Against communalism of the best-loser system - Lalit Mauritius

Stop Communalism Campaign
Musicians Against Communalism
[This Charter organised by artists active in MAC and Lalit members, was endorsed by over 100 musicians,
of various musical traditions in Mauritius and was presented to the President of the Republic on the
occasion of Music Day, June 1995.]
We, artists of the music world feel concern about the rise of communalism in our country.
We endorse the Declaration of the Movement Against Communalism working:
o against communalism, racism, casteism and all forms of religious fundamentalism,
o for equal fundamental rights for each and every citizen of the Republic of Mauritius,
o for a secular state completely separate from religion,
o for freedom of religion or to have no religion,
o for freedom of expression and of opinion for each and every citizen.
We, as musicians, know how destructive communalism, racism, or fundamentalism can be to
the development of art. History is full of examples of how music and musicians have been
victims of societies where communalist, racist, or fundamentalist ideologies have stifled art
forms. Musicians of almost every musical tradition, be it classical, folk, sega, jazz, rock or pop,
have had to struggle against these backward forces in the advancement of art. Communalism,
racism and fundamentalism represent a permanent threat to freedom of expression that forms
the foundation of music and all other art forms.
We know that the rise of communalism goes much further than shackling art. We are deeply
concerned about the rise of communalism and its effects on human life itself. The present
situation in ex-Yugoslavia, Rwanda, India is showing us exactly how destructive communalism
can be to humanity. We believe that a conscious effort is needed on the part of citizens and the
state to stand against all forms of communalism, racism or fundamentalism of whatever ilk
wherever it sprouts, be it in education, in law, in the economy, in politics, in sports or in art.
Without this stand, there will be no protection from the evil dynamics of communalism, racism
and fundamentalism. We, musicians and citizens, in all social responsibility, stand against
communalism, racism and fundamentalism in art and in all other areas of society.
We reject any communal classification of music or other art forms by the state.
We call on you to ensure that the development of art forms is not bonded to a communalist
vision of our society. We want to live in a society where citizens have access to music produced
by humanity. Art knows no barriers -- it belongs to humanity as a whole.
We call on you to ensure adequate state resources to promote all music that citizens show an
interest in performing, learning about, or listening to, irrespective of its country of origin. Music
all over the world forms part of all Mauritian citizen's universal heritage.
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