The concept for IOISS, 1981 Bayswater, London

• The concept for IOISS, 1981 Bayswater - London

  
  

  

   

  

  
  

  We belong to those few young Seychellois who have had the opportunity to be versed in Strategic, intelligence issues at a very young - over the years child hood, pre British colonial, East Africa Colonial and Sechelles Seychelles pre Indipendance, the many colourful individuals, British expats, Italian, Germans, Austrians, American community - USAF, South African, Jew, those who represented France interest,  those who represented the cold war USSR interests, Chinese, Indian, Pakistan and Parsi  our interest, research, work/contributions and experiences. Beside those form the Churches - RC, CE, others.
  
  In creating this Group - it is to those who gave us, provided our person with early insight into this once upon a time 40 years ago big taboo domain, only those with very serious intentions, highly privilege, well connected, well educated dare venture into it. Their views then of Indian Ocean strategic issues, economy,  politic, diplomacy, military, scientific,  etc.
  
  Had there been a successful change in Sechelles Seychelles 1979 there about this interest would have remained in the background - safe if required to act or work on a topic. After failed events leading up to 1981 - given our role to bring about these changes decided there was a need to have some kind of body - manage mainly by Seychellois national - the greater objective to research into the existing material, documentation, join appropriate repute international Strategic Research Institute with the objective of building and developing our own ability, capabilities to weight, study the material and make highly objective conclusion in relation to the then ongoing "Cold War".
  
  
  There is the need to stress we had been privy to in depth Strategic issues involving the Gulf Region, East Africa, South Africa, then Indian Ocean, South Asia, India and Pakistan, China. Most important the West Strategic interests in the Indian Ocean for those who shared their knowledge with us British Colonial era. In the case of our person the very reason why our French ancestors decided to venture - into these part of the world - planet.
  
  After our decision to go to exile in Vienna with my Austrian wife and son - after certain painful experiences, with the then Government, Officials and Police of President JR Mancham and again their experience in former Rhodesia - we/I began with seriousness to discuss these topics with Family members who had been involved in Second world war issues, the coming to power of Communist.
  
  Upon our arrival in Salzburg got the privilege to meet several young academicians and the many hours of intense debate, arguments and discussion into some of these highly complex issues. We were encouraged by leading Media/News paper officials - they had discovered we were not about telling tales - we had had access to qualitative Official information.
  
  Upon our arrival in Vienna - then Vienna 1978 and the Cold War. The very many who had ask of our person what we were doing in Vienna. We befriended a large circle of diplomats, news paper personalities, individuals with first and second World War experience. Beside many individuals for the Gulf Region, Africa, the UN, exile COMECON countries, India, Asian diplomats working in Vienna. The very many intense discussion about the Indian Ocean and the Cold War - the East West Relation and the None Aligned Movement, the Francophone, the Commonwealth function.
  
  We decided to join and visit then a very close Body in Vienna - then suspected by many, the Austrian government, their Intelligence Service with was very good, the Israeli, the French, the USA, British as being a centre where certain individuals met from the Iron curtain, the COMECON, military form the Warsaw Pact - to exchange information.
  
  We had become privilege to become acquainted by way of work experience with numerous of those big and highly complex issues, be it in diplomacy, trade, scientific, energy and military.
  
  Shortly after we were privilege to be given the responsibility of researching into the Project Indian Ocean Industrial Investment Promotion Centre - copy to the World Bank, IMF, UNIDO, Austrian Government, French, Israeli, USA, certainly the Russians, Chinese and British got/took a copy. This leading to the adoption of the COI Project by the parties and government of the Indian Ocean.
  
  Had we seek political Asylum in France - Strassbourg one wonder what would have been the outcome of many of the world and region today important outcome. We were advised in the interests of our work to take political asylum in Britain.
  
  It was at a small hotel in Bayswater, well known them for those coming to London to seek political asylum - having met and discussed with most of the Sechelles Seychelles exile/refugees faction and other officials in London, visited two of those Institute in in London decided there was a need to have our own Strategic Institute. I/we then began to put together the required parameters. In those days it was - put it plainly dangerous - with what was going on in London and the Cold War.
  
  The issues had to take back seat, beside my/our meeting with exile Leaders in London who was aware we knew more than we were letting out. Even the many officials and policing bodies - diplomats.
  
  It was when we moved to 87a Victoria Rd, Kilburn -Brent, the important Irish community, the Latin America House and the Phillippine Research Centre - beside our engagement in more complex world and regional affairs decided to set up proper working station at our Flat, the ex Coach House, 87a Victoria Rd, Kilburn - Brent, all those involved in the British Intelligence Services. Of utmost interest was the quality of information we were allowed to research/study at the Philippine centre then.
  
  It was with such understanding - we were able to put together that SIROP etc exile refugees program - then Seychelles government its Friends and intelligence support, network and others. Rather for these reason President FA Rene and those involved allowed us to develop this program.
  
  This said in the manner and such working - issues we have addressed the International communities, the UN, the Parliament, the EU Institutions, the International court, the Commonwealth and the Francophone and the OAU - AU. The destruction of everything at 87a Victoria Rd, Kilburn - Brent after 1991. Some of these documents we had transferred taken to France for safe keeping.
  
  After historic events of 1991 in Seychelles, 1993, 1997 - the destruction of the mobile office in Kent - those who knew what our work and responsibility entail. We were forced to return to London - and decided to rebuild this project.
  
  The socialist government of PM Blair and all those involved knew a very great deal about our work and person. The information we had exchanged with individuals like Mr Niel Kinnock and many others. The information and knowledge on some of those issues we share with PM Blair office. - Yet his emphasis - view that we ought not to work in this field on British soil - some of the highly volatile/explosive issues, related. They cover very dynamic alternative Arab nations. We had set up a Forum in 2005/6 this was shut down. We also got strong opposition form USA side.
  
  The above said - the decision for the EU to Fund an Intelligence Centre for Somali Pirate to the sum of £500,000. This is a very small amount of money in comparison to many such Centres. Yet once again the attitude and approach of the International community and those high parties involved - the media circus involved - President FA Rene exchanged highly qualitative knowledge on Strategic issues relating to the Pirate, military, economic and diplomatic from our person over the past 20 years and these were integrated into some on the highly complicated Seychelles and regional nation political reactions and diplomacy.
  
  Now that we have had the International Conference on Somali Pirate in London 23/2/12 and the process - outcome, from the prospective of the Sechelles Seychelles 25,000 living in exile/refugee - the need to put in place this Facebook space. We will this time deploy a Blog as against a Forum.
  
  Finally the need to stress - that our Sechelles Seychelles exile/refugee have had a greater understanding of those pertinent issues for the past 35 years arguing for and against them - as against that of Seychelles government, its national relavant institutions, including the Corp Diplomatic in residance there,  which only after 1993 began to embrace democratic values and Western Human Right values.
  
  We trust all those interested will join us on this space to share their views and contribute - we are/live in an advance era of communication and manner views are shared and exchange and their objectives.
  
  Hon Mitchel J Edmond
  Founder - IOISS
  
  Hamstead
  27/02/12
  
  

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