Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – The international community continues its efforts to resolve the serious political crisis in Madagascar (see Fides 27/1/2009). According to local Church sources in contact with Agenzia Fides from Antananarivo, the official ambassadors in the capital city are trying to arrange for an encounter between President Marc Ravalomanana and his main political opponent, the mayor of the city: Andry Rajoelina. The African Union has expressed its “concern” for the situation on the island.
“At the moment, they have been unable to arrange the encounter,” Fides sources said. “The President has given positive signs in granting permission for “Radio Vita,” which belongs to the mayor, to continue on the air.” Ravalomanana has made an appeal for dialogue to the mayor, and has called for “national unity,” asking “the international community and the Churches to do everything possible so that the sides can come together.”
Rajoelina, however, has encouraged his supporters to gather in “May 13th Square,” the main city square, to continue protests.
In the meantime, the number of people who have lost their lives in the uprising has increased. At least 37 bodies were found in a business in Antananarivo that was sacked an later set on fire during the fighting yesterday. There now seems to be at least 40 who have died in the conflict.
“The situation remains tense, as news comes in of sacking and protests in other cities of Madagascar. The demonstrators have mainly targeted the President's property, especially his chain of supermarkets, which are present in nearly all the country's cities. The political protests have been coupled with criminal activity, carried out by those who take advantage of the chaos to sack and destroy properties,” our sources said. “There is the possibility that false news is being spread in order to increase tensions, like the news of the death of the former President Didier Ratsiraka, who is in exile in France.”
An interview with the former President (who was involved in a harsh conflict with Ravalomanana in 2002, which later ended in his exile), which was aired in late December on the “Vita” television station (a part of the same chain as the radio owned by the city's mayor) is one of the causes of the current crisis. Following the airing of the interview, authorities ordered the closing of the television station. Rajoelina sent his supporters to protest and hold demonstrations in the streets.
However, there are other reasons for the tension. Rajoelina is opposed to conceding a vast agricultural area to a South Korean multi-national company. Various foreign companies are interested in Madagascar for its nickel, bauxite, cobalt, as well as gold, carbon, chromium, and uranium.
These interests remain for now on the back-burner. For the time being, a group of more opponents to the President are making ties with Rajoelina, and it seems that Ratsiraka himself is doing the same. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 28/1/2009)
