AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - PRISON SENTENCE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT IS A BOOST FOR THOSE WHO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR PAST CRIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION REMAINS TO BE SOLVED

Friday, 19 December 2003

Antananarivo (Fides Service )- “The sentence is a boost for those who demand justice for crimes committed in the past ” Father Cosimo Alvati, head of Radio Don Bosco in Madagascar told Fides with regard to a five years in prison sentence issued for Madagascar’s former President Didier Ratsiraka at present in exile in France. In August this year Ratsiraka was given 10 years of forced labour for embezzlement. This second sentence was issued with regard to the support he gave to independence proclaimed in 6 of the Island’s provinces during the battle for presidency between Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana in 2002. Ravalomanana, mayor of Antananarivo at the time, claimed victory with (50% plus one vote) in presidential elections and accused outgoing President Ratsiraka of manipulating the vote. Official results gave 46,21% to Ravalomanana, and 40,89% to Ratsiraka. A period of unrest followed during which governors of 6 provinces declared independence and loyalty to Ratsiraka who had withdrawn to Toamasina, a town known to be his personal stronghold. The battle ended when Ravalomanana was declared President.
“The country is divided on the best way to put the past behind and concentrate on the future,” Father Cosimo told Fides. “On the one hand we have supporters of the former President who demand an amnesty for Ratsiraka and his collaborators on the grounds of a local Fiavanan tradition for an accommodating solution for disagreements worthy of a ‘good family man’. The people who put forward this solution say this is the only way to achieve national reconciliation and guarantee the island lasting peace”.
“On the other hand we have Ravalomanana’s supporters who say they want peace certainly but not at the expense of justice. They say trials must continue and sentences must be respected” Father Cosimo told Fides
“This is causing tension because Ratsiraka’s supporters also play the card of ethnic clashes. Pety Rakotoniaina former ally of Ravalomanana, at present mayor of Fianarantsoa, has announced that he intends to call the Betsileo clan to march on the capital Antananarivo and demand the release of Ratsiraka’s former prime minister Tantely Andrianarivo, jailed a year ago. Rakotoniaina says the Imerina clan, of which Ravalomanana is a member, persecute the Betsileo clan to which both Ratsiraka and his former prime minister Tantely Andrianarivo”. (L.M.) (Fides Service 19/12/2003, lines 38 words 449)


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