Those who are surfing on a wave of euphoria and gloating from within the privileged circle they are in at those outside probably don’t look beyond the tip of their nose. Many think the privileges bestowed upon their little selves will last forever. Some even end up thinking they deserve them. In reality, all the while that they are drawing the undeserved privileges, they are being used in a game much bigger than they are.

As Catherine Boudet, former director of communication, is being shown the door of theInformation and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), in the middle of boos and ‘good riddance’ messages on blogs and social media, she must be reflecting on the role she played during her short stint there. Throughout her tenure, more and more repressive laws against radios and citizens in general were introduced. She used all the means she had to defend them tooth and nail. The so-called intellectual who used to take the moral high ground and lecture the world about ethics and freedom of expression suddenly learnt the benefits of toeing the line and praising the powerful.

As she leaves, she won’t have the opportunity to participate in promoting yet another repressive act, the new IBA Act that is meant to ensure the “impartiality” of journalists and presenters “on questions relating to politics, controversial topics and themes of national interest.” Worry not, though. Another chatwa will soon take over and continue from where Boudet broke off. Until his or her turn comes.

The new chatwa, like his/predecessor, will not ask himself/herself what the word ‘impartiality of journalists and presenters’ means when the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation is violating the MBC Act on a daily basis; when its journalists and presenters openly wear the orange garb and sing the praises of the prime minister extensively; when the speaker acts like a goalkeeper in parliament; when institutions once respected have turned into doormats. And the only people who will be disciplined if they are not ‘impartial’ are journalists and presenters of private radios! Another way of putting an end to independent, views, ideas, debates, criticism and expression in general, in effect inscribing thought crime in law, another nail in the coffin of our moribund democracy!

While Catherine Boudet sits and reflects on how lonely life is after a chatwa stint in power, many like her come to mind. For example, one former member of parliament who even got lost in maths to defend the government’s move to shave a few cents from the price of bread; the one who always ridiculed himself in parliament planting questions to prevent proper debate; making speeches that will be referred to for years to come. Today, even an attempt at a hunger strike for a cause we have already forgotten has not saved him from loneliness and oblivion.

And who doesn’t remember the other one who defended feeding cyclone refugees on water and biscuits? He proudly paraded in press conferences promoting that concept so much that he can still be remembered as the manz-ou-biskwi-bwar-ou-dilo minister.

There is a string of them I could name but the point has been made. That repressive laws to stifle the freedom of individuals, the right to information and the right to express one’s ideas freely would’t be so harmful if there were not greedy and obsequious individuals who dirty their hands defending and promoting them. These people are sitting on the boards of institutions that once were credible and suddenly turned into doormats.

When all is said and done, what we will remember are not the ones who enacted the repressive laws as much as the chatwas who defended and promoted them. There is life after being a chatwa. I wonder if they think about it!