Global Voices » Mialy Andriamananjara

Madagascar: What Next, After Former President Is Denied Entry?

Mialy Andriamananjara — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:07 +0000

Former President Marc Ravalomanana attempted for the second time to return to Madagascar last Saturday 21 January, 2012. Malagasy citizens anxiously witnessed his attempt at returning home after three years in exile. But as reported by Niren Tolsi in the Mail and Guardian:

Ravalomanana's attempt to set foot on Malagasy soil was thwarted an hour before it was due to happen. According to the airline's security chief, the pilot had been informed by ground control at Ivato International Airport that it had been closed due to “security concerns”.

News filtering through suggested that large crowds — estimated between 20 000 and 30 000 — had gathered at Ivato in expectation of Ravalomanana. No one would say who had given the order to close the airport down, but Ravalomanana's aides suggested that it must have been an executive order from someone in the government of Andry Rajoelina (who had deposed Ravalomanana's democratically elected government in a 2009 coup).

Video of the attempted return uploaded by Jentilisa to YouTube on January 21:

Citoyenne Malgache, a local blogger reports emotionally on the bitter sweet feelings of his supporters [fr, mg] who came in great numbers to welcome him:

Et aujourd’hui quand tu es rentré chez toi le cœur triste de ne pas avoir retrouvé celui que tu es venu accueillir, tu te consoles : nous sommes venus nombreux, c’est notre victoire. Tu t’encourages : Andrasanay na amin’ny valo alina aza… Et tu sais que tu reviendras encore au prochain appel.
que deviendras-tu si tu te sens vaincu ? Tu n’es peut-être pas LE peuple mais tu en fais partie, et on n’a pas le droit de t’ignorer. Mais n’oublie pas que personne ne prendra soin de toi, sauf toi-même. Des gens se moqueront de toi : tsy ho avy eo izany ny dadanareo… Pour d’autres, tu n’es qu’objet d’analyse et de reportage. Certains se serviront sûrement de toi. Mais défends ton choix et assume le reste.

And today, you went back home with a heavy heart, you have not met who you came to welcome, but you [can] console yourself: we came numerous, that is our victory. You get courage: We will wait until 8 pm… And you know you will come back at the next call. What will you become if you feel vanquished? You may not be THE people, but you are part of it, and there is no right to ignore you. But do not forget that nobody will take care of you. Some will laugh at you : your father will not come… For others, you are a subject of analysis and reporting. Others will use you. But defend your choice and accept the rest.

Malagasy crowd at Ivato airport on January 21. Image by Jentilisa, used with permission.

Apparent dissent amongst Rajoelina's transitional government was pointed out by bloggers, as the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications openly contradicted themselves regarding who issued the NOTAMs ('Notices to Airmen'), the government or Rajoelina himself, or even if NOTAMs were issued, and whether Ravalomanana was going to be arrested, or not.

Prime Minister Omer Beriziky, a moderate politician, as interviewed on RFI [fr]:

Je peux vous assurer que le gouvernement, à aucun moment, n’avait donné l’ordre de fermer les aéroports à Madagascar. Le retour de l’ex-président était possible. Cependant, j’aurais souhaité que le retour de Marc Ravalomanana se fasse dans d’autres conditions. Je pensais qu’il était possible d’arriver à une solution consensuelle, c’est-à-dire que toutes les parties prenantes de la feuille de route puissent trouver ensemble une manière consensuelle de faire revenir le président dans sa patrie.

I can assure you that the government never ordered the closure of the airports in Madagascar. The return of the former president was possible. However, I would have preferred that he returns under different conditions. I thought it would be possible to come to a consensus, that all protagonists of the roadmap could find together a consensual way to return the president to his home country.

Crowd facing police forces in Madagascar by Mamysou. Used with permission.

The transitional government did not have a coherent strategy to deal with the crisis, as summarized by VANF on his weekly column for Express de Madagascar [fr]:

Le ministre de la Défense dit s'en tenir au maintien de l'ordre, le chef de l'état-major mixte opérationnel (EMMO-Reg) d'Analamanga prétend appliquer un mandat d'arrêt contre Marc Ravalomanana, la ministre de la Justice préfère ne pas en rajouter, le Premier Ministre aurait assuré Marc Ravalomanana qu'il ne voyait aucun inconvénient à son retour à Madagascar.

The Defence Minister said he would ensure that order be maintained, the Chief of the Army in Analamanga pretends to use a warrant arrest against Ravalomanana, the Justice Minister stays mum [quiet], the Prime Minister would have assured Marc Ravalomanana that he saw no argument against his return to Madagascar.

Incredibly, the Minister of Communications, Rolly Mercia, denied that NOTAMs were ever issued [fr], despite evidence to the contrary. VANF adds [fr]:

Alors qu’il se répandait en interviews sur les médias pour déclarer qu’il n’y avait jamais eu de NOTAM, les copies des cinq NOTAM ordonnés par le P.T. lui- même étaient affichées sur le site internet de l’ASECNA, et partagées sur Twitter et Facebook. Grotesque ! Que faut-il en conclure : incohérence, incompétence ou stalinisme chronique ?

While he went from interview to interview in the media to declare that there never were any NOTAMs, copies of the five NOTAMs ordered by the president himself were posted on the ASECNA website, shared on Twitter and Facebook. Ridiculous! What should one conclude: incoherence, incompetence or chronic stanilism?

On Twitter, some users deny that Madagascar skies were completely closed, and suggest that Ravalomanana's plane would have been able to land at Morondava airport, nevertheless where there was no welcoming crowd, and the president would have been easily apprehended:

@hdleague: Alors, il est incorrecte de dire que R8 était interdit de revenir à Mada. Il était permit d'aterrir à Morondava pour être arrêter. #M21112

@hdleague: It is incorrect to state that Ravalomanana was prohibited to return to Madagascar. He was permitted to land in Morondava to be arrested. #M21112

On ‘Madagate', Jeannot Ramambazafy [fr] acknowledges Ravalomanana's right to enter Madagascar, but also defends Malagasy rights to judge Ravalomanana, who was condemned for allegedly ordering his presidential guard to fire on demonstrators in February 2009:

Ainsi, s'il a été demandé au pilote -qui a refusé- d'aller atterrir à Morondava, c'était pour mettre en application cette note et pour sécuriser l'intégrité physique même de Marc Ravalomanana qui a, bien sûr, le droit de rentrer, mais… Au nom de l'indépendance de la Justice malgache, le mandat d'arrêt émis à l'encontre de Ravalomanana, depuis 2009, sera exécuté.

The reason why the pilot - who refused - was asked to land in Morondava was to apply the law and to ensure the physical security of Marc Ravalomanana, who evidently, has the right to return, but… in the name of the independence of Malagasy justice, the arrest warrant issued against Ravalomanana since 2009, will be used.

Marc Harmelle [fr], a commenter on Fijery blog, expresses doubts on Ravalomanana's motives:

je m’interroge ce soir quand a ses motivations de convoquer une telle foule ; est ce pour avoir un bouclier humain ou est ce par pure folie des grandeurs souci d’etre acclamé , ovationné par un peuple misérable ? La première solution est dégueulasse et lâche , la seconde démontre que ces 3 ans ne l’ont pas mûris *Dernièrement a mon sens rentrer discrètement en se remettant entre les mains de la justice aurait été judicieux ; il était impossible de lui refuser ce retour , impossible de le malmener et je gage qu’il n’aurait au pire fait que quelques jours de geôle ; la pression internationale et nationale aurait pu pleinement s’exercer et quelle aura politique !!!

I wonder tonight what his motivations were to call such a crowd; was it to get himself a human shield or pure delusions of greatness, to receive an ovation from miserable people? The first hypothesis is disgusting and cowardly, the second would demonstrate that three years have not matured him. In my opinion, coming home discreetly and putting himself in the hands of justice would have been judicious; it would be impossible to refuse him this return, impossible to torture him, and I bet he would have only spent a few days in jail, in the worst case; the international and national pressure would have applied and what a political aura it would have lent him!!!

Rovahiga's post title ‘Rajoelina marque contre son camp' (Rajoelina shoots himself in the foot) suggests that Ravalomanana's entry denial was a loss for Rajoelina's camp.

The US Embassy, which has been actively following the events on Twitter, disavowed a CNN reporting story that hinted that the US did not agree with Ravalomanana's return:

@USMadagascar: US regrets the circulation of a story by CNN that incorrectly reflects our official position on the return of Ravalomanana to #Madagascar

Fijery [fr] doubts of any real repercussions after Saturday's debacle, especially coming from the international community, which has failed to advance the concrete applications of the roadmap to bring peace to Madagascar:

ce retour en plein ciel à quelques miles d’Antananarivo devant des journalistes internationaux ridiculise, si besoin était encore, un régime hâtif marqué par l’amateurisme. […] En parallèle, cette décision montre à la Communauté internationale à quel point Andry Rajoelina et la clique qui l’entoure sont peu désireux de réconciliation et d’apaisement. Ceci étant dit, je ne crois pas que cela aura beaucoup d’impact. Quand on a vu avec quel empressement l’ambassadeur de l’ Union européenne et le Coordonateur des Nations unies sont allés se défroquer devant Monsieur Rajoelina, sans tenir compte des violations de la démocratie et des droits de l’homme, on peut se dire raisonnablement que ce n’est pas un dérapage de plus qui va émouvoir la communauté internationale, prête à gober les couleuvres hâtives.

The inflight U-turn a few miles from Antananarivo in front of international journalists ridicules, if more ridicule were needed, a transitional government marked by amateurism. […] This decision demonstrates to the international community how little Andry Rajoelina and his clique actually want reconciliation and appeasement. This said, I do not think this last event will have much impact. When we saw how eagerly the European Ambassador and the United Nations coordinator renounced themselves in front of Mr Rajoelina, without holding into account the many violations of democracy and human rights, we can reasonably say that another derailment will fail to move the international community, ready to swallow any dubious HAT lies.

Since Saturday, Malagasy protagonists have been urgently summoned in Johannesburg [fr] today to meet with the SADC (Southern African Development Community). Madagascar's transitional Prime Minister, Omer Beriziky, has been reported as attending.

Elie Rajaonarison, Malagasy artist, has died

Mialy Andriamananjara — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:26:16 +0000

Elie Rajaonarison, a Malagasy poet, has died on November 27, 2010, at the age of 59. An accomplished artist, Elie Rajaonarison tried his hand successfully at photography and film. He held degrees in anthropology and was a professor at the University of Antananarivo. He published a poetry book, Ranitra, and translated French poet Jacques Prevert into Malagasy. He was also Secretary of Culture, and once advised former President Marc Ravalomanana during the 2002 political unrest that followed the presidential elections and led to former President Didier Ratsiraka's ousting and exile in Paris, France.

Bloggers eulogize him:
Ndimby who usually blogs about politics, is positively lyrical

“Elie était un homme profondément enraciné dans la culture de son pays natal, qu’il a su sublimer dans la magie de ses mots, de ses idées et de ses actes. Dans quelques jours, son corps va rejoindre cette terre qu’il aimait tant, tandis que son âme va s’envoler dans les airs à la rencontre de son immortalité.”

Elie was a man deeply rooted in the culture of his country, which he has sublimated in the magic of his words, ideas and actions. In a couple of days, his body will join this land he loved so much, and his soul will fly in the airs to meet his immortality.

Pierre Maury publishes an interview he held with Elie Rajaonarison in 2002, while Elie Rajaonarison attended the
IOWA Writers' Workshop and met with poets and writers from all over the world. During the interview, Elie
Rajaonarison exhorts Malagasy writers to join the world and exit their insularity.

“La plupart des pays présents ici font l'effort de traduire leurs œuvres, de les intégrer aux mainstreams
culturels de notre temps. Notre contexte insulaire ne doit pas être perçu comme négatif. Au contraire. Nous avons la chance d'avoir le sens de l'enracinement en même temps que du voyage comme tous les insulaires. Le questionnement identitaire est déjà bien engagé, il doit continuer de nous interpeller. Il est temps maintenant de “voyager”. Le temps est venu d'aller voir ailleurs et de nous faire voir ailleurs (sans jeu de mot malvenu), en deux mots: d'exister! Figurer en bonne place sur la carte littéraire mondiale. Nous avons tous les atouts pour réussir ce pari: une littérature en langue nationale bien établie et qui ne cesse de se développer, la maîtrise de la langue française que l'intelligentsia s'est appropriée, le penchant “naturel” des Malgaches à apprendre les langues étrangères et notamment l'anglais, le développement des Ntic dont la jeunesse urbaine branchée est friande mais qui va s'étendre à toutes les couches sociales et dans toutes les régions. Autant d'atouts, autant d'essais qu'il s'agit maintenant de transformer par la traduction de nos œuvres en langues étrangères car le Monde nous attend et il a besoin de nous pour exister, lui aussi.”

“Most countries present here [at the IWP workshop] make the effort to translate their works, to integrate them into the cultural mainstreams of our time. Our insular situation should not be perceived as a negative. In the contrary. We have the chance to have both the rootedness sense and the traveling instict like all islanders. The identity questioning is well engaged, and it should maintain our involvement. It is now time to “travel”. It is now time to make ourselves seen and to see elsewhere, in a couple of words : the time has come to exist ! To gain our place on the world literary map. We have all assets to win this bet : a well established literature written in our national language which keeps developing, mastery of French that the intelligentsia has well appropriated, the “natural” gift Malagasies have to learn foreign languages, with a special mention to English, development of Information technology of which the urban youth is a greedy user, but which will extend to all social groups and to all regions. Many assets, many tryouts which we now have to transform by translating our works into foreign languages because the World is expecting us and it needs us to exist, too.

SipaKV writes about the title of Ranitra, published in 1992, and the lone book of poetry that Elie Rajaonarison published, even though he had already written at the time more than 500 poems in 1992.

But my favorite in the post face is the wordplay on the title “Ranitra”, as explained by the postfacer.

Ranitra as an adjective standing for “sharp”, it may wound, it may also mean “smart”

Ranitra as a root may also mean “tease”, as in provoke, irritate

Lastly, Ranitra also means “friend”, in the Merina language, secret friend as in “mistress”, vady ranitra.

And a beautiful bitter booming poem, of which I attempt a translation. It becomes obvious in the poem why Elie Rajaonarison wanted his poems spoken out loud and scanded. I picked it for a distinct reason, which you will realize if you look closely at the date of its writing.

Most bitter is the bite of hunger
which awakens you in the morning
keeps you up at night
Most bitter the price of sweat
you do not even notice
emptied while unhelped from
dried out while indebted
!…
It is even harder
to not raise, crushed by complaints
to not dream, petrified by weakness
to not reconcile, closed minded

Bitter is all that!
In the darkness of the everyday
shines Light
rises Joy
Floods and vanquishes the unshelterable bile

Then rise the chants of the ready
to win the everyday
to place their rays to history’s legacy
…
Sing o hills
as she the most beautiful
raises unremittingly unvanquished in war
Madagascar

Written by Elie Rajaonarison on August 15 1990, 1 year and 5 days before the Iavoloha massacre,

Elie Rajaonarison leaves a wife, three daughters and many grandchildren.

Madagascar: Wave of Arrests in the Aftermath of the Failed Coup

Mialy Andriamananjara — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:24:13 +0000

In the aftermath of the referendum and simultaneous failed putsch, a veritable waltzes of arrestations and investigations are shedding a sad shadow on the island.
The referendum lowers the presidential age to 35 years old (from 40 years old), allows Andry Rajoelina (now 36 years old) to participate in presidential elections, to stay in power indefinitely during the transitional period, however long that period becomes.

The final results of the referendum are overwhelmingly in its favor : 74% of voters approved, with a participation rate of 52.91% . The SADC has refused to acknowledge the referendum, donor countries, including the US, have criticized the referendum for not being inclusive. A twitterer relays that this was the worst ever organized elections in Madagascar.

Twitterer relays the fact that since Andry Rajoelina acceeded to power in a putsch in March 2009, 350 political prisoners are held in Malagasy jails.
While the referendum was taking place, the putschists had declared their intention to form a military committee to head the transitional governement. The attempted putsch lasted three days before 100 soldiers of the governmental army swept into the barracks where 20 putschists were entrenched, and arrested them without bloodshed.

Patrick A, remarks on the fantastic dissolution of the mutiny and the different treatments inflicted on the putschists

“Le caractère rocambolesque de la mutinerie était accentué par une reddition facile des officiers « rebelles », obtenue après quelques coups de feu tirés en l’air, comme pour malgré tout sauver l’honneur martial des uns et des autres. On nous expliqua ensuite que l’issue non violente était la conséquence de négociations entre « frères d’armes » issus des mêmes promotions de l’Académie militaire. Il n’est pas exclu qu’outre les pressions psychologiques, des assurances de peines légères et même des compensations financières furent avancées au cours des négociations.

Tout cela est finalement de bonne guerre. Au moins dirons-nous, plaie d’argent n’est pas mortelle.

Et comme pour confirmer cela, on ne peut que remarquer la distinction entre des mutins qui ont été envoyés directement à Tsiafahy et ceux dont la liberté est certes entravée, mais qui ont retrouvé ce qui est essentiellement la vie quotidienne d’un camp”.

“The fantastic resolution of the mutiny was emphasized by an easy surrender of the “rebel” officers, obtained after a few gunshots in the air, as if to save everyone's martial honor. One explained then that the non violent resolution was the consequence of negotiations between “brothers in arms” from the same graduation years of the Military Academy. It is not excluded that psychological pressure, insurances of light sentences and even financial compensations were advanced during the negotiations.
All this is fair enough. At least we would say that a monetary wound is not deadly.
As if to confirm these observations, one cannot help but notice the distinctive treatments between mutineers, some were directly jailed in Tsiafahy while others, whose freedom is certainly impeded, have essentially been returned to daily life in their barracks”.

One week before the putsch, the opposition head, Fetison Andrianirina, had also been arrested on the reason he participated in an illegal march protesting the controversial referendum.
During the putsch week, Fetison went missing. Contradictory tweets relayed information that he was at Tsiafahy (where most political prisoners are held), and the government later confirmed that he was now held in a “secret location” for “security purposes”. Fetison Andrianirina is now scheduled to appear in court in January 25. He could not appear to his previous scheduled court appointment, because his lawyer could not locate him.

Tweets also relayed that two of the putschists were under critical condition while under custody of the transitional government. These two putschists are General Raoelina, head of security under Ravalomanana and implicated in the February 2009 shootings, Colonel Coutiti, imprisoned under Ravalomanana for crimes against humanity and freed under Rajoelina, were also in critical while under custody of the transitional government.
The head of the governmental forces would have said that he protected Colonel Coutiti or this one would have succumbed under violence. The government later confirmed that General Raoelina and Colonel Coutiti are indeed very ill, while not explaining how this happened under their watch.

A prominent Malagasy jurist and a retired vice president of the Hague international court of justice, Professor Raymond Ranjeva, has been charged on October 12, for complicity to incite unrest, civil war and acts of destabilisation. Ranjeva had returned to the country after retiring from the court of justice in the Hague. He had appealed for a real neutral transition which he would head. He had just published a document called “Vonjy Aina”. The current country's administration headed by Andry Rajoelina, who succeeded in toppling democratically elected Marc Ravalomanana in a coup in March 2009, seized on this document and linked it to the aborted putsch. Professor Ranjeva is now out on bail.

More surprisingly, Riana Ranjeva, daughter of Raymond Ranjeva, was also apprehended on suspicion of contempt of the army who had invaded her father's house to search for proof of his implication in the mutiny. The evidence that was hold against her as a “threat to national security” was the possession of one copy of the aforementioned document ” Vonjy Aina“, a publicly available political reflection on a solution to the current political stalemate.

Another prominent jurist, Harvard educated Sahondra Rabenarivo, a dual Malagasy US citizen, who had critiqued the proposed constitution, and recommended to vote against it, has also been questioned. She was investigated because she was part of the Vonjy Aina mailing list. She was later released.

The fear steeped climate is making Citoyenne Malgache wonder about the reasons why a popular bloggerhttp://njnw.wordpress.com shut down his blog, NJ's blog was known for his impertinent tone towards Andry Rajoelina and his government.

“Je viens de constater que le blog de Nj n’est plus available et je ne peux m’empêcher de me poser des questions, tout en ayant des idées de réponse. Et avec tout ce qui se passe en ce moment, je continue à me poser d’autres questions… oserais-je encore écrire d’autres lignes sur ce blog ? S’exprimer en tant que citoyenne est une nécessité démocratique, mais il arrive que cela dérange la susceptibilité exacerbée des gens du pouvoir et attire la foudre de leurs sbires…
Que se passerait-il si chacun de nous lâchait maintenant ? Est-il normal qu’on trouve normal que ces policiers zazavao nous pointent tous les jours leur arme à chaque carrefour ?”

“I just noticed that NJ's blog is not available anymore and I cannot help but wonder why, while having my own ideas to what the answers might be. With everything going on now, I continue to ask myself other questions… would I still dare to write other lines in this blog? To express myself as a citizen is a democratic necessity, but it happens that this would bother the exacerbated susceptibility of those in power and would draw their subordinates'ire…
What would happen if we all gave up now? Is it normal to find it normal that newly minted policemen point their guns at us at each crossroad?…”

Ndimby, a political blogger, ironises at the number of political arrests.

“à part les tramways et les stades, un fonja mora est-il prévu dans les investissements chinois pour caser tous les opposants, les journalistes, la société civile, et sans doute prochainement, les ambassadeurs de la communauté internationale “

“…tramways and stadiums, but have the Chinese investors planned a jail to host the opposition, journalists, civil society, and undoubtedly soon, the ambassadors of the international community?”

He echoes Citoyenne Malgache's fear that any rumor or an ill taken word now can lead one to jail :

“…dans l’ambiance actuelle à Madagascar, la Force a pris le pas sur le Droit, faisant ainsi mentir la fameuse injonction de Cicéron qui disait « Cedant arma togae » (Que les armes cèdent à la toge [du pouvoir civil]). A l’ombre protectrice (et bienfaitrice) d’un régime qui prétend user de la Foi tout en s’asseyant sur la Loi, certains se sentent le pouvoir de dire tout ce qu’ils veulent sans être inquiétés. Tout le monde doit donc se méfier, car n’importe qui peut être accusé de n’importe quoi : d’avoir assassiné Ratsimandrava, commandité les attentats du 11 septembre, financé les bombes artisanales, pratiqué la pédophilie, ou je ne sais trop quoi encore. Que personne ne s’étonne d’apprendre un jour dans la presse des 12 collines que Ndimby est en fait Oussama ben Laden, réfugié à Madagascar après avoir coupé sa barbe et lavé son turban (ou vice-versa).
…
de nos jours, un mot de travers, un article de trop ou un éternuement trop dissonant peuvent vous amener très rapidement aux trois voyages qui ne seront pas sur la banquise : première étape, la rumeur : les colonnes ou les ondes des médias hâtifs ; deuxième étape, la terreur : les bureaux de la gendarmerie ; troisième étape, la douleur : une cellule à Antanimora. Et tout ceci, sans que qui que ce soit ne lève le petit doigt. Et là, je pose la question à tous les va-t-en-guerre de salon, qui d’Antananarivo ou de 10.000 kms, appelaient des politiciens ou des membres de la société civile à oser se lever pour se dresser contre l’injustice : où sont-ils et que font-ils devant de telles tentatives d’intimidation contre ceux qui refusent la pensée unique des gros bras et grandes gueules ? En politique comme ailleurs, les conseillers ne sont jamais les payeurs…”

“… in the current atmosphere in Madagascar, Might has taken over Right, making a lie out of Cicero's famous saying “Cedant arma togae” (That weapons bow to the toga of the civil power). Under the protection of a regime which pretends to use Faith and Law, some feel they may say whatever they want without fear of reprimands. Everyone should be careful, because anyone can be accused of anything : to have murdered Ratsimandrava (a Malagasy President murdered in 1975, whoever commandited the murder have not been apprehended yet), ordered September 11 attacks, financed artisanal bombs, being a pedophile, or whatever else. That noone should be surprised one day that the 12 hills media will say that Ndimby is actually Usama ben Laden, harbored in Madagascar after having shaved off his beard and washed his headgear (or vice versa).
…
nowadays, one ill expressed word, one article too many or a too loud sneeze can lead you very quickly to three trips which will not be pleasant :
first leg of trip, the rumor : columns or wave of the transitional government medias; second leg, terror : in the offices of the police; third leg, pain : in a cell at the Antanimora jail. And all this without anyone lifting a finger. And here I ask all those braves who from their living room, in Antananarivo or 10,000 kms away, called politicians and civil society members to dare stand up to fight injustice : where are they and what do they do against intimidation tactics against those who do not accept the unique thought of those with weapons and the loudmouths. In politics as well, advisors are not those who end up paying …”

African Soldiers on the Champs Elysees on Bastille Day

Mialy Andriamananjara — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:20:35 +0000

RTL Info writes about France's invitation to former colonies to parade on the Champs Elysees on July 14, Bastille Day.

“Des détachements de treize pays africains (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, République centrafricaine, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritanie, Niger, Sénégal, Tchad et Togo) défileront aux côtés de l'armée française sur les Champs Elysées. En Belgique, la participation de militaires congolais au défilé de la Fête nationale, le 21 juillet, un moment envisagée, a été annulée à la suite du tollé déclenché par une déclaration faite en mars par le ministre de la Défense, Pieter De Crem.”

“Thirteen african countries (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, République centrafricaine, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritanie, Niger, Sénégal, Tchad et Togo) will parade beside the French army on the Champs Elysees. In Belgium, participation of Congolese soldiers at the national day parade, July 21, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Congo's independence, has been cancelled after the vehement protests following the declaration in March of the Belgian Minister of Defence, Pieter De Crem.”

Hubert Falco, secretary of state for veteran affairs, explains :

« Le président de la République a invité nos partenaires africains à ouvrir le défilé », a-t-il déclaré mardi au musée de l’Armée, à l’hôtel des Invalides de Paris. Il inaugurait un cycle d’hommage aux anciens combattants africains intitulé « Force Noire - Tirailleurs 2010 » qui comprendra, outre le défilé, la publication d’un manuel scolaire sur ce thème et des expositions.

« La présence de détachements des forces armées africaines sur les Champs-Élysées, leur défilé devant leurs aînés, anciens combattants de l'armée française, sera une image forte de cette année 2010 », a avancé Hubert Falco. « Pendant cent ans, depuis la création des premiers corps de Tirailleurs sénégalais par Napoléon III en 1857 jusqu'aux années 1960, ils ont servi la France avec loyauté, courage, abnégation », a-t-il ajouté.

La « Force noire » était le surnom donné aux troupes coloniales par le général Charles Mangin. Ces troupes étaient également appelées Tirailleurs sénégalais, bien qu’également originaires de plusieurs pays, aujourd'hui la Mauritanie, le Mali, la Guinée, la Côte-d'Ivoire, le Niger, le Burkina Faso ou encore, entre autres, le Bénin et le Tchad.

“The President has invited our African partners to open the parade.” he announced tuesday at the Museum of the Army, at the Invalides of Paris. He opened a cycle of hommage to former African soldiers entitled “Black Forces - Tirailleurs 2010″, which comprises, the parade, but also publication of a school textbook on the theme and other exhibits. ”The presence of African armies on the Champs Elysees, them parading before their elders, veterans of the French army, will be a strong image of the year 2010″ Hubert Falco supposes. During 100 years, since the creation of the Tirailleurs senegalais by Napoleon III in 1857 until the 1960s, they have served France with loyalty, courage, abnegation”, he added. The “Black Force” was the nickname given to colonial troops by the general Charles Mangin. These troops were also called Tirailleurs senegalais, even though they came from many countries, nowadays called Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso, and among others, Benin and Tchad.

Out of 14 countries to which invitations were issued, only Cote d'Ivoire declined, as reported on Afrik.com :

“Les Forces armées nationales de Côte d’Ivoire ne prendront pas part au défilé militaire prévu le 14 juillet à Paris, avec la participation des troupes des anciennes colonies africaines de la France, lit-on sur Abidjan.net. “Le président Gbagbo a tranché, nos troupes ne participeront pas au défilé du 14 juillet. Elles ont d’autres occupations au moment où la Côte d’Ivoire est en guerre”, a expliqué samedi l’ambassadeur de Côte d’Ivoire à Paris, Pierre Aimé Kipré. Il a également rappelé les contentieux qui opposent les deux pays depuis le début de la rébellion, en septembre 2002, notamment la destruction en 2004 de la flotte aérienne ivoirienne par les forces françaises et la mort en 2005 de plusieurs citoyens ivoiriens fauchés par des balles françaises.”

The Ivorian army will not participate in the military parade organized on July 14 in Paris, with the participation of other former African colonies of France, one reads on Abidjan.net. President Gbagbo has decided, our troups will not participate in the parade of July 14. They are otherwise occuped at this time when Cote d'Ivoire is at war”, has explained Pierre Aime Kipre, ambassador of Cote d'Ivore in Paris. He has also reminded the contentious issues opposing the two countries since the beginning of the rebellion, in september 2002, notably destruction in 2004 of the Ivoirian Air force fleet by French forces, and numerous Ivorian citizens' death in 2005 under French bullets.

On Jeune Afrique, Deb comments:

“Mais pourquoi meme défilé en france.. on dit le cinquantenaire d´independance des pays africains et non de l'europe..franchement .Comme si apres 50 ans l´afrique n´est pas capable de feter son anniversaire seule sans impliquations exterieurs.. la CI ny participeras pas, oui j'en suis fiere…”

But why even parade in France… One says this is the Fiftieth anniversaries of African countries, not European ones… Frankly… As if after 50 years Africa is unable to celebrate her anniversary alone, without external interference. Cote d'Ivoire will not take part in this parade and I am proud of it…

For others, this African Bastille Day reflects the ambiguity, the impasse of French politics towards Africa.

On lemonde.fr, one reads:

“que fête-t-on ? A l'évidence, le bilan de ce demi-siècle d'indépendance pour les peuples concernés n'est glorieux ni pour la France ni pour les Etats africains. Rend-on hommage aux sacrifices des tirailleurs coloniaux des deux guerres mondiales ? Pas de quoi pavoiser non plus, puisqu'il a fallu la récente décision du Conseil constitutionnel pour que le principe de l'égalité des pensions des anciens soldats africains et français soit enfin reconnue. Quant au défilé sous l'Arc de triomphe d'armées africaines dont certaines ont participé récemment à de sanglantes répressions, il apparaît pour le moins ambigu.”

What is one celebrating? Evidently the results of this half-century of independence for involved people is not glorious for France, nor for the African states. Does one honor the sacrifices of colonial soldiers under the two world wars? Nothing to be proud of either, because the recent decision of the Constitutionnal Council was sorely needed for the recognition of the principle of equality between retirement benefits for African veterans and French veterans. And seeing African armies parade, under the Arc de Triomphe, some of whom have recently participated in bloody repressions is at the very least ambiguous.

The ambiguity is a common theme reprised across African bloggers.

Joachim Vokouma on lefaso.net:

“A vrai dire, de nombreux Africains s’interrogent sur le sens de la participation des troupes africaines au défilé du 14 juillet. Faut-il rappeler les horreurs, les massacres et les assassinats qui ont jalonné l’occupation coloniale ? Que célèbre t-on ?

La fin du mépris, des humiliations et du paternalisme ? Une Humanité enfin réconciliée ? Que le cinquantenaire des indépendances soit l’occasion, pour ceux dont l’humanité avait été mise entre parenthèse durant l’esclavage et la colonisation, de faire le point sur ce qu’ils ont fait de leur liberté recouvrée est sans doute plus que nécessaire.”

Many Africans wonder about the opportunity of African troops participating at the July 14 parade. Must one recall the horrors, massacres, murders that punctuated colonial occupation? What is one celebrating? The end of contempt, humiliations and paternalism? A finally reconciled Humanity? May the fiftieth anniversary of independances be the opportunity, for those whose humanity was put in between parenthesis during slavery and colonization, to deliberate on what they have done on their recovered freedom.

Image found at www.ldh-toulon.net/spip.php?article297

Mampouya, a Congolese blogger:

“Ce 14 juillet donc, les naïfs spectateurs français s’apprêtent à applaudir ce qu’il faut bien appeler des milices d’Etat (en tout cas au moins pour le Congo Brazzaville) sous couvert d’armées nationales. Prudent, le gouvernement français a pris grand soin d’éviter que les organes de presse “hostiles” rencontrent les membres des détachements militaires invités. Il y aurait-il des choses à cacher ?”

This July 15, the unsuspecting French onlookers are getting ready to applaud what one must call state militias (at least for Congo Brazzaville) masquerading as national armies. The French government has carefully avoided inviting “hostile” media organizations, and they will not meet with military guests. Are they hiding anything?

Joachim Vouakoma again on watching armies with sinister acts parading on the Champs Elysees :

« Verra t-on défiler toutes les armées y compris celles qui ont commis des massacres ? », interroge une journaliste allemande.

Allusion aux massacres de 150 civils commis par l’armée guinéenne fin septembre dernier dans le stade de Conakry. Jacques Toubon qui est tout sauf un néophyte en affaires « françafricaines », feint pourtant l’ignorance, botte en touche et renvoie la question à son auteur : « Pourriez-vous me dire quelles sont les armées qui ont massacré ou qui massacrent ? ». Il finira par révéler que de toute façon, ayant pris son indépendance en 1958 après son refus du référendum de la même année, la Guinée ne faisait pas partie des invités. Au Niger, où un coup d’état a mis fin à la dérive autoritaire de Mamadou Tandja, Paris espère que des élections seront organisées d’ici juillet. Quant au président malgache, c’est en catimini que Jacques Toubon l’a rencontré à Paris et son cas est pour le moins embarrassant.

Will we see armies parading including those who committed massacres, asks a German journalist. Reference to the massacres of 150 civilians committed by the Guinean army end september in the Conakry stadium. Jacques Toubon is all but a newbie in Francafrican business, and feigns ignorance, asks the question back “Can you tell me which armies have massacred or are massacring”. He ends up revealing that after getting its independence in 1958 after having rejected the referendum the same year, Guinea will not be part of the guests. In Niger, where a coup d'etat ended the authoritarian drift of Mamadou Tandja, Paris hopes that elections will be organized by July. As for the Malagasy President, Jacques Toubon met with him in secret in Paris, and his case is at the very least embarrassing.

Alain Rajaonarivony, a Malagasy blogger :

Une quarantaine de militaires de la Grande Ile qui doivent défiler pour le 14 juillet sont depuis hier à Paris. 36 officiers malgaches ont été décorés pour «service rendu à la France». 8 militaires français ont reçu en retour des distinctions, on ne sait trop pourquoi. Roindefo Monja a profité de son séjour hexagonal pour déposer une gerbe au monument des soldats malgaches morts pour la France, au Bois de Vincennes. Et le ministre de l’Education est en train de détricoter complètement les réformes de Marc Ravalomanana pour s’aligner sur le système français. On revient aux trimestres au lieu des bimestres, et au Lycée, on aura désormais les filières S (scientifiques) et L (littéraires) comme en France. Quand on vous dit que tout va bien… !

About forty soldiers of the Great Island who will parade on July 14 have arrived in Paris yesterday. 36 Malagasy officers have been decorated for “rendered services to France”. 8 French soldiers have received in return mentions, one does not really know why. Roindefo Monja (Note of the author : former Prime Minister) has taken advantage of his stay in France to place flowers at the monument of Malagasy soldiers fallen for France, at the Bois de Vincennes. And the minister of Education is busily dismantling Marc Ravalomanana's reform to align the Malagasy educational system with the French one. We are back to trimesters, no more semesters, and we will have now S (Scientific) and L (Literary) high school diploma fields. When I told you everything is all right…

Others wonder why Black African countries are the only one parading:

sans revenir sur les détails du débat, la question à laquelle la France et ses partisans africains ne peuvent pas répondre, c’est de savoir pourquoi c’est l’Afrique Noire seule qui est invitée à cette cérémonie et non pas le Maroc, la Tunisie, l’Algérie, le Vietnam pour ne citer que certaines anciennes colonies françaises?
Cette cérémonie ne commémore pas notre indépendance mais bel et bien notre dépendance. C’est simplement insultant pour les peuples Africains.

Without rehashing the details of this debate, the question that France and her African partners cannot answer is why is it that only black African countries were invited to this ceremony and not Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Vietnam among the former French colonies? This ceremony is not to commemorate our independence but actually our dependence. This is just plainly insulting for African people.

Senegalese historian Fadel Dia on his blog:

:

“le minimum serait d’exiger que la France fasse auparavant ce qu’elle n’a pas fait en 1960 : solder ses comptes à l’endroit de ses anciens combattants d’Afrique, qui l’avaient servie et s’étaient sacrifiés pour elle. Les soldats que Paris se propose d’inviter en 2010 sont les héritiers de ces combattants oubliés dont ils doivent porter les revendications et auxquels la France peut rendre justice, définitivement et solennellement, pour boucler un demi-siècle d’occasions manquées.

…

Si les soldats africains doivent défiler à Paris le 14 juillet 2010, alors que ce soit plutôt les éclopés et les survivants de 39-45, d’Indochine et d’Algérie, pour étaler aux yeux des Français leurs illusions perdues et leur détresse de serviteurs mal récompensés. Il est temps, enfin, que la dette du sang que leur doit la France cesse d’être un « contentieux », pour devenir le « gage d’une histoire commune », que les Tirailleurs Sénégalais ne soient plus, comme le craignait Senghor, des « morts gratuits », que les Français réalisent qu’il ne s’agit pas ici seulement « d’un devoir de mémoire » mais « d’un devoir d’histoire et de vérité » selon le mot du député socialiste Alain Rousset.”

The minimum would be to demand from France that she does what she did not do in 1960 : to settle her accounts towards the African veterans, who have served her and sacrificed themselves. Veterans that Paris invites in 2010 are the heirs of the forgotten veterans whose demands they should endorse, and to whom France can render justice, definitively and solemnly, to bring an end to this half century of missed opportunities. If African soldiers must parade in Paris on July 14 2010, it must be as survivors and war wounded of 39-45, of Indochina and Algerian wars, to showcase to the French their lost illusions and their distress of ill rewarded services. It is time, at last, that the blood debt owed by France ceases to be a “contentious point”, to become “a token of common history”, that the Tirailleurs Senegalais will not be, as Senghor feared, “gratuitous dead”, that the French realize that this is not only a “duty of memory”, but also “a duty of history and truth”, as told by the socialist parlementarian Alain Rousset.

Guinea : Waiting for Presidential Elections

Mialy Andriamananjara — Sat, 29 May 2010 03:50:55 +0000

Despotic Lansana Conte who governed Guinea with an iron fist died in December 2008 after 24 years of power. In the wake of his death, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara grabbed power in a coup in December 2008. On 28 September 2009, a horrific massacre took place in a stadium. It was a rally protesting any attempt by Camara to become President, as Camara had initially promised not to run before changing his mind. The New York Times reports:

“…although many branches of security forces were involved, the presidential guard “Red Berets,” led by Abubakar “Toumba” Diakite, were exceptionally responsible for the violence, firing on, knifing, bayonetting, and gang-raping the fleeing civilians, killing at least 157 people (U.N) and injuring at least 1,200 not just in the stadium but as many fled on streets”.

“Soldiers, many from the Presidential Guard, burst into the stadium and fired at close range on the thousands of people who had gathered there in a carnival-like atmosphere, dancing and praying. Once the troops ran out of ammunition, they attacked the unarmed civilians with daggers, bayonets, bludgeons and even catapults, the report said. People scattered in every direction, and those who paused to help the wounded were gunned down.”

On 3 December 2009, Camara was shot by Abubakar “Toumba” Diakite and was flown to Morocco for medical care. On January 12, 2010 Camara was flown from Morocco to Burkina Faso.

Camara, his deputy Konaté and Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, met in Ouagadougou and agreed on twelve principles to help Guinea return to civilian rule within six months. The agreement stated that the military would not contest the results of presidential elections and Camara would stay exiled. On 21 January 2010 Jean-Marie Doré , the leader of the opposition coalition, which is called the Forces Vives, became Prime Minister of a six-month transition government, responsible for holding the elections and composed of ”10 ministers each from the

military junta, the opposition and the different regions of the country”, in the words of the NYT.

Hope mixed with anxiety reign in Guinea with the announcement of presidential elections to be held on June 27, 2010. These elections are already touted as historic, the first free elections in Guinea since its independence in 1957.

Out of 36 candidates filed with the Supreme Court, 23 men and one woman have been accepted and will be on the ballots at the presidential elections.

The blog Le jour de Guinee has short bios for all the candidates.

Electoral campaign has already started. According to Jeune Afrique :

“Les candidats n’ont d'ailleurs pas attendu l’ouverture officielle de la campagne – le 17 mai – pour commencer la chasse aux électeurs. Dès la fin de mars, les posters des présidentiables étaient placardés dans Conakry : murs, poteaux, arbres, quasi aucun support n’est épargné. Beaux jours en tout cas pour les colleurs d’affiches. « En une seule journée, la semaine dernière, j’ai fait plus de 100?000 francs guinéens [environ 15 euros] », se réjouit Jean Soumah, chômeur de son état. Les imprimeries locales sont débordées. Émissions interactives, interviews des candidats, caravanes, tee-shirts, matchs de football, meetings, agences de communication surbookées : il n’y en a plus que pour la présidentielle.”

Candidates have not waited for the official launch of the campaign - May 17 - to start courting voters. Since end March, posters of the candidates have been hung in Conakry : walls, posts, trees, any support that could be used. Beautiful days for hangers. “In a single day, last week, I made more than 100 000 Guinea Francs [about 15 euros], rejoiced Jean Soumah, a jobless man. Local printers are overwhelmed. Interactive shows, candidate interviews, trucks, tee shirts, soccer games, meetings, communication agencies are overbooked : everything is about the presidential elections”

Who are the candidates?

“Il y a les favoris –Alpha Condé, Cellou Dalein Diallo, Sidya Touré –, les challengers – François Fall et Lansana Kouyaté –, et pléthore de seconds couteaux. Parmi eux, quelques

figures bien connues, comme Ousmane Bah, ennemi juré de Cellou Dalein Diallo?; Aboubacar Somparé, le candidat du Parti de l’unité et du progrès (PUP) de l’ancien président

Lansana Conté; Mamadou Sylla, riche homme d’affaires dont le staff est convaincu qu’il sera « à la Guinée ce que Reagan a été à l’Amérique »; Ousmane Kaba, dissident du parti de Sidya Touré; Kassory Fofana, ancien ministre des Finances de Lansana Conté, qui se définit comme le candidat de la transparence ; l’ancien fonctionnaire international-Almamy Ibrahima Barry, qui n’est pas peu fier d’être le seul Guinéen à avoir osé déclarer sa candidature en 2008 sous Conté.

Alpha Condé, patron du Rassemblement du peuple de Guinée (RPG), persécuté par Conté et longtemps en exil, a fait un retour triomphal le 10 avril à Conakry, où il a été accueilli par une foule énorme (plus de 1 million de personnes, selon son parti). Son principal fief est la Haute-Guinée. ” Il est vu en martyr », admettent quelques-uns de ses rivaux à

la magistrature suprême.” Jeune Afrique

Leading candidates are Alpha Condé, Cellou Dalein Diallo, Sidya Touré, the challengers are François Fall et Lansana Kouyaté, and a plethora of second fiddlers. Amongst those, some well known personalities, like Ousmane Bah, Cellou Dalein Diallo's archenemy; Aboubacar Sompare, a candidate of the PArti de l'unite et du progres (Party of unity and progress) of the former president Lansana Conté; Mamadou Sylla, wealthy businessman whose staff are convinced he will be to Guinea what Reagan was to America; Ousmane Kaba, a dissident of Sidya Toure's party;Kassory Fofana, former Finance Minister of Lansana Conté, who defines himself as the candidate of the transparency; former international civil servant Almamy Ibrahima Barry who is not a little proud to be the only Guinean to have dared announce his candidacy in 2008 under Conté. Alpha Condé, leader of the RPG (Assembly of the people of Guinea), persecuted by Conté and an long time exilee, has returned triumphantly on April 10 in Conakry, where he has been welcomed by a gigantic crowd (according to his party more than a million persons). His stronghold is Haute Guinee. “He is considered a martyr”, admit some of his rivals to presidency.

Among the candidates are also three close allies to Dadis Camara who were implicated in the stadium massacre : Boubacar Barry, Papa Kolie Kouroumah and Bouna Keita.

Getting to the 27 june date has not been easy and Guineans seem uncertain that elections will not be postponed.

One post on Sylvie K's blog hints the June 27 date will not be honored.

“De nombreux signes laissent présager un éventuel report de l'élection présidentielle prévue pour le 27 juin 2010.

En effet, le Général Sékouba KONATE et certains de ses proches sont entrain de souffler le chaud et le froid:

d'une part, mettre tout le monde en confiance pour le respect de la date du 27/06/2010;

et d'autre, se servir du nom des forestiers pour faire planer une menace sur le processus de transition en cours.

La réalité est qu'ils ne veulent pas quitter le pouvoir et pour ce faire, il faut trouver des boucs émissaires bien entendu dans le milieu naturel du Président Dadis CAMARA.

En lieu et place des préparatifs de l'élection présidentielle pour respecter la date indiquée et avoir les résultats des élections libres, transparentes et acceptées de tous, nous assistons à une machination diabolique destinée à mettre en cause la concorde, l'unité nationale et la cohésion sociale.

Il est vrai que nous avons toutes et tous hâtes d'amorcer le changement, est-ce une raison pour nous faire avaler n'importe quoi? Je réponds non. Nous voulons d'une démocratie sans violence, oui c'est possible. Il suffit pour cela dans le contexte actuel, à défaut de la tenue d'une conférence de réconciliation nationale, d'éviter la tenue de tout propos susceptible d'entraver une transition apaisée souhaitée par tous.”

There are many signs that predict a potential reschedule of the presidential elections to be held on June 21 2010. General Sekouba Konate and some of his close allies are trying to make the rules:- on one hand, get people to believe the date of June 27, 2010 will be respected.- on the other hand, use the name of the foresters to hint at threats on the transition process in place. The truth is they do not want to leave power and are finding scapegoats in the surroundings of President Dadis CAMARA. Instead of preparing the presidential elections on the agreed upon date, and hold free, transparent and agreed by all elections, we are witnessing a diabolical manipulation destined to put in place discord, tear apart national unity and social cohesion. It is true we want change but is it a reason to make us believe anything? I think not. We want a democracy without violence, yes it is possible. For this, in the actual situation, if there is no national reconciliation conferences held, to avoid any words that may hinder a peaceful transition that we all wish.

An anxiety echoed on Guinee50 where doubts are not about the military's willingness to relinquish power but on the electoral process (fr):

“Mais, est-ce vraiment possible pendant que les principaux acteurs impliqués à savoir les partis politiques, rejettent le fichier électoral entaché de fraudes pré-électorales

ainsi que tant d'autres irrégularités?

Rien n'est sûr encore. La CENI ne fait que trébuchér et le plus gros risque que l'on minimise aujourd'hui- s'il y a report du scrutin - c'est bien la santé du Président de la transition: le Général Sékouba Konaté. C'est une préoccupation majeure qui doit être prise en compte car c'est la seule garantie pour la réussite de la transition. A chaque fois qu'il effectue un déplacement à l'étranger il reçoit des soins ce qui justifie d'ailleurs ses longs séjours.

Nous ferons bien si ce décret résistera aux contestations fondées dans une certaines mesures sur de éléments essentiels d'une élection crédible, transparente et acceptable.Ce qui est sûr à lumière de ce décret, c'est la volonté du Général à céder le fauteuil. Le moins sûr est la capacité de la CENI à présenter d'ici la date prévue, une liste acceptable même si celle-ci n'est pas complète car elle ne sera jamais.”

Will the elections be possible while principal actors, meaning the political parties, reject the voters' list with many pre election frauds and many other irregularities? Nothing is certain yet. The CENI (Note of the author : Electoral committee) has kept stumbling and the greatest risk, minimized today if there is a rescheduling of the elections, is the state of health of the Transition President : General Sekouba Konate. This major concern has to be taken into account, because it is the only warranty for transition to succeed. Each time he is abroad, he gets medical care, which justifies his long stays. We will do great if this resolution resists to the founded arguments based on the lack of essential conditions to trustworthy, transparent and acceptable elections. What is sure, is the General's will to cede power. The least certain is the CENI's ability to present an acceptable, even if incomplete, voters' list by the scheduled date.

Yet another comment on Sylvie's blog revolts and does not agree that elections should be held in any conditions:

“Pauvre de nous,nous n'avons plus que nos yeux pour pleurer !

Selon mes informations la populatin à n'zérékoré avoisinerait les 800 000 habitant.Ce président à la solde de la françafrique qu'on veut nous imposer pour finaliser le bradage de la guinée est tout simplement révoltant.Il parait :”Qu'il vaut mieux une election imparfaite à une election reporter.C'est tout dire ! Je suis tout simplement outrée d'entendre de tels propos.Que Dieu protège la guinée et les véritables patriotes qui se battant pour le rayonnement de cette belle nation que nous aimons tant.Amen !”

Poor us, we only have our eyes left to cry with !According to my sources, the N'Zerekore population would be close to 800 thousands. This president working for the Francafrique that they want to impose on us to finalize the cheap sale of Guinea is simply revolting. They say “Better an imperfect election than a rescheduled one.” That says it all ! I am simply outraged to hear this. May God protect Guinea and the true patriots who fight for the glory of this beautiful nation we love so much. Amen!

Other voters communicate their thirst for “clean” candidates.

“je doute de la moralité des candidats qui n'ont jamais travaillé pour l'administration et qui se reclament avoir les mains propres.on ignore tout de leur passé,la plupart d'entre eux n'ont pas occupé de grands postes;donc rien ne prouve s'ils sont propres ou pas,en plus quelle experience de l'Etat ont-ils?où etaient-ils pendant que les autres se faisaient bastonner par les fous de Dadis le 28 septembre? on apprend pas à diriger une fois arrivé au pouvoir. le plus important pour moi,c'est de servir le pays et en sortir les mains propres.je voterai pour un homme dans cette situation”.

“I doubt morality of candidates who have never held public office and who claim to have their hands clean. We know nothing of their past, most of them have not held high responsibility positions; nothing proves that they are honest or not, and what public office experience do they have? Where were they when others were getting murdered by Dadis's crazies on Sseptember 28? One does not learn to lead once in power. The most important thing for me, is to serve the country and leave power with clean hands. I will vote for a similar man.”

Dadis Camara retains supporters who wonder about his fate, the captain who did the Christmas coup, under whose watch the stadium massacre took place, himself a victim of assassination attempt, and who is now a convalescent exiled in Burkina Faso.

“…quel sort réserve-t-on au capitaine Moussa Dadis Camara président de la république et président du CNDD ?

Cet homme que nous soutenons depuis janvier 2009, victime injuste d’une tentative d’assassinat le 03 décembre 2010 ; et aujourd’hui en exil forcé au Burkina-Faso. Par le bon

vouloir de la France de Sarkozy ; et la volonté de Kouchner.

C’est pour réclamer haut et fort son retour dans son pays, ici et maintenant ; que nous sommes rassemblés ce matin ; criant notre colère et notre indignation face au silence complice des autorités guinéennes ; et l’indifférence de la communauté internationale.

Cosignataire des accords de Ouagadougou, il nous paraît incongru et injuste que celui-là même qui est le père de cette transition pacifique, soit absent du territoire national.

Source de frustrations pour ses milliers de partisans que nous sommes, humiliés à travers leur idole Dadis Camara. “

“Which fate has been reserved to captain Moussa Dadis Camara, president of the Republic and president of the CNDD? This man we are supporting since January 2009, unfairly a victim of a murder attempt on december 3, 2010, and now in forced exile in Burkina Faso. By the will of Sarkozy's and Kouchner's France. We are demanding his return to the country, here and now ; we rallied this morning, shouting our wrath to the complicit silence of the Guinean authorities; the international community's indifference. As a cosigner of the Ouagadougou agreements, it appears unfair and weird that the one who was the father of this peaceful transition should be absent from the nation. It is frustrating to his thousands of supporters, humiliated through the treatment of their idol Dadis Camara.”

France is finding herself accused of meddling and wanting to establish her own man in gas rich Guinea insists she is not supporting anybody in particular.

“Ce scrutin historique n'appartient qu'aux Guinéens. La France, aux côtés de ses autres partenaires, apporte toute sa contribution pour soutenir le processus électoral. Elle ne soutient aucun candidat.”

These historical elections belong to Guineans only. France, with her other partners, brings her support to complete the electoral process. France does not favor any candidate”

On Guinee50, an appeal is done to vote without ethnic concerns.

“La Guinée, c'est Nous les Jeunes. Ensemble,Refusons en bloc tout Vote Ethnique ce jour Historique du 27 juin”

Guinea belongs to us, young people. Together, let us reject ethnic vote on the historical day of June 27.

Bloggers React to Gunfights and Change in Government in Madagascar

Mialy Andriamananjara — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:21:19 +0000

On May 20, Antananarivo was the scene of deadly gunfights between 21 FIGN elements, the elite National Gendarmes Intervention Force (FIGN), and the soldiers of the governmental EMMOREG. As reported by Voice of America :

“Officials in Madagascar's capital say one person was killed and five others wounded when rival security forces exchanged gunfire Thursday.

Witnesses say shooting broke out when army and military police (gendarme) forces confronted members of an elite police unit that was reported to be protesting abuses by their superiors.

Military police Colonel Richard Ravalomanana said 21 members of the unit were involved in the clash and remained holed up in their barracks. He said the man killed was a military police officer.”

The FIGN had intended to protect an anti-Rajoelina rally, during which the HFM would be present. The day before the gunfights, the FIGN had called for people to come attend the rally, saying they would ensure manifestants' safety.

Citoyenne Malgache was on the scene :

“

On regarde les mouvements des véhicules et on écoute les échanges de tir. On voit la voiture du FIS qui revient (un autre coup de feu pour intimider) avec une 4×4 et une ambulance, et remontent à Antanimora. Contrairement à celle de la Croix Rouge qui était déjà là, cette ambulance en question montera jusqu’au premier barrage (une personne importante à évacuer ? Serait-ce Lylison ? ) puis redescendre avec la 4×4.

De notre poste d’observation, on a vu la 4×4 s’arrêter au carrefour et les militaires qui étaient dedans sont descendus avec leurs armes à lacrymogène… pour disperser les gens, puisqu’apparemment ils craignaient surement une autre attaque à coup de briques. Je ne sais pas de quoi nous avions l’air sur notre poste d’observation, mais les malins, ils nous ont visés !
La bombe est tombée juste à côté, sur le balcon d’une maison dont les occupants ne s’attendaient sûrement pas à être enfumés ainsi. (cette maison n’est même pas au bord de la route).”

“We are watching the vehicles'movements and are listening to the exchanges of gunfire. The FIS's car comes back (with another shot to scare us) with another SUV and an ambulance, and they climb up to Antanimora. This ambulance, unlike the Red Cross one which was already on site, will only drive up to the first barricade before climbing down again with the SUV (an important person to evacuate? Would it be Lylison ? Note of the Author : Lylison is one of FIS's leaders.
From our observation post, we see the SUV stop at the crossroads and the soldiers got off with their teargas weapons…to disperse the crowd, because apparently they feared another bricks attack. I do not know what we looked like but they aimed at us!
The grenade fell right near by, on the balcony of a house whose owners probably did not expect to be so smoked out. (this house is not even situated along the road). “

Freshly arrived from the Global Voices Summit in Santiago, Avylavitra and Jentilisa report on the event.

Jentilisa thinks the mutiny was doomed.

“Hitako fa tsy nivonona ho amina tolona fifampiarovana mahery vaika ny mpandala ny ara-dalàna nanaraka ny HMF. Tsy tokony ho navela hiasa irery ireo mpitandro ny filaminana niaro ny mpitolona fa nampiana tosika avy taty ivelany. Mitoetra hatrany ilay tsy fananana rindran-damina tokony ho nanaovana izany.”

“I think the legalists allied to the HMF were not ready to use violent means. The military police who protected the manifestants should not have worked alone, but should have had outside support. Strategy to achieve this was lacking.”

Avylavitra took pictures.

The soldiers' infighting was long in coming. The FIGN had found themselves at odds with Andry Rajoelina's Haute Autorite de la Transition (High Authority of Transition), the current de facto administration, which got in power last year, after a coup by Andry Rajoelina, supported by the FIS , routed elected President Marc Ravalomanana out of the country. The FIGN's revendications were the disappearance of 500 million Malagasy ariary, financed by Marc Ravalomanana. This they argue was never redistributed. Another source of contention was the repression by the HAT of any public manifestation on any other space than the parking lot of Ravalomanana's looted and ravaged grocery store.

“The mutinous group argues that General Bruno Razafindrakoto failed to redistribute some 500 million Malagasy ariary allocated to their garrison by Marc Ravalomanana in 2009. They also claim that on May 5, the FIGN had called for the replacement of the transitional government by a “military committee” which would be open to all political parties.”

An investigation to determine the fate of the 500 million Malagasy ariary was promised but got nowhere.

To Ndimby, a blogger, the sources of the armed forces conflict are even deeper :

“Les manœuvres de Didier Ratsiraka, l’incompétence dans le domaine de l’armée de Marc Ravalomanana, le tout parachevé par les manœuvres de déstabilisation de Rajoelina pour pouvoir nourrir ses ambitions : nul n’est besoin de revenir sur tout ça…Face à une armée déjà fragilisée par des décennies de gestion artisanale par les politiciens, Rajoelina a introduit auprès de certains militaires les germes du sacrilège : faire croire à des officiers et des soldats qu’on pouvait désobéir et n’en faire qu’à sa tête, sous prétexte de prendre ses responsabilités ; enseigner à la classe politique que la manipulation de groupes militaires pour soutenir un combat politique était non seulement permis, mais en plus rentable. Dans ce cadre, aujourd’hui, la discipline est-elle toujours la force principale des armées ? Et les forces tiennent-elles depuis un an plus de l’ordre ou du désordre ? Comment expliquer tous ces actes délicteux auxquels des militaires sont rattachés ? Pourquoi le sinistrement célèbre FIS, sans existence juridique jusqu’à ce jour de l’aveu de son ancien chef le lieutenant-colonel Charles Randrianasoavina, n’est pas démantelé alors qu’en plus certains de ses membres sont associés à des faits bizarres pour des forces dites de l’ordre ? En vertu de quoi le civil Alain Ramaroson se promène-t-il avec autant de militaires sous ses ordres ?”

Didier Ratsiraka's manoeuvering, Marc Ravalomanana's incompetent handing of the armed forces, all this topped with Rajoelina's acts of destabilization to nourish his ambitions : it is not helpful to rehash all this again…To an army already weakened by decades of artisanal management by politicians, Rajoelina has introduced amongst some soldiers sacrilegeous seeds : convincing officers and soldiers that one can disobey and follow one's own wants only, under the pretext of taking one's responsibilities; teaching the political class that manipulating military groups to support a political struggle was not only allowed, but also beneficial. In this context, today, is discipline still the main strength of the armed forces? Are the armed forces orderly or disorderly? How to explain all misdeeds committed by soldiers? What are the reasons the infamous FIS, until today without judicial existence, as acknowledged by its former chief, the lieutenant colonel Charles Randrianasoavina, has not been dismantled, while some of its members are associated with bizarre acts for groups called to establish the order? Why can the civilian Alain Ramaroson walk around with so many soldiers at his beck and call?

This clash between religious leaders and the army was predictable. Protestant Ravalomanana had taken care of Protestant churches during his presidency and many had resented this privilege, viewing that separation of State and church had been violated. There is no better illustration for this than the surprising scene of a mass being held in proximity of the FIGN barracks while gunshots were being exchanged, and supporters' cheering in the background.

The consequences of the gunfights on the scheduled second talk of negotiations in Pretoria are still unclear. Rajoelina's HAT did not waste time in pointing fingers to Ravalomanana :

“The events witnessed in the capital are proof of former president Marc Ravalomanana's desire to escalate the situation,” said a statement issued by Rajoelina's office. ”Marc Ravalomanana is attempting to sow civil strife,” the statement said.

AFP

Former Mozambican president, Joachim Chissano, who is facilitating the Pretoria talks, was not spared :

“The statement from Rajoelina's office also accused former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, the chief foreign mediator in the Madagascan crisis, of serving Ravalomanana's interests.
Several mediation attempts have already failed but Chissano has proposed a new round of talks in Pretoria with Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and two other former presidents.
Ravalomanana has already expressed his willingness to resume negotiations but Friday's statement by Rajoelina's office was unequivocal, accusing Chissano of “meddling” in the island's affairs.”

AFP

Three days after the fighting, Andry Rajoelina has dissolved yet another government and reformed a new one, with the military holding some of the posts.

“Madagascar strongman Andry Rajoelina reshuffled his government on Monday, adding five more military men, in the latest move in Indian Ocean island's protracted political crisis.

Rajoelina, who grabbed power in an army-backed coup in March 2009, appointed generals as head of the armed forces and police, with military men also taking the health, fishing and environment ministries.

Prime Minister Camille Vital, a retired general, remains at the top of the government.”

Another victim of the fighting is freedom of speech. Consistently during this crisis, radio stations have been closed, journalists harassed.

Last Friday was not an exception : Radio Fahazavana, a radio sympathetic to the ousted Ravalomanana and belonging to Reformed Protestant churches, has been closed down. Radio Fahazavana's journalists have been arrested. A week before, Radio Frequence Plus had been savagely attacked by people in civilian clothes and the opposition leaders it was interviewing have been arrested and are still languishing in jail. The Newspapers La Gazette de la Grande Ile's offices were attacked.

The Committee to Protect Journalists protests :

“We condemn this brutal raid on radio station Fréquence Plus,” said Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. “For too long, Malagasy journalists have been the victims of political feuds. The government must clarify who was behind this raid and compensate the station for all damages.””

Once again investigations have been promised, and accountability demanded.
The simple Antananarivo citizen has been living since December 2008 in mayhem and chaos. As Mpakavato, a blogger testifies:

“Mampalahelo ny zavatra miseho satria ny Malagasy samy Malagasy no mifamono. Noho ny fitiavan-tena sy voninahitra. Anjaranao ny miheritreritra!! Mbola mipetraka ho baraingo hoan'ny rehetra ny ampitso sy ny hoaviny Firenena. Mbola hisy indray ve ny fifampitifirana? Manao ahoana ny mety ho fidangan'ny vidim-piainana? Marim-pototra ve ny vaovao voaray? Maro ireo tsaho miparitaka,iza no Marina? Mihorohoro sy mandry ivoho ny antsy ny mponina eto Iarivo.”

“It is sad that Malagasies kill each other. For selfishness and power greed. The future for all of us and the Malagasy nation is in jeopardy. Will there be more gunfights? How high will cost of living get? Can one believe the news spread? There are so many rumors, what to believe? Terror and anxiety are the lot of Antananarivo. ”

The final tally of dead has been revised up since. Among them, Yvon Ranaivo Arison, a Pastor of the Reformed Church (FJKM) who was shot in muddy circumstances (reportedly shot in the back), and buried on May 25, attracting a large crowd of mourners. Jentilisa posts pictures .

Madagascar: New Threats to Protestant Church and Free Speech

Mialy Andriamananjara — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:01:06 +0000

The beginning of the year in Madagascar has been marked with yet more protests where protesters have been fired upon and the harassment of those perceived as close to the former regime of Marc Ravalomanana, including several journalists and the protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.

VOA writes:

“Security forces in Madagascar used tear gas to break up opposition marchers in the capital, Antananarivo, on Wednesday.

The protesters were marching to the presidential palace to deliver a letter to military-backed leader Andry Rajoelina. The letter asked Mr. Rajoelina if he still supports reconciliation as a way to end the country's political turmoil.”

Two journalists working for Radio Fahazavana, Lôlô Ratsimba and Didier Ravoahangiarison, have been arrested. Radio Fahazavana is a radio station close to the FJKM, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, of which the closest denomination would be Presbyterian. Former President Marc Ravalomanana had been vice president of the FJKM, a closeness that worried some and was criticized by Ravalomanana's adversaries as a violation of the separation of church and state.

Another journalist, Jaona Raoly , has been temporarily released. Lôlô Ratsimba and Didier Ravoahangiarison are accused of being accomplices to the aborted military mutiny that happened at dawn on December 29. The online news section of Moov reports the arrests :

“Accusé de complicité avec les auteurs de la mutinerie au RAS (Régiment d'Appui et de Soutien), on reproche à Lôlô Ratsimba d'être le premier et le seul journaliste à avoir été présent à Ampahibe le 29 décembre au petit matin, c'est à dire au moment des faits. Le journaliste a nié jusqu'au bout son inculpation. « D'abord, j'étais arrivé à Ampahibe ce 29 décembre à 5h30 du matin et non à 4h. Ensuite, Si je me suis rendu sur les lieux, c'est parce qu'un auditeur de la radio Fahazavana qui habite aux alentours d'Ampahibe, m'a informé de l'existence de la mutinerie. (…) Quant à Didier Ravoahangiarison, qui n'est autre que le directeur de la radio Fahazavana, il est accusé de ne pas avoir prévenu les forces de l'ordre alors qu'il aurait été au courant de tout, bien avant les faits…”

“Accused of complicity with the mutineers of the RAS (Regiment of Assistance and Support), one reproaches to Lolo that he was the one and only journalist to be present at Ampahibe on December 29 in the early morning, when the attempted mutiny occurred. The journalist denied the accusation. “First, I arrived to Ampahibe on December 29, at 5.30am and not at 4.00am. Second, I came there, because a listener of radio Fahazavana who lives in the surroundings of Ampahibe had informed me of the mutiny.”…Didier Ravoahangiarison, the director of radio Fahazavana, is accused of not having warned the authorities, while he would have been aware of the mutiny, way before it happened.”

A letter from Pastor Rasendrahasina, president of the FJKM is reproduced in a forum. In it Rasendrahasina states a worry that the Andry Rajoelina regime is hounding the church. Pasteur Rasendrahasina had to take refuge in the US for a while after Ravalomanana was toppled.

“People think I'm kind of his adviser. They took me as a kind of hostage,” he said. “I had to move from place to place (after my release). I didn't sleep at home. So we decided to get away from the country for awhile.”

He is now back in Madagascar. His letter states:

“The detention of the FJKM journalists follows a long series of actions taken against Radio Fahazavana by the HAT coup d’etat government, including the kidnapping and holding as a hostage of Mr. Ravohangiharison’s wife for about 48 hours on 25 June 2009 to get her husband to turn himself in to the gendarmerie for questioning. The HAT government recently prevented Lolo Ratsimba from returning to Madagascar from a meeting in Maputo and then from Johannesburg. Recently, on 21 December, the HAT minister of communications ordered Radio Fahazavana to take its news and call-in programs off the air for a month. (…)

A number of pastors have decided to speak out against injustice. On December 28, they held an ecumenical worship service calling for justice and denouncing human rights violations and persecution of the church. Several pastors who took part have been slandered in pro-HAT press and are on alert in case action is taken against them. This same group of pastors is planning to have a similar worship service tomorrow 9 January. Didier Ravohangiharison was to have testified about the persecution of Radio Fahazavana at this worship service.”

The church yesterday organized a service that was well attended. Picture from the pro-Ravalomanana website Collectif GTT.

Antsahamanitra Religious Service

As reported by Avylavitra:

“Hita nanatrika ny fotoana teny Antsahamanitra androany ny mpanao politika toa an-dry Mamy Rakotoarivelo sy Rabetsitonta.
Marobe ny olona tonga nanatrika ny fotoana, ary saiky ireo mpomba ny filoha teo aloha Ravalomanana no nameno ny kianjan’Antsahamanitra “

“Many were those who attended the service in Antsahamaitra today, among those are politicians like Mamy Rakotoarivelo and Rabetsitonta. Many attended and most of them are supporters of former President Ravalomanana. “

Some wonder if the church is now paying its closeness with former President Ravalomanana. Tananews had this analysis:

“L’Eglise de Jesus Christ à Madagascar (FJKM) commence à payer cher sa trop grande « proximité » avec l’ancien Président Marc Ravalomanana. La FJKM a ainsi vu passer l’année 2009 avec son Président Lala Rasendrahasina molesté à Antanimena, ses églises cambriolées et dépouillées, ses prêtres menacés, des menaces et des rumeurs de fermetures de certaines églises, la censure de l’émission « Ampejika » sur la Radio Fahazavana, proche de la FJKM et enfin cerise sur le gâteau, l’assujettissement de la FJKM à l’impôt sur le bénéfice des sociétés (IBS) à 23%. La FJKM semble s’être faite beaucoup d’ennemis sous les années Marc Ravalomanana et semble payer cher sa (trop grande?) implication dans la politique nationale. La laïcité de l’État de nouveau à l’ordre du jour ?”

“The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) is beginning to pay for being too “close” to former President Marc Ravalomanana. The FJKM has seen during the year 2009 its President Lala Rasendrahasina molested in Antanimena, its churches robbed and burglarized, its pastors threatened, menaces and rumors of closings of some churches, the censorship of the program “Ampejika” on radio Fahazavana, close to the FJKM, and the cherry on the cake, the subjection of the church to taxation, similar to a private company, at 23%. The FJKM seems to have gained many enemies under Ravalomanana and seems to pay for its too great involvement in national politics. Is the separation of state and church again in question in Madagascar? ”

FJKM service of January 09 2010 from http://collectif-gtt.org/

In 2009, the Council of Christian Churches had attempted to serve as a mediator between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina. Since 1980, the Council had mediated many political crises successfully, drawing on its moral and religious leadership. This time, although roundtables were organized, the members of the Council themselves emerged as the image of Madagascar–divided, weakened and biased (see H. Exc. Mons. Razanakolona's intervention on Radio Vaticana).

The Year that Was in Madagascar : Part III

Mialy Andriamananjara — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:01:07 +0000

Earlier, Lova Rakotomalala gave us an overview of Madagascar in the first months of 2009 and the events that lead to the coup d'etat that brought Andry Rajoelina, former mayor of Antananarivo, to power. Mialy followed with the next several months, which saw more protests, the boycott of Rajoelina at the UN, the strength of Malagasy citizen media, and a devastating toxic spill. Here, she continues by taking a look at the events which marked the final month of the last decade.

December 2009

Negotiations in Maputo and yet another new Prime Minister

Only former Presidents Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka and Zafy attended the next round of power sharing negotiations in Maputo at the invitation of Mozambique's president, Joachim Chissano. The negotiations concluded with details on sharing the highest state offices and ministries. Rajoelina boycotted the negotiations and later called the opposition parties “putschists”. He then barred them from returning home. They were stranded first in Maputo, then in Johannesburg. Instead of negotiations, Rajoelina announced the organization of parliamentarian elections on March 20, 2010, as reported by Voice of America:

“Madagascar's leader Andry Rajoelina has called for parliamentary elections after rejecting negotiations aimed at ending the crisis caused by his military-backed take-over of the country earlier this year.

The head of Madagascar's transitional authority, Andry Rajoelina, announced on national television that elections would be held on March 20 for a new parliament which would choose the next prime minister and draft a new constitution.”

Meanwhile, the consensus prime minister agreed upon in October was removed, replaced by Cecile Manorohanta, a former Minister of defense under Ravalomanana, and Madagascar's first female Prime Minister. She did not last long however, as Rajoelina replaced her with a military official one day after nominating her. Madagascar's Prime Minister is now Colonel Vital Albert Camille. The BBC reports:

“The consensus Prime Minister, Eugene Mangalaza, was sacked by Mr Rajoelina on Friday and replaced by Col Vital Albert Camille. Mr Mangalaza's sacking came just a day after Mr Rajoelina called a parliamentary election for 20 March 2010.

But local observers, quoted by Reuters, have expressed concerns that an election organised unilaterally by a military-led government will lack credibility. “

On December 22, protesters are fired upon again in the capital.

Then a mutiny is organized but fails. Mydago.com publishes the mutiny declaration of some low level military officials. Avylavitra took pictures of the barracks where the mutiny took place.

Jentilisa thinks it was all for show, and the mutiny was somehow staged, a fake.

“Nandalo teny aho, tanaty fiarakaretsaka, ny alahady hariva ary gaga raha nahatsikaritra fa tsy nahita na dia vata-miaramila iray aza niambina ny vavahadin'ireo toby rehetra teny sy ny vavahadin'ny biraon'ny minisiteran'ny Fiarovana. Mpijerijery hatrany ny zavamisy ny tena, noho izany, efa niahiahy zavatra hafahafa sahady aho raha nanana io tsikaritra io. Amin'ny fotoanan'ny hotakotaka indray ve vao tsy misy miambina ny toby? Na misy fandrika mivelatra eo na efa misy fifanarahana miafina eo amin'ny samy miaramila indrindra fa eo amin'ny lohandohan'ireto miaramila ireto. Efa nisy fanomezantoky eo amin'ny fifanarahana hatao sahady angamba hoe ataovy amin'izay ny iraka nampanaovina anareo fa navelanay malalaka ny toerana hanaovanareo azy!
Tsy tena gaga loatra aho ny maraina raha nandre fa nisy fikomiana nataona vatamiaramila notarihina manamboninahitra lefitra tamin'ny toby iray tetsy Ampahibe ity. Vao maika moa tsy gaga mihitsy aho raha nandre fa voafehy vetivety ihany ilay
fikomiana sady nanaiky hosamborina mora foana ilay mpitarika ity fikomiana sandoka ity. Dia efa fandre sy mahazatra ihany koa raha malaza avy hatrany fa nahitana volabe teny an-toerana ary nanaiky avy hatrany ireo mpandray anjara fa nandray vola tamin'ny fanaovana ity fikomiana ity. Dia nisy koa ny solombavam-bahoaka notondroina no nanome ny vola hanaovana ilay hetsika. Hita avy hatrany fa fihetsiketsehana fotsiny no betsaka ary misy ny fandrihana”.

“I passed by the barracks, in a taxi, on Sunday evening and was surprised to notice that the barracks and the Defense Ministry were not guarded by a single soldier. I worried already when I observed this. How are barracks not protected during troubled times like this? Either some trap is laid or some hidden agreement is brewing between soldiers especially their leaders. Perhaps there was even assurance given that the mutineers could now do the work they were sent to do as the barracks were now theirs to do with as they wished!
I was not very surprised in the morning to hear that some soldiers led by enlisted officers were mutinying at barracks in Amparibe. I was even less surprised to hear that this fake mutiny was very quickly controlled and the leader of mutineers let himself easily be captured. One is now also used to hear that a lot of money was found on the mutineers and they readily agreed that they were paid to mutiny. Then a parliamentarian was designated as the one who did the bribery. One can see that it was all for show and a plot. “

Madagascar is banned from AGOA

In a post titled “AGOA Obituary”, Ndimby writes:

“Pour 2010, sortie par la petite porte donc pour trois pays : la Guinée de Moussa Dadis Camara ; le Niger de Mamadou Tandja ; Madagascar d'Andry Rajoelina. Au niveau des chiffres de l’AGOA en 2008, les Etats-Unis avaient importé pour 324 millions USD de Madagascar, 106 millions USD de la Guinée et 44 millions USD du Niger. “

“In 2010, disgraceful exit for three countries : Moussa Dadis Camara's Guinea, Mamadou Tandja's Niger, Andry Rajoelina's Madagascar. Thanks to the AGOA, in 2008, the USA had imported $324 millions from Madagascar, $106 millions from Guinea and $44 millions from Niger. “

Twitterers had followed's campaign to ask the US government to spare Madagascar. Is it moral to punish ordinary citizens who work in the AGOA factoriesand who will lose their jobs, when the country is barred from the AGOA because of non democratic acts committed by their leaders?

In the same post, Ndimby asks :

“Les 100.000 employés des entreprises franches avaient les moyens de peser dans la balance : pourquoi ne sont-ils pas sortis dans la rue pour manifester de manière visible ? Car 100.000 personnes et leurs familles qui protestent pour protéger leurs emplois, c’est quand même plus noble et plus crédible que 5.000 à 10.000 pelés et tondus sur une place publique, qui se prétendent « peuple malgache »”.

“The 100,000 employees of the export processing zones had the means to throw their weight in: why did they not go demonstrate visibly in the streets? 100,000 persons and their families who protest to protect their livelihood, that has more nobility and credibility than 5,000 to 10,000 followers on a public place, who pretend to represent the “Malagasy people”. “

Achille52 writes ironically that new technologies will now be substituted for the AGOA :

“Maintenant que l’AGOA est parti sous d’autres cieux, on se demande que faire de ces milliers de chomeurs qui vont affluer
dans les mois à venir. Mais faut pas s’inquiéter ! La HAT a trouvé Ze Solution… Les nouvelles technologies !! Je ne voudrais
pas toujours jouer l’oiseau de malheur, mais cette idée est digne d’un conte de fée. En premier messieurs, il faudrait
essayer de réduire la fracture numérique pour que tout le monde puisse se connecter…et travailler le cas échéant. Ensuite, il faut des formations sérieuses, et non pas ces centres à la con où l’on apprend juste à utiliser le clavier. “

“Now that the AGOA has gone to other skies, one wonders what to do in the future months with the thousands of jobless workers. But one should not worry for nothing. The HAT has found The Solution… New technologies!! I do not want to be the bird of ill omen, but this idea belongs to a fairy tale. First, sir, one should reduce the digital divide so everyone can get connected… and eventually work online. Then serious training is needed, not those stupid centers where one is simply taught to use the keyboard.”

Avylavitra has a different take, criticizing international agreements and organizations that come with strings attached:

“Nosoniavina ity AGOA ity, hay izy ity rehefa taty aoriana, lasa fitaovana anankiray hanaovana “pression politique” avy
amin’ilay tany matanjaka mifanaraka amin’ny tena.”[…]
“Tsy misy nifampieràna fa tonga dia mambran’ny SADC isika, hay ity SADC ity aty aoriana: “handefa miaramila izahay e”,
“hanaovanay ’sanction’ ianareo e”, “hanaovanay ohatran’izao ianareo”.[…]
Mazava izany ny politikan’ny firenena matanjaka e, ny fanjakàna izay tohanany ny azy no problemany fa tsy ilay vahoaka
mahantra ao amin’izany firenena izany. Resaka fotsiny ity ilay hoe: “lutte contre la pauvreté” e, tena izany dia hypocrisie
internationale, fihatsarambelatsihy eo amin’ny sehatra iraisam-pirenena. Anisany ity resaka droits de l’homme ity, izay
champion amin’ny fiarovana an’izany ny Amerikana. Ary maro amin’ny organismes international no miady amin’ny firenen-dehibe amin’ity fanaovana embargo ity, satria ny fanaovana embargo dia midika ho misy ampahan’olona maro “victimes”, lasibatra noho izany embargo izany. Noho ny inona. Noho ny caprice politique, ny hoe “tsy mety aminay ity fa ity no mety aminay“, dia ny firenena manontolo no atao takalon’aina ao anatin’izany.[…]
Tena Andry Rajoelina ve no problème? Ratsiraka ve? Ravalomanana ve? Zafy Albert ve no problème eto amin’ny firenena? Sao dia mba tsara jerena tanteraka mihitsy hoe fa inona marina no tena véritable combat atrehantsika eto Madagasikara amin’izao fotoana izao?”

“The AGOA was signed, who knew later one, it would become a tool of political pressure by the powerful country who signed it with you. […]
We were not asked, but we became members of the SADC, who knew the SADC would later say :we are sending soldiers, we will impose sanctions on you, we will do this we will do that. […]
The policies of powerful countries are clear, their concern is the government they support and not the poor citizens of these governments. All that “fight against poverty” is just talk, it is international hypocrisy. The same for human rights, of which Americans are the champions. Many of these international organizations fight against these powerful countries with their habit of doing embargoes, because embargoes result in many victim. Why. Because of political caprices, because “this is not good for us, this is what is good for us”, whole countries are held hostages. […]
Is Andry Rajoelina really the problem? Ratsiraka? or Ravalomanana? Is Zafy Albert the problem? Should we really look at what is the real fight here in Madagascar?”

Sad news kept coming. Jacques Sylla passed away. Jacques Sylla, the heir of a prominent political family, had been a Prime Minister under Marc Ravalomanana, later his chief negotiator during the crisis. He then joined the ranks of Rajoelina's supporters and was seen with Rajoelina later on demanding that Ravalomanana quit.

This about face was severely judged by some, but a more measured opinion is expressed by Patrick, who also thinks Sylla's case illustrates the complications of Malagasy politics.

“Jacques Sylla était foncièrement un homme du centre, et les hommes du centre peuvent être aussi bien considérés comme des médiateurs qui rééquilibrent la balance lorsque le moment le nécessite, que critiqués par les radicaux comme étant des opportunistes prêts à manger à tous les rateliers.
Durant l’essentiel de sa carrière, Jacques Sylla aura démontré qu’il n’était pas un simple beni oui oui. Cela fut
particulièrement visible lorsqu’il était Premier Ministre de Marc Ravalomanana, et lorsqu’il ne le fut plus, par contraste
des situations et du comportement de l’exécutif. Élu Président de l’Assemblée, il prouva également qu’il n’entendait
nullement encourager cette institution à être un organe godillot, quitte à être
incompris.
[…]
C’est pourtant le même homme qui en 2002, prit d’assaut le palais de Mahazoarivo malgré la signature des accords de Dakar et organisa des milices que l’on appelait pudiquement « réservistes”.

“Jacques Sylla was innately a centrist, and centrists may be considered by mediators as those who reestablish balance when needed, or criticized by radicals as opportunists ready to put their fingers in every pie.
During most of his career, Jacques Sylla demonstrated he was no yes man. It was particularly obvious when he was Marc Ravalomanana's Prime Minister, and when he was not, in contrast of situations and behaviors of executive officials. Elected as President of the National Assembly, he proved as well that he did not want to encourage this institution to be a rubber stamping organization, even at the risk of being misunderstood.
[…]
However the same man, in 2002, assaulted the Mahazoarivo palace, despite the agreements of Dakar, and organized militias which were then tactfully called “reservists” “

A small consolation in this deluge of bad news during what is truly a “annus horribilis” (Ndimby) : the shipment of protected but pillaged Malagasy rosewood was successfully stopped due to international campaigns.
Since March 2009, there were reports of pillages :

“Armed gangs are logging rosewood and other valuable hardwoods from Marojejy and Masoala parks in Madagascar following abandonment of posts by rangers in the midst of the island nation's political crisis, reports marojejy.com and local sources. “

The Madagascar Rainforest Massacre is illustrated by a compelling video on youtube. Madagascar Rainforest Massacre

But this one shipment was stopped :

“The shipment, which would have been transported by Delmas, a French shipping company, had been scheduled for December 21st or 22nd out of the port of Vohemar.”

To continue with ecological and positive news, Patrick, of FOKO, participated via video conference to COP15 and did some truly amazing awareness rising campaing with a local NGO, Jade.

Read more about the year that was in Madagascar. Check out Part I and Part II of this three-part series.

The Year that was in Madagascar: Part II

Mialy Andriamananjara — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:17:13 +0000

Lova Rakotomalala, in his overview of Madagascar in the first months of 2009, the first of this three-part series, wrote about the events leading up to the coup d'etat that brought Andry Rajoelina, former mayor of Antananarivo, to power. Here, we continue were Lova left off.

May 2009 saw more protests from Ravalomanana's supporters and more repression from the armed forces. Ravalomanana had resigned in March and fled to South Africa. Rajoelina was now in power. The power struggle was at its highest, and took place both within Madagascar and on the international stage. In Addis Abeba, the international community was doing its best to extract Madagascar from its political mire.

“Representatives of the UN security council and the African Union are meeting for a “Madagascar contact group” in Addis Ababa to ensure that the nations take a common position in pushing for a return to constitutional order in Madagascar. Although each Malagasy political party announced that they had representatives present at the meeting, it turns out that none of the opposition parties were present during the decision-making process meeting.”

Meanwhile more arrests were happening, first the head of security at the high constitutional court was arrested, then Manandafy Rakotonirina, appointed Prime Minister by the exiled President Marc Ravalomanana, was arrested on charges of “illegally declaring himself as prime minister, vandalism & possessing weapons”, as reported by the Cyber Observer.

On a happier note, May 2009 was a great time for citizen media in Madagascar: Razily, the flag waving protester whose arrest was taped by bystanders and whose unknown fate had attracted international attention on the net, was freed.

Courtesy of radotiana.blaogy.com

Solana Larsen, Global Voices' Managing Editor, interviewed Tahina's FOKO who put in place FOKO Ushahidi.

“With Foko Ushahidi, ordinary citizens can now upload reports of unrest around the country and have them added immediately to an online map. Tahina installed the system himself with technical help from abroad and is in charge of managing the hub through which the SMS messages pass. A team of bloggers, including Lalatiana and Stephane (known as Pakysse), check reports for accuracy after they have been posted.”

Sadly it seemed that the SMS alert system was now something that Madagascar needed in order to keep track of all the incidents and unrest rocking the country.

In July 2009, the second Malagasy BarCamp took place, with the presence of Lova Rakotomalala, GV author and FOKO member.

Understandably due to the political situation and the heavy-handedness of the repression, the event was heavily focused on the lack of freedom of speech in Madagascar. Many journalists and bloggers had received threats, but nonetheless, participation was high. The highlight came when bloggers and twitterers gave their personal testimonies about the crisis. Lova summarizes:

“Andry explained that his thirst for raw information drove him to be where trouble was brewing. Jentilisa explained that it was very odd that on black Monday (Jan 26th) people would announce that a building was burning even before it actually happened, hence suggesting that some events were probably planned and not just random acts of protests. Avylavitra told a story of how he feared for his life on March 28th when a soldier hold him at gun point and demanded his camera. Jaona from Fianaratsoa explained how his blog was mentioned at a public meeting as a threat to social order in Fianarantsoa and should be shut down. Many other bloggers/twitterers shared similar stories of major hardships while covering the crisis. Thierry Andriamirado explained the increased relevance of online social networks in dispatching news about the crisis. Thierry was the first to exhaustively live-tweet the first tragic event of the crisis, “Black Monday,” and explained that he felt compelled to share the stories in real-time for a time-stamped digital record of the events.”

August 2009
Former Presidents Ravalomanana, Zafy, Ratsiraka and current HAT President Andry Rajoelina came with great difficulty to a power sharing agreement in Maputo, Mozambique. The agreement focused on Ravalomanana's return, as he is now exiled in South Africa, on the organization of elections in 15 months, and on how to split the transitional government ministries between the factions. Nj elaborates on the fate reserved to Ravalomanana in the agreements.

“Ravalomanana indique qu’il n’est plus Président de la République mais ancien Président, par rapport aux accords de Maputo et non pas par rapport à tour de passe-passe que la HAT avait essayé de nous faire gober. On ne pourra donc plus dire qu’il est “démissionnaire” ou “déchu”. Il est juste l’ancien Président de la feue IIIème République et désormais “Sénateur à vie”.

En outre, il a également demandé à ses partisans de stopper les manifestations au Magro, les légalistes étant relativement disciplinés on imagine que cela serait suivi sans problèmes.”

“Ravalomanana states that he is no more President of the Republic, but rather the former President, because of the agreements of Maputo, and not thanks to all the tricks the HAT had tried to play on us. We will not longer be able to say that he is the “deposed” president or the president who “resigend”. He is just the former President of the defunct Third Republic, and now a “Senator for life”. In addition, he has also asked his supporters to stop demonstrations at the Magro; the legalists being relatively well disciplined, one can imagine that his request will be respected without problems. “

Other bloggers, like Achille52, were frustrated because they think the agreements still left too much uncertainty.

“On esperait tellement de ces accords qu'on est degoute de leur soi-disant avancee a la con ! Les principaux problemes tels que le retour de Marc Ravalomanana pose toujours probleme, et la nomination des postes de la transition va etre une bataille, car d'autres personnalites dans le pays veulent leur part du gateau.

On annonce des elections dans 15 mois, mais qui en garantira la transparence ? On peut compter sur le gouvernement actuel pour nous mitonner un truc a la congolaise !”

“So much was expected from these agreements that one can't help but be disgusted by their so called progress! The main issues, like Marc Ravalomanana's return, are still problematic, and the designation of responsibilities during the transition will be a battle, because other people in the country want their share of the cake. They've announced elections in 15 months, but who will guarantee they will be free? We can be sure the current government is capable to rig elections with results similar to what they got in Congo! “

Citoyenne Malgache deplores the presence of the same old politicians during the many political crises in Madagascar.

“Les changements qu’ils prônent consistent à rester par tous les moyens dans le cercle des dirigeants, jusqu’à la mort, et
même au-delà. Par instinct de reproduction, ils transmettent leur savoir faire à leur progéniture qui ont les mêmes gueules,
les mêmes oreilles.”

“The change they promise consists of staying by all means in the leaders' circle, until their death, and even beyond. By instinct of reproduction, they transmit their knowledge to their children, who have the same faces, same ears.”

September 2009
Andry Rajoelina who had planned to make a speech at the UN General Assembly was barred from the UN pulpit when members of the SADC community threatened to walk out and then demanded that the assembly vote whether he should be allowed to speak. In the end, he was not allowed to speak. Twitterers followed the drama and ensuing confusion in direct.

As commented by Alain Rajaonarivony :

“L’épisode de l’ONU est symptomatique. Tandis que les Malgaches de l’intérieur étaient soumis au black-out, y compris les officiels, la diaspora et ceux qui avaient la chance de se connecter (une infime minorité dans la Grande ile) pouvaient suivre en direct la navigation hasardeuse de la délégation de la HAT au sein de l’immeuble des Nations Unies et les «empêchements» d’Andry Rajoelina le 24 et 25 septembre. “.

“The UN episode is telling. While Malagasies in the country were subjected to an information blackout, including officials, the diaspora and those who had the chance to connect to the Internet (a tiny minority on the Great Island) could follow in direct the HAT delegation's hazardous exploration of the United Nations Headquarters and its “impeachments” of Andry Rajoelina on September 24 and 25. “

Still, repression continues despite or because of the UN fiasco. Lova writes:

“In the meantime, unrest has once again broken in the aftermath of the UN fiasco. Investgasy posted on twitter today:

#Madagascar: shootings in Anosy (Tana) right now, armed 4×4 are everywhere . The report was later confirmed by Reuters , reporting tear gas launching and warning shots fired at demonstrators.”

October 2009
Pakysse of FOKO was invited to the United Nations Summit on Climate Change, the G20 summit and live blogged the event.

Pakysse wondered at the lack of action from Malagasy officials resulting from the conference:

“Depuis la conference organisee par les Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques, l’etat malagasy est cense sensibiliser la population sur le danger que porte les feux de brousses, la secheresse dans le sud et les differents cyclones car cela a a un impact sur la couche d’ozone et la vie de tous les jours de la nature et de l’homme

Nombreux sont les hommes d’etat et les journalistes MALAGASY qui etaient dans le meme avion que ma personne pour assister a la conference proprement dite mais la question qui se pose est la suivante: ETAIT-IL NECESSAIRE DE GASPILLER AUTANT D’ARGENT POUR UN DEPLACEMENT SANS RESULTAT?”

“Since the conference organized by the UN on climate change, the Malagasy government was supposed to raise awareness on the danger brought by fire, drought in the south, and hurricanes as they all have an impact on the ozone layer and everyday life of nature and man.

There were many Malagasy statesmen and journalists in the same plane I took, they were traveling to participate in the conference, but the question I am asking is the following : WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO WASTE SO MUCH MONEY FOR A TRIP WITHOUT RESULTS?”

Monja Roindefo, Andry Rajoelina's prime minister and companion in arms was sacked, as part of the application of the Maputo II agreements which demand the nomination of a consensus Prime Minister. Wikipedia has an outline of the events, including Monja Roindefo's efforts to stay in power:

“Roindefo took the matter to the Council of State on 12 October 2009, requesting that it annul the decree appointing Mangalaza; he argued that the procedure was flawed and that the faction leaders needed to sign the agreement in order for it to become valid. The Council of State accordingly suspended the decree on 15 October, but lifted the suspension and refused to annul the appointment in its final ruling on 22 October 2009.”

Alain Rajaonarivony commented Monja Roindefo's eviction

“Andry Rajoelina, quant à lui, a justifié dans une émission télévisée dans la soirée du vendredi 9 son divorce d’avec son compagnon et complice. Ce serait l’intérêt supérieur de la nation, le désastre économique imminent, qui l’aurait poussé à prendre cette décision. C’est la condition sine qua non pour que le boycott international cesse. En fait, la vraie condition est un retour à l’état de droit. “

“Andry Rajoelina justified his divorce with his friend and accomplice in a televised show on Friday 9. The best interest of the country and the imminent economic disaster would have pushed him to take this decision. That's the sine qua non for the international boycott to cease. But really, the true condition is a return to a state of law and order.”

On a lighter note, the Afrobasket Women 2009 was organized in Madagascar. Twitterers and bloggers followed avidly. R1lita hoped to see Madagascar regain some of its former glory on the African continent :

“It will be interesting to see Madagascar play big nations of basketball such as Mali, the defending champ, Nigeria, Angola or Senegal which are more experienced and used to international competitions. Some of their players are playing out of their homeland in Europe or in the U.S. Let’s say the chances for Madagascar to reach within the top 3 spots are slight. So, any win will be important for the Malagasy team and it will strengthen the motivation and confidence of all the players and the whole nation behind them. The games will be daunting but also a must-take stage if we want to improve to the next level and reach again a rank that once we had (Gold Medal during the 1970 FIBA Championship in Togo).”

November 2009
November 8 saw the four protagonists : Rajoelina, Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka and Zafy, reaching yet again another power sharing agreement in Addis Abeba, which stipulated that there should now be two co-presidents, and the ministers would be shared amongs the four factions. Avylavitra posted the names of the newly designated high officials. The blogosphere reacted with a mix of cynicism and relief, wondering how and if the agreements would be respected and applied. Jentilisa worried that the bigger issue of the military involvement in political affairs was not being talked about.

“Averiko farany indray angamba fa ny tena tolona hafa, ankoatra ny famitana ity vanim-potoan'ny fihazohazoana ity, dia ireto miaramila mihevitra fa tsy hisy hahala azy amin'ny toerany ireto mihitsy fa ry zareo ihany no mifanendry fa ny mpitondra sivily dia manaiky fotsiny ihany. Anjaran'ny tsirairay ny mieritreritra satria efa masaka andohan'izy ireo fa tsy hanaiky hofehezin'ny fahefana sivily intsony ry zareo hatramin'ny nanafihany ny minisiteran'ny fiarovana tamin'ny volana martsa”.

“I repeat maybe for the last time that the real fight, apart from ending this transition, is these soldiers who believe that nobody will remove them from their positions, because they are now the ones in charge and the civilian leaders follow their directives. It is up to everyone to ponder on this because these soldiers will never again accept to be under the thumbs of a civilian government, ever since they attacked the Defense Minister in March. “

Echoing Lova's post on Francafrique's role in the crises of former French colonies, Nj finds similarities between other former French colonies and the Malagasy case.

“Madagascar s’est tout simplement faite standardiser comme toutes “colonies africaines” de reny malala : un clan présidentiel issu d’un Coup d’Etat, avalisé par des élections truquées qui devient une véritable monarchie aux ordres de la France pour des décennies. Accords de Transition, élections législatives, élections présidentielles, force d’interposition….Il suffit de regarder l’actualité de nos voisins africains, “anciennes” colonies françaises pour prévoir l’avenir que la France réserve à Madagascar”.

“Madagascar has let herself been standardized like all these “African colonies” of the beloved Mother (Translator's note: France was called beloved mother during colonial times) : a presidential clan born from a coup d'etat, legalized by rigged elections, the clan then becomes a genuine monarchy and follows orders of France for decades. Transitional agreements, parliamentarian elections, presidential elections, intervention army… One has only to look at current affairs in our African neighbors, “former” French colonies to predict the future France has in store for Madagascar”.

Achille52 reported twice on Madagascar's rosewood being pillaged and even gaves names the alleged smugglers. He calculated how much rosewood illegal exploitation yields and his calculations were backed by Mongabay News:

“on arrive à un total farmineux de 120 000 000 de dollars et 41 600 000 de dollars qui sont gelés. […]on n’a aucune garantie que cet argent sera bien utilisé, et de ce que l’état en fera s’il met la main dessus.
120 000 000 de dollars !! […]Imaginez combien de chose on pourrait, en fait, cette somme est équivalente à 60 000 FMG pour chaque malgache de Madagascar. Et dire que 24 personnes se sont partagés une somme pareille !”

“One comes to a surprising amount of $120,000,000 and $41,600,000 which are frozen. […] one cannot guarantee that this money will be well utilized, and what the state will do with it if it ever gets its hands on it. $120,000,000 […] Imagine what one could do with this money for each Malagasy of Madagascar. And to think 24 persons shared that amount of money! “

To top it all, a freighter sunk off the coast of Madagascar in November 09:

“spilling toxic waste in the process and killing migrating whales and causing illness among the fishermen community. Although the disaster has been reported in a few media recently, the ship started to sink two months ago as Malagasy bloggers signaled on their blogs back in early September.
Tomavana wrote on his blog (fr):

En plus d’écarter le drame écologique du Sud de l’île des actualités nationales, la controverse politique autour de ces nouvelles nominations pose la question du suivi de ce dossier sensible

The political drama not only steers the focus away from this tragic event but it makes one wonder who will be accountable for following up and taking charge of the issue.”

Continue reading with Mialy's review of the last weeks of 2009 in Madagascar in the third part of this three-part series. See also Lova Rakotomalala's overview of January to April and the events the culminated in Andry Rajoelina's coup d'etat.

Madagascar : Transitional government is trampling on freedom of speech

Mialy Andriamananjara — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:29:29 +0000

A series of unfortunate decisions taken by the Andry TGV Rajoelina, High Authority for the Transition (HAT) government, is seriously threatening freedom of speech in Madagascar.
First, there was the arrest of three demonstrators, most famously, “Razily“, the young man seen bearing a flag in this amateur video, before being thrown into a pick up truck and callously beaten by soldiers.

As a reader comments on Madagascar Tribune online :

“Mais quel symbole !!!. Un homme seul qui brandi fièrement le drapeau de son pays arrêté sans ménagement par des militaires sensés justement défendre les couleurs de ce drapeau. Lui même jeté dans le fourgon !!!.”

“But what a symbol!!! A lone man who proudly bears his country's flag, ruthlessly arrested by soldiers, who are supposed to defend the flag's colors. Himself thrown into a truck !”

We still do not know for sure what happened to Razily, but he is hailed a hero by Malagasy internet users. Malagasy mainstream media seem not to have followed up with his fate. Malagasy social media users, like Solofo Rafeno, on his twitter account and his blog are orchestrating a campaign to demand that the HAT government free Razily and the other two men who were with him. Solofo also demands to know the whereabouts of a pro-Ravalomanana journalist who has been reported missing since the grab of power.

A petition now circulates on Facebook for those demanding Razily's freedom.

Then, last sunday, Andry TGV Rajoelina's government seized equipment from two radio broadcasting stations, Radio Fahazavana and Radio Mada, which both support the ousted President Marc Ravalomanana.

Mydago.com reports the closure of the two stations :

“Pendant le jour du Seigneur du 19 avril, la Radio Chrétienne Fahazavana (Lumière) ainsi que Radio Mada et TV Mada ont été détruits par les militaires mutins du Capsat. Il faut reconnaître que ces organes d’informations ont depuis quelques jours gêné, voire irrité le nouveau régime issu du coup d’état de Madagascar. Nous pouvons nous souvenir que déjà depuis quelques jours, par exemple nous avions eu vent de plaintes de brouillage sur Radio Mada. Par ailleurs, d’autres informations ont confirmé que des pressions s’exercent sur les journalistes de la Radio et la télévision nationales (Radio et TVM).”

“During the Lord's day of April 19, the Fahazavana (Light) Christian Radio, Radio Mada and TV Mada have been destroyed by the mutineers of Capsat. One has to acknowledge that these media have, for the last few days, bothered, even irritated the new regime resulting from the coup d'etat in Madagascar. We remember that for the last few days, we have heard complaints of interference on Radio Mada. Moreover, other medias have confirmed that journalists of the national radio and TV stations are under pressure.”

It is ironic to recall that back in December 2008, it was Andry TGV Rajoelina's VIVA TV station which was forced to close by Marc Ravalomanana, for broadcasting a speech by former President Ratsiraka where the latter harshly criticized Ravalomanana and incited the Malagasy people to revolt.

Fijery notices the similarity :

“Dimanche dernier, au milieu de toute la splendeur de leur clairvoyance, Andry Rajoelina et Gilbert Raharizatovo ont fait un copier-coller de la décision ridicule de réduire Viva TV au silence, et ont tenté de fermer Radio-Mada et Radio Fahazavana.”

“Last Sunday, in a splendid act of shrewdness, Andry Rajoelina and Gilbert Raharizatovo (Note of the Author: Gilbert Raharizatovo is Andry Rajoelina's Minister of Communication) did a copy paste of the ridiculous decision to reduce VIVA TV to silence, and tried to close down Radio Mada and Radio Fahazavana.”

After his nemesis, Ravalomanana, closed down VIVA TV, Andry TGV organized protests in the streets to demand the reopening of the television station, touted his outrage at this blatant disrespect of freedom of speech and democracy, and branded Ravalomanana a “dictator”. Global Voices has a special section on the crisis.

Yet not even six months later, after Andry TGV successfully grabbed power with the help of mutineers, and proclaimed that freedom is won and dictatorship vanquished, Andry TGV's sbires are now the ones threatening radio and TV stations with closures, intimidating journalists and bloggers, forbidding public protests and shooting at protesters, all under the pretext of preserving law and order and public safety, a surprising concern for a government that not even two months ago, has itself used street protests, intimidation and general thuggery to rise to power.

Due to the violence and the threats, shops and factories were forced to permanently shut down, their employees were dismissed, the $350 million a year once promising touristic industry tanked, hotels are now staying empty. The HAT government has proposed that entry visas, which once cost 60 euros to obtain, are now to be offered for free in a desperate measure to revive tourism.

The HAT government, which professed last month that elections were not needed because the people had already spoken through the streets, then proceeded to forbid all public rallies. As reports The Cyber Observer:

“Today (Tuesday April 21st, 2009), the HAT prime minister Monja Roindefo led a special council at the state palace of Iavoloha.
It has been decided that, starting from tomorrow (Wednesday April 22nd, 2009), all political rallies throughout Madagascar, are forbidden until further notice.
In order to maintain the public order (bear in mind that when Andry Rajoelina came to power, he proclaimed state of emergency throughout Madagascar), the state has the right to make such decision. But in the other hand, due to the fact that there is a daily and massive growing wave of public contestation throughout Madagascar, is it really wise to impose such a ban?”

On Monday April 20 and again on Thursday April 23, there were massive crowds in Antananarivo, protesting the shut down of the pro-Ravalomanana radio stations. Unfortunately the Rajoelina government copied Ravalomanana's methods and ruthlessly repressed the protests, showing in the process that Ravalomanana the “dictator” may be gone, but his replacement, Andry TGV Rajoelina is not fulfilling his promise to bring freedom and democracy to Madagascar. One of the reproaches Andry TGV Rajoelina's supporters made to Ravalomanana was the use of armed civilians mingled with soldiers during protests repressions. Yet again, civilians were seen carrying weapons alongside soldiers, and some were even seen giving soldiers orders, when together they shot at protesters without warning, and according to some accounts, used deadly bullets.

According to witnesses, the Associated Press and the BBC, two people died and more than 15 were wounded on Monday.

“The BBC's Jonny Hogg in the city saw at least one person shot in the back at close range, and said cars were set on fire close to government buildings. “

“Radio Madagascar said numerous casualties were being taken to the Antananarivo's main hospital. There was no immediate confirmation of the report nor official word about injuries or deaths.”

“An AP reporter saw roaming gangs erecting barricades and burning cars in the capital, with the worst unrest concentrated near a downtown square that has become the focal point for protests.
Supporters of ousted President Marc Ravalomanana had defied a ban on demonstrations issued by Madagascar's military-backed leader Andry Rajeolina following repeated clashes.”

Soldiers then wanted to invade HJRA, Hopital Ravoahangy Andrianavalona, the hospital where the wounded were taken -to what end one cannot help but wonder- but the protesters managed to stop them.

The Cyber Observer offers a suggestion as to why the soldiers wanted to storm the hospital:

“According to some eye-witnesses, 02 people were killed by security forces in Anosy. This information has been confirmed later by Fahazavana radio (this radio is back on air since today at 01.30pm Madagascar time - we do not know yet where its current location is and if it has been allowed by the ministry of telecommunication to broadcast again). The bodies of these 02 people are now at the HJRA hospital in Andrefan’Ambohijanahary.
According to another eye-witness, there were militaries who came to HJRA hospital to take the bodies of these 02 people. They were heavily armed. People around the premises of HJRA hospital did not allow them to do so. Now at the time I am typing this post, Fahazavana radio is calling people to go to Andrefan’Ambohijanahary to protect HJRA hospital”

Back in February, on Red saturday, Ando Ratovonirina, one cameraman of the television station RTA was killed in the line of action by the soldiers of the then embattled Marc Ravalomanana. Two months later, this time again, a professional journalist of the same television station, Razafindraibe, was killed by Andry TGV Rajoelina's government, also in the line of action.

Freedom of speech still evades Madagascar. Fijery writes a sober analysis of the lack of impact of journalism on Malagasy life :

“…qu’est-ce qu’une vie de journaliste dans un pays ou même la sacro-sainte Constitution n’est pas respectée ? La presse a déja payé un lourd tribut dans cette crise, avec deux décès et plusieurs agressions. Et vu le faible niveau de respectabilité de la pratique politique et des politiciens dans notre pays, il est inutile pour les journalistes Malgaches d’adopter littéralement la devise de Jean-Jacques Rousseau : Vitam impendere vero.”

“…what is one journalist's life worth in a country where even the sacred constitution is not respected? The press has already paid a heavy price during this unrest, with two deaths and many assaults. And with the poor ethics of our politicians and the shameful political practices in our country, it is useless for Malagasy journalists to literally adopt Jean-Jacques Rousseau's motto ” Vitam impendere vero.”

Madagascar: Security forces harass bloggers and twitterers

Mialy Andriamananjara — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:17:37 +0000

Opponents to the Haute Autorite de la Transition (High Authority for the Transition) have been holding daily demonstrations in the Malagasy capital since March 21, 2009. Last Saturday's protest was harshly repressed by the security forces, and resulted in at least 34 injured people, including children. During the protest, a young man, dubbed Razily by Malagasy Internet users, held a flag proudly and courageously marched towards security forces. The security forces fired at him, but despite their bullets, he kept marching, holding the flag high and finally got so close to them, they threw him in their pick up truck, all the while beating him up and then throwing the Malagasy flag on the ground. Internet users still do not know what happened to him.

Razily's arrest - courtesy of radotiana.blaogy.com

The HAT is now de facto leading Madagascar, since the former President Marc Ravalomanana opted not to resign but has instead transferred power to a military Directorate. Under duress , (the details can be witnessed on a youtube.com video and the American ambassador bears witness to the events, as he was also threatened with weapons pointed at him ), the Directorate then transferred power to the HAT. The HAT has since been duly recognized as a legal authority by Madagascar's Haute Cour Constitutionnelle de Justice which is responsible of making sure that the laws of land and the constitution are being respected in Madagascar.

No countries have so far recognized the HAT and its new President, Andry Rajoelina, the youngest African president ever, who under the Malagasy constitution, is still six years too young to even be on a Presidential election ballot ! And the former Malagasy President, Marc Ravalomanana, barely escaped from his Palace and is now seeking refuge in South Africa and Swaziland.

The Southern African Development Community and the African Union , while harboring themselves some countries that are no slouches in the antidemocratic and human rights violations department, have taken the stand that they will not tolerate putsches amongst their members and have not only banned Madagascar from their midst but are also considering sanctions.

Many western countries such as Norway and the United States have stopped aid to Madagascar and concerns have been raised on how the poverty stricken country which relies on aid for 80% of its budget will manage to hold its head above water, although the HAT has now declared its intentions on selling Ravalomanana's private jet recently purchased $60 million Air Force One/Two jet to replenish its coffers, at least in the short term. France which was accused by some as having, if not engineered the coup, then at the very least of supporting it, has been doing some amends of its own, saying now that it still considered Ravalomanana as Madagascar's President according to the constitution.

Such is the mind boggling and categorization defying political crisis that bloggers and twitterers are striving to report on. Online content about the crisis have been plentiful and have attracted international attention. Our colleague, Lova Rakotomalala, has been the subject of a Wall Street Journal article and a CNN interview for his dedication to relaying and translating Madagascar based twitterers' contributions. Another blogger, Solofo Rafeno, has been invited to a debate hosted by France24 News.

There are however some alarming developments that could hinder Malagasy twitterers and bloggers' reporting in the future. One website, Topmada.com, reports on March 30 that :

“20:00 - La police et les militaires ont arrêté certains journalistes et photographes pour les forcer à effacer leurs photos”

“20:00 - Police and soldiers have held some journalists and photographers to force them to delete their pictures”

This information is confirmed by twitterers. Twitterer Thierry_ratsiz was held and forced to delete his pictures by the security forces.

thierry_ratsiz: #madagascar Ils m'ont juste prie de ne pas prendre photos (d'eux!!) et effacer photos, peur de photos diffuses sur internet!!
thierry_ratsiz: hola, interpele par les gendarmes pour avoir ete surpris en prenant des photos… :/ #madagascar

They have just asked me not to take pictures of them and to delete pictures, for fear of having pictures spread on the internet!!
Held by the security forces for having been caught taking pictures

R1lita and Pakysse experienced the same thing as reported:

TRT @r1lita: @pakysse, other twitterer in #Madagascar, was also ordered to delete the photos he took in Antaninarina by police earlier.

But the most scary incident was reported by Avylavitra, one of the bloggers who has the most prolifically covered the crisis. He writes :

“Nahazendana ny maro ny zavatra nitranga teto satria tsy nanmpoizina velively: nisy iray tamin’ireo miaramila avy tao amin’ny RM1 izay nivoaka teo amin’ny arabe no tonga dia nanondro basy AHY no sady niteny hoe:
Miala any ny mpanaogazety, Tsy mila mpanao gazety eto. Miala sao tifiriko eo an.

Tsy nahita izay hatao aho no sady nanangana fotsiny ny karatra niantona tety ambozoko. Eo ambony Scooter aho amin’io raha mandeha an-tongotra kosa ny maro tamin’ireo mpanao gazety sy mpaka sary maro namana teny an-kianja mafana teny. Rehefa hitany fa tsy nihetsika aho no sady mbola nanangana ny karatra tety an-tanako, dia vao mainka niakatra ny feon’ilay ranamana. Tsy haiko na mpifehy ao amin’io toby io ilay zalahy iny, na iza. Fa ny fihetsika nataony aloha no niarahana nahita.

Nisy tamin’ireo mpanao gazety sasany no nihiaka niteny azy nanontany hoe :

Fa hatramin’ny oviana ny mpanao gazety no tsy mahazo maka sary sy manao ny asany. Sa efa niova indray koa ny lalàna?

Namaly ranamana no sady efa nikendry ny lohako. Ny elanelan’ny trotoir roa no manasaraka anay amin’io fotoana io. Hoy indrindra izy:

Rehefa hoe tsy mila mpanao gazety eto dia tsy mila, miala hoy aho sao tifiriko eo. Tifiriko ialahy an!’

Fahatsiarovana sady tsara no ratsy ho ahy iny ry zalahy namana. Kanefa tsy mba voatahiriko an-tsary, fa dia ny nanodina ny Scooter sy ny nidina ambanimbany namonjy ireo mpanao gazety sy mpaka sary sasany no nataoko sisa.

Koa miangavy anareo izay nahazo sary an’iny ’scène’ iny aho, tena miangavy. Mba omeo sary hotehiriziko, na farafaharatsiny, mba omeo rohy hahafahako mijery azy.

Enga anie ka ho anatra ho an’ireo miaramila rehetra ny namoahako ity lahatsoratro ity, fa aleo hivoaka ny marina sy ny nisy. Izay rahateo no ezahako ijoroana hatrany amin’ity GazetyAdaladala ity. “

“What happened was astonishing because completely unexpected : one of the soldiers of the RM1 (Note of the author : the name of a military barrack) who were on the streets pointed his weapon at ME and said :
Journalists go away. We do not need journalists here. Go away or I will shoot!
I did not know what to do so I just showed him the card I carried around my neck. I was riding a scooter at the time while most of the journalists and photographers were on foot. When he saw that I did not move but was instead showing my card, he raised his voice even more. I do not know if he was in charge of the barrack or who he was. But everybody saw his actions.
Some of the journalists dared to ask him :
Since when are journalists not allowed to take pictures and do their job. Has the law changed?
He answered and aimed at my head. The sidewalk was the only distance standing between us. He said again :
“I said I do not need any journalists here, so leave or I will shoot. I will shoot you !”
This was a bittersweet moment for me, my friends. But I do not have it on film, as all I did was turn my scooter around and follow other journalists and photographers further down. So those of you who may have that scene on film, I ask of you, please do give me at least a link so that I may see. I hope my publishing this post will be a lesson for those soldiers, that everybody may know the truth and what happened. This is what I strive for on this GazetyAdaladala blog.”

mydago.com has a humorous take on this turn of events :

“Mais que peut internet contre des armes à feux ? Contre des lacrymogènes ? Contre des militaires en pick up et brodequins ? Et fusils ? Rien ! Mais absolument rien ! Alors quel est le problème ? Et puis Madagascar est une île. Laissez donc tranquille cette île. C’est bien une île. Il y a la mer autour. Et la prochaine terre est loin. Cà permet de tout cacher. Les violence, les excès, et tout. La dictature même. Les dictatures.

Mais aujourd’hui, plus rien ne va. Quand on fait un coup d’état, les militaires ne peuvent plus faire leur travail normalement comme avant. Les jeunes d’aujourd’hui sont intenables. Ils sont extrêmement ennuyeux !!! Ils prennent des photos et des vidéos. Ensuite ils les transmettent par internet à des sites. Qui ensuite les publient dans le monde entier. Ah, ils sont vraiment ennuyeux ces jeunes d’aujourd’hui. Il n’y a plus de valeurs. Ils ne respectent plus la force ! La force militaire !”

“But what can the Internet do against weapons? Against lacrymogens? Against soldiers in pickup trucks and boots? And rifles? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! So where is the problem? And Madagascar is an island. Leave the island in peace. It is an island. It is surrounded by sea. And the next land is far away. It lets you hide everything. Violence, excesses, anything. Even dictatorship. Dictatorships.

But today nothing goes. When one commits a putsch, soldiers cannot do their work normally anymore. The youth are not controllable. They are extremely annoying!!! They take pictures and videos. Then they upload these on internet sites. Which are then published worldwide. Ah, they are really annoying these youths. There are no more values. They do not respect might anymore. Military might!”

This post also appeared on Global Voices Advocacy

Madagascar: Is military rule next?

Mialy Andriamananjara — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:38:49 +0000

News of a mutiny at one of Antananarivo's most important barracks stunned Madagascar yesterday. The mutiny has since spread to other barracks and Madagascar's Defence Minister, Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, has resigned.

Ranaivoniarivo was appointed to the post only a few weeks ago, after Cecile Manorohanta resigned following the bloodshed of February 7th, when opposition protesters led by Andry TGV Rajoelina attempted to march on a Presidential palace, and were fired upon by the Presidential Guard.

There were reports that Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo resigned under duress, as some mutinous soldiers held him prisoner, then made him write a letter which he read during a press conference. The BBC reports:

“He read out a brief letter of resignation to reporters, but later suggested he may have been under pressure to leave his post.
“Perhaps I resigned under threat. I do not like it that Malagasy people are killing each other,” he said.”

Jentilisa comments on the resignation :

“Nandritra ny tontolo maraina izy no nohidiana birao, sady nohidiana rahateo vavahady fidirana ao amin'ny minisitera tsy nahafahany mivoaka. Efa karazana “gadra” izy izany raha tsy “takalon'aina”. Mampalahelo ny mahita fa ny ambany grady indray no mibaiko ny manamboninahitra jeneraly, ary nisy aza ny nandrahona azy, ka teo anatrehan'ny mpanao gazety no nanatanterahana izany fandrahonana izany indray (ankoatra izay tany amin'ny birao any). Maty hasina ny sata repoblikana, mitamberina an-tsaina ihany koa ny fanaon'ny mpampihorohoro any amin'ireny sarimihetsika ireny.”

“During the whole morning, he was sequestered in his own office, they also locked the gate to the ministry so nobody could exit. He was held “prisoner” or even “hostage”. It is sad to see lesser-ranked soldiers ordering around a general, and some of them even threatened him, in front of the journalists (this was in addition to the threats done in his office). Republican values are being stomped to the ground, reminding us of terrorizing acts in movies.”

After this resignation, the Army Chief issued an ultimatum:

“We implore all political players, civil society organisations and other parties to reunite immediately to find a solution within the next 72 hours to help the nation out of the current crisis,” said Gen Rasolomahandry.”

And today the mutiny leader, Colonel Ndrianarijaona, has seized control of the army.

“Col. Andre Ndrianarijaona told reporters Wednesday the army's chief of staff had agreed to hand over his post to him.

Ndrianarijaona said Gen. Edmond Rasolomahandry had agreed to the change after less than an hour of discussion at the army chief's offices. Rasolomahandry left without comment.

There was no immediate comment from President Marc Ravalomanana, who appointed Rasolomahandry last month.

Ndrianarijaona leads a group of soldiers who announced over the weekend they would no longer take orders from the president. Ndrianarijaona said Wednesday the army was united behind him.”

Soldiers were seen blocking streets, and twitterers reported rumors of Pro-TGV supporters going to invade ministries. The saddest part was the sight of Malagasy civilians fighting each other in the streets, fifteen were reportedly injured. Pakysse posts pictures.

More than ever, Malagasy bloggers are worried about the turn of events.

Tahina worries that civil war is looming, if it isn't here already:

“It’s no more safe to talk politics in a public area (buses included) because you don’t know who’s listening to you and on which side this one is. A simple rumour about you can harm you or your relatives. While I’m writing this post lootings are keeping up, SFOI Tanjombato is now among the victims.
Some friends and I talked to a foreigner who’s been in Madagascar for about 8 years now and raised the term “Civil War”. He said that Malagasy people are too peaceful and it’s hard to think of such a thing here. I do hope he’s right.”

Rado reports with pictures on yesterday's events.

On Malagasy Miray, a post fumes at what Malagasies are doing to their country:

“Voalaza mantsy fa hendry ramalagasy, voalaza fa mandala ny fihavanana sy ny firaisan-kina. Kanefa inona ny nitranga? Ny andaniny mitady an’i Andry Rajoelina any amin’ny masoivoho frantsay, ny ankilany hanenjika ny PDS Guy Rivo eny Ampasapito sy ny manodidina rehefa tsy nahazo ny zanany teny Ambatobe tao amin’ny sekoly frantsay. Ny miaramila mihoko sy mitokona tsy handray baiko intsony fa hanao “V” amin’ny ratsan-tànana. Ny mpandroba maneho eo anoloan’ny fianakaviambe iraisam-pirenena fa mahantra sy noana ka solosaina sy fahitalavitra no angalarina. Maratra, voa mafy misy koa ny maty. Haringana ve ny firenena? Hahetry ve ny toe-tsaina malagasy sy ireo soa toavina nolalain’ny razana?Inona re ity nataonao raMalagasy ô?! Mahamenatra sy marary toy ny tongo-bakivaky.”

“Malagasies pride themselves on their wisdom, their sense of brotherhood and unity. What is happening now ? Some are hunting for Andry Rajoelina at the French Embassy, others are hunting for the Mayor Guy Rivo at Ampasapito, after failing to kidnap his children at the French school yesterday. The army is rebelling and is not taking any orders anymore, signaling the “V” with their fingers. Looters are showing the international community that when one is poor and hungry, one steals computers and television sets. Many are injured, many are dead. Are we ruining the country? What about Malagasy values and mentality that were cherished by our ancestors? What have you done Malagasies? It is as shameful and painful as cracked soles.”

Jentilisa tried to take some distance from the current crisis and asks if things are not larger than a Ravalomanana vs Rajoelina fight. What are we relinquishing here? Why are the soldiers mutining? He looks at history and sees parallels with the Merina army's disengagement during the Malagasy-French war of 1885, at the end of which the Malagasy were defeated, and Madagascar became a protectorate, then a colony.

“Toa tsy niraharaha ny ady loatra ny mpitari-tafika Malagasy, indrindra fa tamin’ireo Jeneraly efa nananan’ny Malagasy ihany koa. Teo Andriba ihany no mba nisy karazana ady mafana teo amin’ny Malagasy, fa ny ankoatra izany dia tena tsy nisy na inona na inona nataon’ireo tafika mihitsy. Inona no antony? Ela nitondrana loatra manko ny praiminisitra Rainilaiarivony ka efa bebe ihany ireo tsy tia azy. Ny andaniny efa mpankasitraka ny Frantsay koa faly kokoa mahita an’i Rainilaiarivony fa jamba teo amin’ny fijerena ny hoe ho lasan’ny Frantsay anie i Madagasikara fa sombintsombiny ihany no omeny anao izay faly tsy mahita fa ny fiandrianam-pirenena Malagasy no rava fa tsy hoe Rainilaiarivony ihany no miongana”.

“The army leaders did not take the war seriously, especially the generals. The only battle that really deserve the name took place in Andriba, everywhere else, the army just did not fight. What is the reason? The Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony had been in power for far too long and quite a few did not like him. The other side who supported the French were happy to see Rainilaiarivony in difficult position, and were blind to the realization that Madagascar was going to fall into French hands, and they would only get crumbs of the victory. They were happy and did not realize that Malagasy independence was lost, with Rainilaiarivony's defeat. “

Tomavana also finds lessons in history and the role that the army should play :

“As the days pass, the list of deaths related to clashes in Madagascar continues to lengthen. In Geneva also the army formerly fired at demonstrators. The difference is that the people of Geneva has learned their lessons from history: the army is not trained to maintain public order, the army is shaped to defend a territory in the war.”

Meanwhile the opposition leader Andry TGV was reported to be under UN protection by the UN envoy, but then the UN Headquarters denied the information and said that Andry TGV was under French protection, then French Embassy officials said that Andry TGV was now in the hands of the Catholic church, but other reports say he is in an unspecified location for his own security. But now apparently he is back safe and sound in his house in Ambatobe, protected by mutineers, and is refusing to participate in the national talks that the United Nations and Western powers insisted to keep him safe and sound for !

The presidentially-appointed new mayor of Antananarivo has lost his home in burnings and lootings by a mob of TGV supporters. And Ravalomanana was said to be blocked by the army from accessing the presidential plane, allegedly to flee the country. The French Embassy saw Ravalomanana supporters protesting French meddling into Malagasy affairs.

Solofo wonders if the UN and France's protection of Andry means they are now supporting coups:

“Ainsi Andry s'est fait exfiltré à la Résidence de l'Ambassadeur de France et ceci sous la ‘protection' de l'ONU; du jamais vu dans la gestion des différents crises politiques dans le monde d'autant plus que l'ONU et les autres organisations internationales comme l'OUA ont toujours prôné pour le respect des Institutions comme principe de base.

Est-ce un signal officiel de soutien à l'insurrection et au Coup d'état en cours à Madagascar par l'ONU?…Cette ‘protection' ne constitue pas un support officiel au Coup d'état mais un moyen de pousser tout le monde à s'entendre pour esquisser ensemble une ‘cohabitation' à tous les étages (au gouvernement, au Sénat et dans des instances de contrôle ad-hoc qui seront créés pour prendre en compte les révendications de l'Opposition), et ceci tout en respectant la Constitution et les échéances éléctorales.”

“Andry has managed to flee to the French Ambassador's residence, and this with the UN's protection ; something unheard of in the management of political crisis in the world, as the UN and other international organizations like the Africa Union have always recommended respect of institutions as principles. Is this an official signal of support by the UN to coups and insurrections in Madagascar?…This protection may not be an official support to the coup but a way of pressuring everybody to come together and start sketching a plan for “coexisting” at all levels (government, senate, all institutions created for control to take the opposition's demands in consideration), and all this respecting the consitution and electoral deadlines.”

Solofo also regrets that Ravalomanana, who has publicly apologized for the mistakes he made during his seven years as president, has taken so long to recognize his wrongs:

” Cette solution a été et reste la seule voie raisonnable et bénéfique pour le pays d'autant plus qu'apparemment Ravalomanana a finalement décidé de faire son auto-critique en public aujourd'hui. Bien entendu, il faut le voir en action dans les jours et mois à venir mais je trouve dommage qu'il ait mis tant de temps avant de muer. “

“This solution [dialog] has been and is the only reasonable and beneficial way for the country to get out of the crisis, since Ravalomanana has finally decided to do his mea culpa publicly today. Of course, one has to see if he really means it in the coming days, but I find it sad that it has taken him so long to change.”

Jentilisa reacts strongly at the news that the French Embassy was harbored by the French Embassy :

“Raha niainga ny mpiaro ny ara-dalàna teny Mahamasina dia ny hitaky ny hanalana an'i Andry TGV any amin'ny Ambasady Frantsay no antony, sy ny tsy hitsabahan'i Frantsa amin'ny raharahan-tokantranon'i Madagasikara. Mampihomehy indrindra manko raha olona “nialokaloka” teo alohaloha teo no afaka mandehandeha soa aman-tsara eto Madagasikara, afaka mikabary amin'ny famoriana olona eto Madagasikara, nefa mody any amin'ny masoivoho Frantsay rehefa avy eo. Tsy nitsipaka ny vaovao rahateo moa ny fitondrana Frantsay fa dia nilaza ny hanalana azy fotsiny avy eo. Dia io fa feno miaramila mpioko io manodidina ny tranony eny Ambatobe amin'izao fotoana izao.”

“When legalists left the meeting in Mahamasina, it was to demand Andry TGV's removal from the French Embassy and for France to stop meddling in Malagasy affairs. It is ridiculous if a “protected” person can now move freely here in Madagascar, make speeches, then go home safely to the French Embassy. The French government did not refute the news, but simply said that TGV was not in French compounds anymore. Now there are mutined soldiers all around his house in Ambatobe.”

Eight months ago, Ravalomanana had rejected Gildas Le Lidec's appointment as French ambassador. He thought he was “bad luck”, due to his propensity to be present in African countries where coups and assassinations happen…

Madagascar: Rumors terrorize Antananarivo

Mialy Andriamananjara — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:38:21 +0000

Truth and freedom of speech and opinion seem to be victims of the political crisis that is now crippling Madagascar.

Threats are being made and rumors being spread, all contributing to a climate of terror that prohibits peace and normal life.

Jentilisa, a blogger who has not given his support to Andry Rajoelina's protest movement, reports receiving threats:

“Alina fahatelo aho izao no misy fanelingelenana (harcelement nocturne)(amin'ny 12 alina, 2 ora, 4 ora ary @ 5 sy sasany maraina) amin'ny alalan'ny antso finday hatrany ary tsy menatra ny mampiseho ny laharan'ny findainy izy nefa rehefa antsoina tsy mamaly.”

“This is the third night that I have received nocturnal harassment, at midnight, at 2, 4, 5.30 in the morning, by phone and the callers have unabashedly unveiled their phone numbers, though they do not respond when called back.”

Les Nouvelles report attacks on the home of Lala Rasendrahasina ,the leader of the FJKM
(Fiangonan'i Jeso Kristy eto Madagascar - Association of Protestant Churches in Madagascar). The FJKM is now serving as mediator in the negotiation talks between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, in the power struggle that has paralyzed the island since January. The FJKM was seen by some as being too close to Ravalomanana.

“Finalement, ils ont essayé de repérer les assaillants en scrutant prudemment l’extérieur, mais impossible pour eux d’identifier qui que ce soit. Au hasard, l’un des agents a visé sur une ombre, et son tir s’est avéré suffisant pour faire fuir les agresseurs.”

“Finally, they [security agents at Lala Rasendrahasina's home] tried to locate the attackers by cautiously peering outside, but it was impossible to identify anyone. One of the security agents shot randomly at a shadow and the shot was enough to make the attackers flee.”

News2Dago does not find these attacks surprising:

“Manarak'izany dia mitohy hatrany fampihorohorona ny olona mpanelanelana ankehitriny satria dia nisy nitoraka sy nihaodihaody ny manodidina ny tranon'ny filohan'ny Fjkm Lala Rasendrahasina. Tsy mahagaga izany satria dia dradraina ao @ radio viva isan'andro oe mpiray tsikombakomba @ mpitondra jadona.”

“Everyday the threats against mediators continue, they have now thrown stones and wandered around the home of Lala Rasendrahasina, leader of the Protestant Churches of Madagascar. This is not surprising as every day on Radio VIVA, they accuse him of complicity with the dictatorship.”

The Order of Malagasy Journalists calls its colleagues

“for more restraint and to stop the hatred, incitement, rumors and misinformation in their news items and editorial line.”

Some journalists have been heard inciting mobs to hatred on various radio stations, especially the TGV VIVA radio station. Journalists have shamelessly designated some individuals as “Enemies of the People”, while giving information on their homes and license plate numbers on the radio. These “Enemies of the People” are then targeted by mobs and their homes are burned down or looted.

“Mba meteza kely fotsiny eo @ toeran'ireo voaromba ireo mpanao gazety manondro molotra ireo mba manana vady aman-janaka ihany. Ovay ihany koa ny fomba fanao fa mbola tsy tara. Tao aorinan'ny 17 janoary no nankaty izao dia maro ireo olona voaroba. I Moxe Ramandimbilahatra, nanaraka azy omaly i Eugène Randriamiandrisoa teo koa i Saholimalala izay mpanolotsainam-paritra ny antoko Tim dia farany izay natao antsoantso omaly t@ radio viva dia i Jaquot ny tarika Green. Lazaina fa fahavalom-bahoaka daholo ireo olona ireo dia robaina ny fananany.”

“Those journalists who are denouncing others should put themselves at the place of the looted, as they have also spouses and children. Change your ways, it is not too late. Since January 17, many have been looted. Moxe Ramandimbilahatra, then Eugene Randriamiandrisoa, then Saholimalala, who is a permanent counselor to the TIM party [Ravalomanana's party], the last one being accused on Radio Viva is Jaquot of the musical band Green. They say those people or enemies of the people and then they come and rob them.”

On Wednesday, Ravalomanana organized a rally attended (according to AFP) by 30,000 supporters (according to DW the number was 50,000).

The rally was deemed successful, as people came in droves despite pouring rain, as reported by tgoose.

“Finally! the incumbent speaks up and his people show Madagascar and the world that they are not interested in a new government being forced upon them. I was really starting to wonder what Ravalomana could do. I hope this is the beginning of a realisation for the Malagasy people… Wouldn’t that be great?
There was about 30,000 people inside of the arena and about 10,000 outside of the arena, all standing in the rain supporting their country and democracy. Most inside where shouting “Arrest TGV!” repeatedly (which is not a bad idea) and carrying around banners that say “Tsy Mila TGV” (We dont need TGV)!”

Singers were invited to perform, among them Samoela, whose song “President” seems now prescient in describing this power struggle:

“si je serai président par hasard
nous on saura jamais,
seul dieu le sait
mais s'il mettra un conard au pouvoir
j'aimerai bien m'y voir”

“if I become president by chance
we never know
only god knows
but if he makes a jerk president
i'd really like to see myself in that position”

Other artists declined at the last minute, citing threats from the Andry Rajoelina TGV camp, while it was reported that journalists tried their hands at intimidating artists to stop them from participating in the incumbent president's rally.

“Rolly Mercia du quotidien La Vérité aurait déclaré sur la radio Viva que les artistes qui se produiront à Mahamasina pour la contre manifestation pacifique, pourraient avoir des répercussions sur leur carrière professionnelle. L’animatrice de Viva aurait aussitôt donné une liste de noms d’artistes censés se produire à Mahamasina.”

“Rolly Mercia of the daily newspapers La Verite said on VIVA radio station that artists who will perform in Mahamasina for the peaceful counter rally may see some impact on their professional lives. The VIVA journalist then immediately listed the names of artists that were supposed to perform.”

A comment, by Razz, severely criticizes those who attended the Ravalomanana Rally:

“Faut-il rappeler que cette fête que le parti Tim compte tenir à Mahamasina se passe au moment où les citoyens malgaches sont encore en douleur suite à la tuerie volontaire d’une centaine de personne trois jours plutôt à Ambohitsorohitra. Par ailleurs, le show artificiel de Mahamasina coïncide à la commémoration de la date d’assassinat du colonel Ratsimandrava le 11
février 1975. De qui se moque-t-on ? « Seuls les ‘danseurs de nuit’ (mpamosavy) qui jubilent et s’éclatent sur la douleur et le décès de leur voisin », s’indigne une mère de famille habitant dans un bas quartier de la capitale pour faire allusion au show de Ravalomanana à Mahamasina”

“Should one be reminded that this party the TIM is holding in Mahamasina is taking place at the time when Malagasy citizens still mourn the voluntary murders of a hundred people three days ago in Ambohitsirohitra [the place where the presidential march saw the military firing on the crowd]. The artificial show of Mahamasina also coincides with the anniversary of the Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination, on February 11, 1975. Are they taking us for fools? Only those who dance at night (witches) rejoice and party on the pain and the death of their neighbor”, fumes a mother living in one of the poor neighborhoods of Antananarivo, alluding to the Ravalomanana show in Mahamasina”.

Worse, some in the South of Madagascar warn that some are ready to launch ethnic fighting.

“Nanaitra ihany anefa ny fitarainan'ny loholona voafidy sy voatendry avy any fa misy ny mikononkonona ady an-trano (fomba filaza ampahibemaso ny hevitra ambadiky ny ikonokononana fandrobana fa ankehitriny kosa tadiavina hanaovana fandripahana ny Merina - sy ny Betsileo - monina any amin'iny faritra iny). Efa nisy anefa ny olona milaza (na mieritreritra) fa tena ao anatin'ny teti-panorona mihitsy io fandripahana olona toy izay nitranga tany Rwanda namonoan'ny Hutu ny Tutsi tamin'ny 1994 io.”

“We were shocked to hear about complaints from elected and designated eleders that some are preparing civil war (a public way of saying the ideas behind lootings, and now of the murders prepared against Merina and Betsileo [ethnic groups who originate from the Highlands of Madagascar] who live in that region). Some have been saying (or thinking) that ethnic war is in the plans, as it happened in Rwanda when Hutus massacred Tutsis in 1994.”

In these uncertain times, no real objective news is available, and the propaganda machines are spreading mad (or not so mad?) rumors that contribute to a climate of terror and uncertainty on the island.

Rumors that Ravalomanana has fled the country, rumors spread back in January:

“Unconfirmed reports claim that Andry TGV told the crowd that President Ravalomanana left the country.”

Rumors on protesters of both camps being bribed:

“Les manifs sont devenues une source intéressante de revenus en ces temps de crise économique d’autant que les deux partis n’hésitent pas à payer.

“Rallies have become an interesting source of income during these times of economic crisis, as both sides do not hesitate to bribe.”

“Pour la ville d’Antanifotsy, trois cars sont partis ce matin en destination du stade Mahamasina. Les personnes à bord ont déjà empoché 75.000 Fmg par tête, selon les témoins oculaires sur place. Dans la capitale, des chefs dans l’administration ont mis une pression à leurs subordonnés pour se rendre à Mahamasina. “

“In Antanifotsy, three buses left this morning in destination of the Mahamasina stadium. People on board had gotten 75.000Fmg per head, according to eyewitnesses. In the capital, leaders in the regime have pressured their subordinates to attend the Mahamasina Rally.”

This website posts a picture of a certain blue car from which TGV supporters would have received money on Saturday February 07, 2009, before the bloodshed.

Other alarming rumors keep swirling:

Rumors about looters and proTGV protesters getting ready to destroy whatever is left of Ravalomanana's stores in Antsirabe:

“Araka ny fanampim-baovao azoko dia ny karana sy izay olona rehetra niara-niasa tamin'ny TIKO rehetra no nokasaina horobaina tany Toliary sy hovonoina mihitsy. Re ihany koa fa miomankomana ihany koa ny jiolahim-boto na mety ho mpanohana ny TGV na mpandroba tsotra handroba sy handoro izay sisa tsy potika sy tsy may tamin'ny fananan-dRavalomanana Ao Antsirabe ao amin'izao ora hanaovana fanampim-baovao izao (10:30 eo amin'ny piste fanaovana hazakazan-tsoavaly ry zalahy amin'izao fotoana izao ho an'izay mahalala an'Antsirabe). Efa nampitandrina anefa ny mpitandro ny filaminana fa hitifitra avy hatrany ry zareo na tsy “zone rouge” ary ny toerana kasain-dry zareo horobaina sy odorana.”

“According to news I heard, the Karana and others who collaborated with TIKO [Ravalomanana's dairy firm] are targeted for looting and even looting in Toliary [a city in Southern Madagascar]. It is heard that hooligans or GV supporters are preparing to loot and burn down whatever is left of Ravalomanana's empire in Antsirabe (10:30 they are no on the horse race tracks now as I speak). The soldiers have warned that they will immediately shoot even if the targeted stores are not in the “red zone”"

Rumors that the French envoy has called Andry TGV “president”, and rumors that the French Embassy has denied his having done so :

“L’Ambassade de France aurait démenti les propos d’Andry TGV tenus sur la place du 13 Mai hier. Celui-ci avait déclaré que durant les entretiens d’hier, Mr Joyandet l’aurait salué en utilisant le terme de “Mr le Président” “

“The French Embassy may have denied talks by Andry TGV held on the place du 13 Mai yesterday. He had declared that during yesterday's talks, Mr Joyandet [the French envoy] had saluted him with “Mr le President”"

Rumors on Andry TGV being the target of mercenaries (spread by Andry TGV himself):

“Andry Rajoelina a été victime d’une attaque des mercenaires sur la route digue dans la nuit du dimanche 9 février dernier selon les révélations qu’il a faites sur la Place 13 mai. (…)
Rumeur ou réalité ; les preuves font pour l’instant défaut dans tous les dires de Andry Rajoelina. Il se dit à maintes reprises être l’objet d’un mandat d’arrêt. Jusqu’à présent aucune photocopie d’un quelconque mandat d’arrêt n’a été révélée. Il a déjà affirmé être poursuivie par des personnes inconnues, sans apporter de preuve concrète.”

“Andry Rajoelina has been the victim of mercenaries' attacks on the road to the airport during the night of February 9, as he revealed on the Place du 13 Mai. (…)
Rumor or fact; proof is non-existent now in all Andry Rajoelina has been saying. He has repeatedly claimed to be the object of an arrest order. Until today no copy of any arrest order has been seen. He has also many times asserted having been pursued by unknown individuals, but he has never brought any proof.”

Rumors about some hotels harboring mercenaries (spread by Andry TGV himself) and refuted by the hotels:

“Andry Rajoelina a aussi pointé du doigt l’hôtel restaurant Papango en fa ce de la Place 13 mai, d’héberger un tireur d’élite qui serait en charge de le tuer”
“Accusé par des manifestants de la Place 13 mai d’avoir abrité des tireurs d’élite samedi 7 février dernier, l’Hôtel du Louvres sis à Antaninarenina et accolé au ministère des Finances, dément. L’autre établissement hôtelier, Le Colbert, sis lui aussi dans les parages, précise que l’établissement appartient exclusivement à des particuliers et Marc Ravalomanana n’a
aucune part dans son capital comme on veut le faire croire. Le Colbert aussi a été soupçonné d’avoir abrité des tireurs, auteurs du massacre ce samedi ensanglanté du 7 février dernier.”

“Andry Rajoelina has pointed out that the hotel restaurant Papango harbored an elite sniper ordered to kill him.” “Accused by protesters of the Place du 13 Mai of harboring snipers on February 07, the Hotel du Louvre of Antaninarenina, and joined to the Ministry of Finances, refutes. The other hotel, The Colbert, also nearby, specifies that the Hotel belongs exclusively to private citizens, and Marc Ravalomanana does not have a share in its capital, as some would have one believe. The Colbert was also suspected of having sheltered shipers, who would be responsible of the massacre of saturday, february 7th.”

Dizzying rumors that prompt a comment on Jentilisa's blog:

“aiza kay no tena misy lahatsoratr'olontsotra fa tsy mpanao gazety fa toy ity anao ity ihany, fa izany hoe tena olona tsy miandany @atsy na ny aroa fa tena mba milaza ny zavamisy objectivement?”

“where can one find texts by simple citizens, but not journalists, like you, but from some that are truly independent, and are saying things as they are, objectively?”

In all this mess, R1lita is desperate for peace and the right to a normal regular life.

“I think people here just want to live in peace. They want to go to work or to school without the fear of being trapped in riots, or taken by force to join those who are on strike. Shop owners want to open their businesses and be sure that no one will loot and burn them. We are fed up with this feeling of permanent insecurity.The last protest [Andry Rajoelina's protest] didn’t draw as many followers as before still people are wary because nothing is sure yet. Even though we are back to our daily life we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

Madagascar : Bloggers react to Red Saturday's bloodshed

Mialy Andriamananjara — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:57:35 +0000

Since riots and lootings claimed fifty dead in Madagascar on January 26, the situation has become bleaker. Saturday, February 07 was an even bloodier day. Dubbed “Red Saturday” by some, it saw the presidential guard fire upon a crowd of protesters who had gathered outside the Presidential palace of Ambohitsirohitra.

The crowd had marched to the palace where it wanted to install Monja Roindefo. Roindefo had minutes before been nominated “Prime Minister” by Andry Rajoelina, himself proclaimed “President”, by the protestors that started demonstrating in December, when Andry Rajoelina's TV station was shut down by the Ravalomanana government. The protests have since become violent, resulting in lootings and riots, and with its supporters demanding Ravalomanana's resignation.

Among the victims of Red Saturday was Ando Ratovonirina, a 26 year old cameraman for the television station RTA. He is no stranger to the Malagasy Global Voices team, as he was the one who reported on citizen media in Antananarivo, as encouraged by FOKO, a Rising Voices grantee.

Bloggers have reacted strongly to the news, struggling to understand what circumstances led Malagasies to fire upon each other. Bloggers discuss who bears final responsibility for the massacre: those who incited, then led, demonstrators to the presidential palace, knowing that it was marked a “red zone” and that the soldiers there would have liberty to fire upon anyone violating the “red zone”, therefore creating “martyrs” for a protest movement running out of steam; or those who gave the orders to shoot.

“Pour provoquer la sortie de l’impasse créée par une auto-proclamation, les tenants de la prise de pouvoir insurrectionnelle emmènent la foule marcher sur un Palais présidentiel. Classés zones rouges, ces bâtiments sont protégés par un régime de protection spéciale qui expose les contrevenants au pire.
Quel que soit le Président en fonction, quel que soit le Palais concerné, quel que soit l’opposant qui mène la foule, quelle que soit la cause à défendre, quels que soient les militaires, les règles sont immuables : on ne peut impunément pénétrer dans un Palais d’Etat.”

“To induce an exit to the impasse created by their self proclamation, the insurrectionists led the crowd to a Presidential palace. Those buildings are protected by a special protection status which exposes trespassers to the worst.
Regardless of who is the sitting President, of which Palace may be involved, of who may be the opposition leader leading the crowd, the cause to be defended, or the soldiers involved, the rules are immutable: one cannot enter a state palace with impunity.”

Solofo, Avylavitra and Barijaona were eyewitnesses.

Solofo posts pictures of before and after the shootings and pointedly wants his readers to notice a certain man wearing a grey tie and black suit. The same man is apparently shown in a video posted on topmada.com .

“Hitifitra hono izy… Tsy misy vahoaka mihemotra izany eo.”

“They say they are going to shoot… The people will not retreat.”

Barijaona :

“J'étais persuadé que tout avait été négocié à l'avance, que la foule resterait gentiment à distance, que seule une petite délégation entrerait à l'intérieur des grilles du palais et que c'est cette délégation qui demanderait ensuite à la foule de se disperser.
J'étais trop loin pour savoir ce qui s'est passé dans la foule peu avant que le cordon de sécurité ne lâche. Si un responsable du mouvement a laissé entendre qu'on pouvait “y aller”, sa responsabilité est énorme.
Je ne peux parler que de ce que j'ai vu et entendu de mes propres yeux, mais ai trouvé étonnant que Andry Rajoelina et Monja Roindefo soient restés à l'écart des délégations négociant l'entrée dans les grilles du palais.”

“I was convinced that all had been negotiated in advance, that the crowd would remain at a polite distance, that only a small delegation would enter inside the gates of the palace, and that this delegation would then ask the crowd to disperse. I was too far away to see what happened in the crowd before the security barrier was gave way. If one of the mass protest managers had led the crowd to believe that they could go in, his responsibility is enormous. I can only talk about what I have seen and heard, but I have found it astonishing that both Andry Rajoelina and Monja Roindefo have stayed away from delegations negotiating their entry past the gates of the palace.”

Avylavitra wonders if laws are void during exceptional times like these:

“Satria tokoa mantsy na aiza na aiza, dia ny vahoaka no tompon’ny fahefana fa mpindrana fotsiny ny mpitondra. Ka raha vahoaka haka izay nampindraminy no andraisana azy ireo, tsy ho azo natao ve ny nifampiresaka taminy? Raha ny fandraisako azy mants (tsy asiko firehana an!), dia rehefa tonga amin’ny fara-tampony toy izao ny fitakian’ny vahoaka, dia efa lasa ambonin’ny lalàna rehetra izany fitakiana izany, ka mihisaka maka zoron-trano daholo aloha na ny Lalampanorenana, na ny hafa. Diso ve aho? Raha eny, mba hazavao ny saiko.”

“Because in any country, the power belongs to the people, the president is merely the borrower. So if the people wants to take back what has been merely lended, how can one not negotiate with them? According to my understanding (and without my leaning towards anybody!), when people's demands are this extreme, they should supercede any laws, and the Constitution and any other laws should take second place. Am I wrong? If I am, please enlighten me.”

He writes about his visit to the injured at the HJRA hospital and posts pictures of the wounded and dead (Warning: very explicit pictures).

Tsy nitsahatra ny fivezivezen’ireo taxi sy fiaran’olon-tsotra ary fiara mpamonjy voina hatramin’ny fito ora hariva (19h) nialako teny amin’ny HJRA androany. Noho ny fahafenoan’ny toerana tao amin’ny tranom-paty dia nisy tamin’ireo razana no napetraka teny ambony bozaka teo an-tokontany aloha mandra-pandamina ny tao anatiny. Be ireo olona tsara sitrapo no namonjy hainga ny HJRA mba hanone maimaim-poana ny rany ho vonjy aina. Hatramin’ny karana aza dia tonga teny. Nanontany azy ireo aho ny amin’ny antony nahatongavany teny hanome rà. Sao mba misy havany marary ao. Rehefa tonga tety tokoa mantsy ka natao ny fanisana faramparany azoko natao talohan’ny nialako ny hopitaly dia dimampolo latsaka ny maty voatifitra. Ny naratra moa dia miditra isaky ny minitra angamba. Misy ny afaka nalefa nody fa ratra vokatry ny fifanosehana kely, fa nisy ireo nojerem-potsiny fa tsy nisy azo natao aminy intsony, nefa tsy vitan’ireo mpitsabo koa ny tonga dia hanatitra olona miala aina ho any amin’ny tranom-paty avy hatrany.

Taxi cabs, cars and ambulances were continuously shuttling to the HJRA hospital until seven o'clock tonight when I left the hospital. Because the morgue was overflowing, some bodies were left on the grass outside until the morgue was ready. Many volunteered to donate their blood to save others. Even Karanas (Note of the translator : Indians and Pakistanis who live in Madagascar) came to donate their blood. I asked them about their motivations. Did they have any relatives there. According to the latest count, when I left the hospital, there were about fifty deceased. Injured people came in every minutes. Some were sent home, because they were lightly injured, but for some there was nothing to be done, but the rescuers could not just bring the expiring bodies to the morgue.

He also reports on people's reactions on radio:

“Ireo onjam-peo izay henoina amin’izao ora izao dia mikiaka valifaty noho ny rà latsaka , ary mitaky ny fisamborana an-dRavalomanana daholo izay antso an-tarobia tafiditra. Miantso tody ihany koa ho amin’ny taranak’ingahy Ravalomanana, ary misy mihitsy aza ny midradradra ny amin’ny hisamborana sy hamonoana azy.”

“Radio stations I am listening now are calling for revenge because for the bloodshed, and broadcast phone calls are demanding the arrest of Ravalomanana. They are calling for karma, a just return of things to Ravalomanana's descendants, and some repeatedly voiced requests for his arrest and execution.”

Jentilisa writes on immediate reactions in the streets after and during the shootings, with other reactions than those cited by Avylavitra. He also reports on opportunists who pounced on the occasion to wreak more havoc and loot some more:

“Ny nahavariana, teny Soarano indrindra aho no nandre ny tifitra voalohany, fa nikoropaka avokoa na dia ny olona tany aza. Samy nandositra avokoa na ny mandeha an-tongotra na ny mpitondra fiarakodia ka nisy ny tsy nahatandri-tena intsony ka nodonin'ny fiara izay nanavotr'aina ihany koa. Mafy dia mafy ny nahazo ilay ramatoa voadona… Tsitapitapitr'izay fa nikatona avokoa ny toeram-pivarotana rehetra. Maro tamin'ny mpivarotra amoron-dalana no nanangona ny entany. Tsy niala tamin'ny toerany kosa anefa ny atsasaky ny mpivarotra teny Isotry (tsena ny andro Asabotsy) izay mihevitra fa tsy hanenjika olona hatreny kosa ny mpitandro ny filaminana. Nahare poa-basy koa ny teny Besarety, nahavariana ihany io raha ny halavitry ny toerana no heverina, hay saiky hisy hamaky avy hatrany indray ny shoprite teo Ambodivona izay tsy vaky nandritra ny andron'ny talata 27 janoary 2009. (…)
Nitantara mivantana avokoa manko ny ankamaroan'ny fampielezam-peo tamin'ity vanim-potoana “lehibe” ity… ka maro tamin'ireo tsy mankasitraka ny tolona no efa mitaintaina nahatonona mihitsy hoe “tifiro! tifiro amin'izay!” ary mba nahatonona koa izy ireo hoe “ela loatra koa izy izany!”. Malahelo aho milaza aminareo fa maro tamin'ireo izay tsy niomana ho eny, no nahasahy nilaza mihitsy hoe “nahazo izay notadiaviny izy izany!” ka toa tsy antra fo tamin'izay niharam-pahavoazana mihitsy aza. Ny mpankasitraka ny tolona sy izay nankeny Ambohitsorohitra kosa (ny teny Isotry no tena nohenoiko) dia mamerimberina hatrany fa “ny mpikarama an'ady” (ilay laingalainga nafafy hatry ny ela) no nitifitra fa tsy nisy Malagasy nitifitra izany. Maro tamin'izy ireo no nanozona ny filoha Ravalomanana sy nilaza azy ho mpamono olona. Inona koa? ny filoha Ravalomanana sy ny Praiminisitra no naneho voalohany ny fiaraha-miory sahady… fa i Andry Rajoelina kosa tamin'ny 18:30 vao nanao izany sady “nitomany” nanameloka an-dRavalomanana ho tompon'andraikitra amin'izao vono-olona izao. “

“I was in Soarano when the first shots were heard, and even there people panicked. Pedestrians and drivers fled without paying attention and one pedestrian was hit by a car. She was in bad condition…All shops closed abruptly. Peddlers gathered their wares. Half the peddlers in Isotry stayed put though (Saturday is a market day there) because they thought that the police would not pursue anyone that far. We also heard shots in Besarety, which was amazing because it was quite far from the Presidential Palace, some were ready to loot the Shoprite in Ambodivona, one grocery store that had not been looted on Tuesday, January 21, 2009. (…)
Almost all radio stations reported this “great” event live..and many of those who are not followers of the movement were heard saying “shoot! shoot now!” and some expressed their impatience “this is taking too long!”. I am sad to report that many of those who did not walk to the Palace dared to say that “they got what they deserved!” appearing to have no sympathy for the fallen. The followers of the movement and those who went to Ambohitsirohitra (I heard opinions from those in Isotry mostly) repeated that mercenaries (lies long spread by some) had shot because no Malagasy would fire. Many cursed President Ravalomanana and condemned him as a murderer. What else? The President and his Primeminister were first to express their condolences… Andry Rajoelina waited until 18:30 to do so, and then “cried” when condemning Ravalomanana as the one responsible for the deaths.”

Jentilisa also analyzes the two only possible outcomes of Saturday's rally when Andry Rajoelina nominated Monja Roindefo, as “prime minister” of his governement:

“Tranga roa no tsy maintsy hitranga nanomboka ny tolakandro ka efa tafakatra teny Antaninarenina amin'izay ireo olona (miala tsiny mivantambantana miteny hoe ny avy any ambany tanàna no tena maro an'isa tamin'ny fitarihana sy fialohavana teny ampilaharana tonga teny Antaninarenina): Na mitifitra ny mpitandro ny filaminana na may Ambohitsorohitra, ireo ihany, tsy misy hafa. Raha nanaiky ny hidiran'ny vahoaka ny lapan'Ambohitsorohitra ny miaramila tao anatiny dia mivandravandra fa tsy mifehy ny tafika intsony ny filoha Ravalomanana ka tsara ho azy ny miala ny toerany avy hatrany. Ny olona koa etsy andaniny efa mihorakoraka ny “ela loatra” ary tsy maintsy handroso (”jusqu'à la mort” hoy ny tarigetran'ny mpanohana ny TGV izay). Ny zavatra nahavariana dia tsy niakatra nankeny Antaninarenina mihitsy i Andry fa ny lalana mody ny azy no nasiany olona, noho izany dia ny Jly Dolin Rasolosoa no tena nandrindra ny fihetsiketsehana rehetra sy ny fifampiresahana tamin'ny mpitandro ny filaminana. Ny “Praiminisitra” vao notendrena Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo kosa moa dia karazana kofehy manara-panjaitra ihany.”

“Two outcomes were possible when the crowd arrived to Antaninarenina [where the Presidential palace is located], and I apologize for saying brutally that most of the demonstrators leading the crowd originated from the poorer neighborhoods : either the soldiers would shoot, or the Palace would burn, either one, no other possibilities. If the military lets the crowd enter the Palace of Ambohitsirohitra, then it would be obvious that President Ravalomanana does not control the army anymore, and it would be better for him to resign immediately. The crowd was screaming “This is taking too long” and we have to advance (”until death” said some TGV supporters). What is amazing to me is that Andry did not go to Antaninarenina and went home, so the retired General Dolin Rasolosoa was the one managing the crowd and leading negotiations with the military. Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo, the freshly designated “Prime Minister”, was but a follower.”

POV, a cartoonist, wonders what led the demonstrators to rush towards armed soldiers:

“Puis les coups de feu ont éclaté. Les enquêtes démontreront peut-être ce qui s’est passé. Je doute que ceux qui étaient en première ligne allaient se ruer sur une rangée de soldats prêts à tirer. Je soupçonne que la pression de la foule en arrière les a poussés à faire un pas trop loin, vers la zone sécurisée.”

“Then shots were fired. Investigations may show what happened. I doubt that those in first line were eager to rush towards a line of soldiers ready to fire. I suspect that there was pressure from the crowd behind them that pushed them to make one step too many, towards the secured zone.”

POV condemns Andry Rajoelina's actions :

“En lâchant sa foule sur le palais présidentiel, il a su (et espéré ?) qu’il y aurait certainement de la casse. Tel un général sur le champ de bataille, il se tient en retrait, observant les manœuvres de sa troupe, dirigée par ses lieutenants.
De tous les endroits où il pouvait envoyer sa horde, il a choisi le palais présidentiel. Symbolique, certes, mais c’est également une zone rouge – un site où les gardes sont autorisées, voire tenues d’ouvrir le feu sur ceux qui outrepassent les limites. Il a galvanisé la foule de rhétoriques du genre « entrez-y, le palais présidentiel appartient au peuple ! » Selon des témoignages, les gens ont d’abord flotté autour du site. Des pourparlers étaient en cours entre les lieutenants de Andry Rajoelina et les chefs de la garde présidentielle.”

“By releasing his crowd on the Presidential palace, he knew (and hoped?) that there would be damage. Like a general on battle grounds, he stayed in retreat, observing movements of his troops, led by his lieutenants. Of all the places where he could send his horde, he chose the Presidehtial Palace. A symbolic place, but also a red zone, a location where guards are authorized, even obligated to fire on trespassers. He has excited the crowd with rhetorics like “Get in, the presidential palace belongs to the people !” According to witnesses, people first walked around the palace. Negotiations were being conducted between the lieutenants of Andry Rajoelina and leaders of the presidential guard.”

News2Dago reproduces a column written by Valiavo Nasolo Andriamihaja, where the latter wonders if President Ravalomanana is still in charge in the country and calls for him to resign if he has lost control:

“Impiry impiry, hatramin’ny nanombohan’izao raharaha izao, no nitsangana sy niteny ny olona maro sady tsy momba ny atsy no tsy momba ny aroa : «mampidi-kizo izao fiziriziriana izao, tsy maintsy ny resaka no vaha-olana». Tsy misy nihaino isika.(…)
Ilay Filoham-pirenena, tsy hita, tsy nandrenesam-peo, mahabe ahiahy ny olon-tsotra manara-dalàna sady tsy tia korontana. Raha mba miteny indray, lavitra loatra, toa zary miafina, sanatria toa efa lositra. Fa Fanjakana inona loatra ity eto amintsika ity ? Tompon’andraikitra amin’ny haja sy voninahitra fotsiny fa mialangalana rehefa misy fahasahiranana ? Ianao ihany, Ravalomanana, no nihomehy ilay mpiandry omby miandry omby tokana : «tsy fantatra intsony, hoy ianao, iza no sefo, izy sa ilay omby». Mbola sefo ve ianao, Ravalomanana ?”

“How many times, since the beginning of this affair, have numerous neutral people said : “this relentlessness will led to catastrophe, dialog is the solution”. Nobody listened. (…) The President, invisible, unheard, is unable to reassure simple law abiding citizens who loathe unrests. When the President speaks, he seems so remote, almost in hiding, God forbid, already vanquished. What government is this? Is this government in charge only of honor and respect, but powerless in the face of crisis? It is you, Ravalomanana, who laughed at the cow herder herding a single cattle head : “you said one does not know anymore who is the boss, the cow herder or the animal.” Are you still the boss, Ravalomanana? “

A feeling echoed by a commenter on Avylavitra's blog:

“Maninona raha noraisina fotsiny ireo solo tenan’ny mpitokona dia nosamborina raha nilaina dia naparitaka fotsiny ny olona avy eo ? Raha tsy mandray andraikitra haingana ianao sy ny gouvernemantanao eny fa na amin kery aza raha ilaina hampandeha ny raharaha andava,andro dia tokony ary rariny raha mametra pialana ianao.”

“Why were the insurrectionists not arrested if needed, then the people simply dispersed? If you and your government do not take charge quickly, even by force, to re-establish the order, then you should and you must resign.”

On rumors spread by the VIVA and Antsiva stations, both supporters of Andry Rajoelina, that the presidential guard did not warn before shootings and on the rumored presence of weapons among the demonstrators, Jentilisa comments on Avylavitra's blog:

“Miarahaba anao rahalahy! Tamin’ny vaovao manokana navoakan’ny Tvplus voalohany indrindra tamin’ny Asabotsy dia nisy iny tovolahy naratran’ny bala tamin’ny tongony iny. Nisy nibata ilay zalahy io ka rehefa napetraka tamin’ny tany tao amin’ny toerana vonjimaika hitsaboana ilay zalahy dia nisy bala niraraka avy tamin’ilay olona sivily nibata io naratra io. Tsy niverina intsony ilay ampahantsary fa notapahina nandritra ny vaovao manokana hafa rehetra tamin’io andro io. Midika izany fa “nisy” nitondra fiadiana avy taty amin’ny vahoaka, izay nolazain’i Andry Rajoelina tamin’ny resaka nifanaovana tao amin’ny Viva TV androany, fa na nitondra fitaovam-piadiana aza ny vahoaka araka ny nambarany tsy tokony hamaly mihitsy ny mpitandro ny filaminana.”

“I salute you brother! During the special news reported by TVplus on Saturday, they showed a young man with injuries in his legs. Somebody carried him to an emergency makeshift care facility for him to be treated, and the civilian who carried that man to be treated then dropped bullets on the floor. This portion of the news was not broadcast again during that special news report. It means that “there were” weapons carried by the people, and Andry Rajoelina said during his interview on VIVA TV today, that even if the people carried weapons, soldiers should not fire back.”

Finally, Lomelle and Pakysse both write moving hommages to Ando, the journalist who lost his life while covering the rally and the siege of the Presidential Palace.

Madagascar: The mayor proclaims himself president

Mialy Andriamananjara — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:16:24 +0000

A dispute between the president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanan, and the mayor of the capital, Andry Rajoelina, thrust Malagasy citizens into violent rioting and looting last week, and has now escalated into a power struggle for the presidency itself.

In December, Rajoelina, a DJ and advertising tycoon turned Antananarivo's mayor, mobilized his supporters when the government shut down his television station, VIVA. Now, it seems his tens of thousands of followers will demand not only restoration of democracy and freedom of speech, but also control of government.

Two scheduled negotiation talks between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina have been canceled.

The mayor has been able to tap into Malagasy growing discontent and disapproval of the current regime to gather a following. This Saturday, on the Place du Treize Mai, in front of tens of thousands of supporters, Andry Rajoelina has proclaimed himself the new leader of Madagascar.

“Since the president and the government have not taken their responsibilities… I will run all national affairs as of today,” he said.

He has also announced plans to impeach Ravalomanana, the current elected president, who has according to him, disrespected the Malagasy constitution.

As reported by Avylavitra (who posted pictures on his flickr account as well) :

“Notanisaina teny an-kianja daholo androany ireo teboka efa ho folo lazain’ireo mpomba an’i Andry fa fanitsakitsahana lalampanorenana nataon’Atoa Ravalomanana Marc, ka tafiditra ho isan’ny tena antony azo analana azy amin’ny toerany, ka isan’izany ny resaha ‘haute trahison’ momba ny fanafarana mpikarama an’ady hamono ny taranaka Malagasy, ny fanaovana fanavakavahana ara-pinoana sns….

Teny ampamaranana ny fotoana, rehefa ela no niandrasan’ny vahoaka azy, dia nivoaka ihany ilay fanambarana lehibe nataon’i Andry Rajoelina, ka nanabaràny fa izy ny mitondra vonjimaika ny tetezamita, ary manome baiko sy mitantana ny raharaha rehetra. Nisy ny fanaingany ny tafika sy ireo ministera isan-tokony mba hanaraka ny baikony.”

“Andry's supporters counted ten instances of Marc Ravalomanana holding the constitution in contempt, they included some that validate his impeachment, one of them being “high treason” for importing mercenaries to kill Malagasies (author's note: this is an unsubstantiated claim, officially refuted by one of the army's leaders. The presence of foreign mercenaries was a recurring rumor during unrests.), another instance was Ravalomanana's alleged religious discrimination, etc…

At the end of the rally, after his supporters had long waited for it, Andry Rajoelina finally showed his ace card, when he said that he would lead the transitional government, and he would be the one giving orders and in charge of all affairs. He urged the army and ministers to follow his commands.”

News2Dago wonders if this is democracy:

“Toy izao ilay atao oe vahoaka maro an'isa izany oe 80.000/20.000.000 na koa oe 0,004 % no hadidy sy hanapaka ny tany sy ny fanjakana. Dia atao ahoana izany ireo vahoaka tsy milahatra tsy tia korontana kanefa tsy sahy maneho hevitra fa ampitahorina bemiranga sy olona milanja basy handromba sy hanampim-bava. Demokrasia ny bandy bokona sy beloha no tiana hanjaka eto @ tanana.”

“Here are the numerous people, 80,000 out of 20 millions inhabitants, meaning 0.004% of the population that will order about the nation and the government. What about the population that does not demonstrate, does not want chaos, but cannot express their views because of intimidation from armed looters. Democracy of muscles and stubbornness is what they want to impose.”

Madagascan wonders what will happen next:

“…une question se pose tout de même: La solidité de ses soutiens au sein de l'armée et des forces de l'ordre? Jusqu'à présent, aucun évènement n'a pu démontrer la supériorité d'un camp ou d'un autre au niveau des forces armées. Cette déclaration sera donc le grand test pour Andry Rajoelina.
En tout cas, cela ôte tout doute sur le fait que le maire d'Antananarivo possède des soutiens dans la classe politique d'opposition, qui ont préparé cette confrontation. Tout seul, il n'y serait pas arrivé.
Le week-end risque d'être encore agité. La logique voudrait que Marc Ravalomanana lance un mandat d'arrêt contre Andry Rajoelina, et que ce dernier soit fait prisonnier dès aujourd'hui. Cela sera le premier grand test: Les forces de l'ordre vont-elles obéir?”

“…one question begs an answer: how solid is the mayor's support among the army and the police? Until now, no event has demonstrated one side or another's superior handle on the army. This announcement will be a big test for Andry Rajoelina. It removes any doubt that the Antananarivo mayor has solid support among the opposition parties, which have been preparing for this fight. Rajoelina would not have managed this alone. The weekend will be eventful again. Marc Ravalomanana will logically want to issue an arrest warrant against Andry Rajoelina and arrest him today. The first big test: will the army obey him?”

Meanwhile, Ravalomanana was seen in various coastal cities, the latest being Nosy Be, where according to the Presidential communication team, he gave the following speech:

“Je suis là pour discréditer les rumeurs, car à Antananarivo il est dit que tout Madagascar est en feu. Je constate que la vie de tous les jours continue. Il faut se concentrer sur le travail pour faire progresser les pays. Je suis aussi venu pour constater les dégâts causés par le vandalisme et les incendies. Nous suivons de près les fauteurs de troubles afin que vous réalisiez qu’il y a un Etat de droit à Madagascar. Le constat général est le suivant: les troubles sont causés par des groupes qui viennent de nulle part et soudainement, pour semer la panique. Nous respectons la Constitution et la légalité, et ce ne seront pas gens qui vandalisent et pillent qui vont déstabiliser notre nation. Nous sommes profondément désolés de ce qui s’est passé, mais nous allons travailler ensemble pour redresser l’économie. “

“I am here to refute rumors, because in Antananarivo they say that all Madagascar is burning. I see now that everyday life continues. We have to focus on the work to develop the country. I am here also to look at the devastation caused by fire and riots. We are closely following the trouble makers so you can realize there is law and order in Madagascar. The overall assessment is that the troubles are caused by groups coming out of nowhere to generate panic. We respect the Malagasy Constitution and legality, it is not rioters and looters who are going to shake our nation. We are deeply sorry for what happened, and we will work together to get the economy back on its feet.”

Yahoo Forum reactions to Andry Rajoelina's self-proclamation range from bewilderment, consternation to elation. Some see in Rajoelina's power grab a move to protect his personal interests and fortune. Others are just glad. Still others wonder if the people are not again the dupe of politicians.

“Que faut-il faire pour que le peuple malgache ne soit pas sacrifié au nom de quelques intérêts personnels.
Rendons nous compte: pour accéder au pouvoir, ces gens là osent parler de démocratie et sont prêts à faire des actes terroristes et prendre le pouvoir de force!!!”

“What can we do for the Malagasy people not to be sacrificed in the name of personal interests. Let us realize: to accede power, those people dare to speak of democracy and are ready to commit terrorist acts and take power by force!!!”

“Manana “Filoha vaovao” aloha izao ny tenanay ka soava tsarà ingahy “ANDRY TGV”"

“We now have a “new president” and good luck to “ANDRY TGV”"

Others on the Sobika forum wonder about elections in Madagascar:

“Et le peuple malgache aura t'il son mot à dire? je ne me permets pas de juger mais il me semble que TGV devrait réclamer des élections? La seule légitimité démocratique peut donner un avenir à un homme ou une femme politique…ces méthodes d'auto proclamation sont d'un autre âge…”

“Will the Malagasy people have their say? I am not allowing myself to judge but it seems TGV should demand elections? The only democratic legitimacy that gives a politician a future. These self proclamations are of another age…”