Global Voices Online

Lova writes about a community radio project to be run by Radioactive and Foko in Madagascar.

cueTV interviews a dance collective from Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar about the dance, Ma Ravan', a ritual and a performance, and paying homage to slaves and freedom fighters performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa.

Stephen Ellis, co-author (with Solofo Randrianja) of Madagascar: A Short History, explains that Ravalomanana's removal can be attributed to two main factors: his use of presidential power to further business interests and his alienation of the provincial political class and the armed forces.

Bermudian blogger Catch a fire draws attention to the escalating crisis in Madagascar.

A youtube video of a looting scene at a major shopping center in Antanarivo was posted by c17dabossbaby. Many bloggers are wondering why the police forces are seemingly absent during this time of unrest (video) and speculate that the president may be temporarily located in Mahajanga (not overseas as initially reported) as the capital city is still deemed unsafe (fr). Anonymous sources confirm that this would be the current security procedure.

Blogger Pierre Maury is thinking of the Southwest region of Madagascar as Tropical Cyclone Fanele has made land fall at 4:17 am on January 21st 2009 (fr).  The city of Belo-sur-Mer is threatended by gust of wind as fast as 281 km/h.

Two bloggers report photos and proceedings of political meeting in Antananarivo as tension between mayor Andry Rajoelina and  current president Marc Ravalomanana arises over the closing of a national TV station (mg).  Avylavitra posted photos of attendance at the meeting and Jentilisa wrote a comprehensive timeline of the events (mg).

After a series of prison breaks around Madagascar last week, Jentilisa reports that another prison near Toamasina ( East coast of Madagascar) was set on fire today ( Jan 13th) (mg).  Eyewitnesses reported heavy smoke and  5 gun shots. The causes of the fire or the gun shots are still to be determined.

Pierre Maury reports that French authorities have responded to the accusation of censorhip of “47″ a historic independence play created by Jean-Luc Raharimanana and Thierry Bedard. Victoire Bidegain Di Rosa, advisor to the French ministry of Culture explains that the subject of the play is not necessarily of interest to the other countries of the region and that each cultural center is free to to showcase the play provided that each center finds independent funding for the expenses (fr).