AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Transitional Authority appointed, but former President claims: “I never resigned. On March 17, I was forced to hand over power, at gunpoint.”

Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Andry Rajoelina appointed the members of the High Transitional Authority which he presides, in spite of severe criticism from the international community, which is calling for the return of President Ravalomanana, who was forced to resign.
Ravalomanana tells his version of what occurred in a message sent to the Summit of the Heads of State of the SADC (Southern African Development Community), which took place in Swaziland (see Fides 31/3/2009). He especially denies having resigned upon his own will. “I never resigned. On March 17, I was forced to hand over power, at gunpoint,” he says in the message to the King of Swaziland, who is presiding the Summit. “My family and I, were surrounded by soldiers threatening our lives. My son and his wife were forced to hide in the forest. The only escape for us was out of the country.”
Ravalomanana accuses Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital of Antananarivo, of having “seized power through terrorism. He has incited unprecedented violence and destruction. And this since the 26th of January. National and private radio and television stations were burnt down, and more than 20 shopping centers were looted and burnt down. Rajoelina used his own radio and Television stations for subversive propaganda. Through these stations, he spread rumors against the government. He made use of this strategy to terrorize the population and destabilize the country. The economy has been ruined: hundreds of businesses had to close down due to looting. The security forces could not prevent the wave of destruction because they lacked anti riot equipment. They were overwhelmed by the scope of organized violence.”
The message continues: “Andry Rajoelina claimed very early that he wanted to take charge of the country. On the 31st of January, he ordered the whole country to follow his leadership.
As his intentions of taking over power illegally became apparent, and the violence continued, he began losing support. In speeches, he began threatening citizens: those unwilling to participate, would have their houses marked. On Sunday the 8th of March, he organized a mutiny within a faction of the army. Junior officers rebelled against senior officers. Some officers were taken hostage at the army barracks.
His ‘Minister of Justice’ issued arrest warrants against members of the cabinet. With the help of the mutineers, he took the prime minister’s office on Friday the 13th. Three days later, the mutinous soldiers took the Presidential palace in town. On Tuesday the 17th, he sent troops to take the State Palace of Iavoloha, where I used to reside and work. They dispersed thousands of supporters camped outside the Palace, before they stormed it.”
In his message, Ravalomanana promises that upon his return to power, he would undertake various reforms: establish an Independent Electoral Commission; restructure and retrain the army and the police, with the assistance of SADC and other partners; improve the business climate; ensure that the rule of law is observed; and hold national consultations for either a referendum or anticipated presidential elections.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 1/4/2009)