Internet Sniffing Scandal in Mauritius

 

[Has the Prime Minister of Mauritius compromised national security by permitting a Third Party to conduct internet sniffing operations in the country? Will his shady actions also have wider strategic and international  ramifications, escalating big-power military rivalry in the region and impacting the peace and tranquility of the Indian Ocean peoples in the neighbourhood of Mauritius? These are serious issues of import for the Mauritian people to deliberate upon today. In his Friday Sermon of 29 July 2022 ~29 Dhul Hijjah 1443 AH Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius took note of these recent developments, especially the huge scandal involving the Prime Minister's ever-shifting statements on the events and issues at the center of the present controversy].   

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon Below:

'Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly.” (Al-Baqara 2: 43).

 

With the accusation of high treason brought against the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth in the case of Illegal Access to the SAFE Landing Station in Baie-du-Jacotet, the Government House is betting on a double or quits as an outcome. On the side of the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition, the pressure is increasing to demand the departure of the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, at the head of the government. Circles close to the top chefs, nicknamed members of “The Kitchen”, i.e. the Prime Minister’s Office argue that the recent low profile of Pravind Jugnauth is part of the perspective of a scenario likely to lead to a diplomatic and political Gamble in the process of development. In principle, high-level negotiations between Port-Louis and New Delhi have been initiated with a view to obtain the return to Mauritius of one of the members of the “Mr. Moustache” mission in mid-April to develop “a parade in the offensive” led vigorously by the former Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom, Sherry Singh, since Friday the first of July.

 

Gradually, specific details about what happened at the SAFE Landing Station in Baie-du-Jacotet with the presence of the three experts from India on site on Friday 15 April 2022 are beginning to filter out.

In any case, the new strategy of the Government House aimed at highlighting the problem of cyber-attacks while believing it can justify Illegal Third Party Access without any court order to this Restricted Zone is doomed to failure. Whether on Thursday 14th April or Friday 15th April 2022, there is no report of the fight against cyber-attacks. On the other hand, there is ample mention in these minutes, to which the newspaper “Le Mauricien” [The Mauritian] had access, of ‘survey to perform data capture to be used for sizing-up of any equipment.’

 

Everything seems to indicate that the next mission demanded of these specialists from India, to make public opinion swallow the thesis of cyber-attacks, is most impossible. 

But at this level, the task still seems difficult because the confrontation with the version of the facts revealed by the former Chief Technician Officer of Mauritius Telecom Girish Guddoy, reserves major surprises. In addition to the fact that at no time is the term cyber-attacks mentioned, on Thursday 14^th of April  and Friday 15^th of April 2022, the Team Leader of India, K. Radhakrishan, is attributed the remarks to the effect that ‘the survey is to perform data capture at the Baie-du-Jacotet Landing Station.’

 

First, from the start, he maintained that he had to physically go to the Baie-du-Jacotet Station, even if the details of the Request for Information of 22^nd December 2021, i.e. such details as: longitude/latitude, location, number of staff/ security measures, number of cables at Baie-du-Jacotet and the percentage of incoming and outgoing traffic, etc. are already available without the need for onsite visit.

 

The now resigning Chief Technical Officer notes that ‘the gentleman (Mr. Moustache) insisted for an onsite visit.’

 

The SAFE Landing Station has 47 Dedicated Links. Of this number, 21 are dedicated to internet traffic. ‘Out of those 21 MT [Mauritius Telecom] dedicated internet circuits, the Indian team collected a sample data from 10 of them.’

 

The data capture was effected one link at a time by the Indian Team. This exercise was repeated over each of the 10 MT [Mauritius Telecom] Circuits (Links) and the setting up and capture for each link lasted approximately 13 minutes. The data capture is stated to have been stored on their laptop.

 

The exercise lasted two hours, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Throughout ‘The exercise ended around 6:45 p.m. with no further query from the Indians and they left… Lastly at 6:52 p.m., the exercise was over and [it was] ensured that no equipment has been left installed at the Baie-du-Jacotet Landing Station.’ - This, without any mention of cyber-attacks.

 

The Prime Minister is forced to try to save his skin politically. The Prime Minister must resign. The latter changed his version and his explanations with each statement. This betrayal goes beyond Mauritius and also concerns the Indian Ocean and the neighbouring peoples.

 

May Allah allow justice to be done for the Mauritian people and that the truth comes to light and that justice is done in all fairness. Insha-Allah, Ameen.'