clarity of
purpose. Recently, a “Muvman Anti Kominalis” (MAK) has started campaigning. At its
Founding Convention in May 1995 it resolved to demand the abolition of the best loser system.
MAK declares itself committed to work:
1. Against communalism, racism, casteism and all forms of religious fundamentalism
2. For equal fundamental rights for each and every citizen of the republic of Mauritius,
whether political, economic, social and cultural rights.
3. For a secular state, completely separate from religion.
4. For freedom of religion or to have no religion - each citizen having the right to choose
and to practise the religion of his or her choice or no religion.
5. For freedom of expression and of opinion for each and every citizen.
These objectives can only be achieved with mass political support. To win such support is no
easy task. It is an enormous challenge. The elimination of communalism involves nothing less
than the complete overhaul of our Constitution and our political system. It also requires that all
of us as individuals are willing to confront our own communal reflexes and ideas.
There are grounds for optimism. Out there in the Republic of Mauritius are large numbers of
people whose way of life and of thinking lead them to believe that people should not be
categorised as cattle and that all humans have the same worth and the same rights independently
of their religious, philosophical or cultural differences. They correctly see the best loser system
as a form of institutionalised communalism. They reject it.
Ragini Kistnasamy and Jean Claude Bibi
for Muvman Anti-Kominalis
June 1995
Organizations in MAK:
Abaim, Association des Consommateurs de l”Ile Maurice, Bambous Health Project,
Federation of Civil Service Unions, Federation of Pres-School Playgroups, Federation of
Progressive Unions, Federation des Travailleurs Unis, Federation des Syndicats des
Corps Constitues. Grup Fangurin, Government Teachers’ Union, General Workers’
Federation, Ledikasyon pu Travayer, Muvman Lakaz, Muvman Liberasyon Fam,
Rodrigues Government Employees Union, SPACE, NGO Liaison Committee.