The current census is racial

Human rights activist Gabriel Gallo Nouakchott - Mohammad Sharif Obeida Gabriel Gallo a journalist, a human rights activist, and one of the prominent leader of the movement - do not touch my nationality – declared his opposition against the Racial Census in Mauritania. He also insisted that their movement will not compromise its principles, and will not draw back from the peaceful struggle, until they reach justice and stop the current racial plan dictated by the government against Blacks. “Arabs Today” had the chance to interview him after his arrest during the protests in the capital Nouakchott, and in the two Mauritanian cities Kihida and Makamah. What were the problems you faced while you were in prison? I spent 12 days in detention in the Office of the Provincial Police in Tugenin, in the capital Nouakchott. I was never imprisoned, it was more like a case of abduction. Neither my parents nor my fellow activists knew where I was. I was not allowed to communicate with anyone. It was an illegal detention; I suffered from the brutal conduct and abuse of the police officers. As a journalist and a human rights activist how would you describe the investigation process? The investigation included charges against unauthorized demonstrations, and vandalizing public and private properties. I have the present to you the text of the declaration as stated in the interrogation: In fact, I participated in the peaceful protest against the racial census which aims only to liquidate the black Mauritanians, known as “Negroes”. This census doesn’t accept me as a citizen like other Mauritanians, it is a racial, and discriminatory. We will not accept it. We have a moral responsibility to stand against such a census; we refuse to be treated unequally according to the color, gender, language, and place of birth. No one objected the administrative census in 1998. My march was dedicated for the victims who lost their lives because of the interior security bullets in Makamah. Authorities argued that the march was not licensed; we do strongly believe that the constitution guarantees the right to rally. The Constitution is the highest legal reference in the country. Authorities kept on ignoring our demands in reforming the glitches in the census or to cancel it. The street was our last choice to express the rejection, and call up on the national and international community to support our cause. There is a systematic targeting to differentiate between Mauritanian citizens. Diversity is a source of peaceful coexistence. I never destroyed private nor public properties; all of the charges against me are unjust, and will not last because first, the security forces and the police threw tear gas on the protestors, hit us with sticks, while we raised our hands shouting “Peaceful”. Wounds on the palm of my hands is a proof of the brutal repression, in fact I was beaten on my head, ribs, and abdomen. Second, pictures taken by fellow journalists or activists show what really happened. Do not you know that any protests must be licensed by the authorities? We consider that claiming our rights is legitimate guaranteed by the constitution. Peaceful demonstrations were our last choice after series of refused demands You have said that you had a peaceful demonstration. How would you explain the vandalism on properties? The disorder was caused by the repression of the security forces. We have no connection with the sabotage; none of the members of our group had a relation with it. That is a manoeuver done by the authorities to blame us. Is there any particular party or movement behind these events? It is an organized movement by the Mauritanian youth, who realized the critical situation behind the census; the authority is taking away their identity by considering them second-class citizens. Would you still have the same demands, if you reach to an agreement with the government? Yes, our demands are still the same: stop the racial census, reform the glitches. We will follow up with are cases in particular we will press charges against the perpetrators who attacked us. Like the Director for the Air Security in Nouakchot, fadileh Weld Al Najji. Did the authority initiate any type of negotiation with you? We will not bargain legitimate demands, our message is clear: the census should stop; problems should be repaired before it is too late. Our peaceful struggle will continue to grow, eventhough we are sure that the price we will have to pay will be tremendous What is your strategy on the long run? We will continue with our demands, my fellows in the executive office of the movement “Don’t Touch my Nationality” are observing the situation. We plan taking necessary measurements, our road is long but we are determined to face oppression and prison.