Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – The tri-party coalition that is opposed to the leader of the High Authority of Transition in Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has announce a new “informational campaign” in the various regions of the island.
“Beginning this week, we will organize meetings in the provinces,” said former Presdient Albert Zafy, spokesman of the coalition that is also formed by former Presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka. “We should tell the local people the truth, because they are not receiving all the information. Access to media is limited,” said Zafy, who is preparing to go to the region of Sava, in the north of the country.
“I am not surprised that the former President wants to begin his informational campaign in Sava, which is his birthplace and his electoral stronghold,” Agenzia Fides was told by a source from Don Bosco Radio, the most important Catholic radio station in Madagascar.
“With this movement, the coalition that is in opposition to Rajoelina will try to play the regional wildcard, which is really the ethnic and tribal card. In the country, these bonds are still strong and the politicians have no scruples in taking advantage of them to take over power. However, it is a dangerous play that could have terrible consequences.”
Zafy is the only one of the three former Presidents physically present on the island, as Ratsiraka is in exile in France and Ravalomanana is in South Africa. “Right now, the three former Heads of State are united in getting rid of Rajoelina, however it is clear that once they are successful in doing so, they will begin the power war among themselves. Unfortunately, none of them seems truly interested in the good of Madagascar's people,” Fides sources said.
Both Rajoelina and the coalition of the three former Presidents signed the Maputo Accords in August, which called for the formation of a transitional government of national unity, with the task of preparing for political and presidential elections in 15 months. After debate over the subdivision of the principal positions in the new Cabinet, Rajoelina and his Prime Minister Monja Roindefo decided to form their own executive administration, which would proceed with preparations for the elections called for in Maputo. The new government, however, has not been recognized by the international community, and the African Union has launched an ultimatum asking that the other signers of the Accords enter into the executive administration. “The ultimatum is up tomorrow, September 16. The people of Madagascar are awaiting renewed sanctions that will impoverish a population that is already living in great poverty,” Fides sources say. “Among the most feared decisions is that of revoking the AGOA accord (Africa Growth Opportunity Act), through which several local businesses on the French part of the island export textiles to the USA with advantages in terms of income and customs. 100,000 jobs are at risk if the accord is revoked,” Fides sources mentioned.
“This evening, the leader of Ravalomanana's party and Premier Monja Roindefo will hold a public debate that will be aired on television and radio. It will be an opening in dialogue between the two main parties in the Madagascar crisis,” our source said. “We should keep in ming that the conflict began between Rajoelina and Ravalomanana. It was a great error on the part of the international community to become have Ratsiraka and Zafy in on the Maputo Accords, because they have complicated the situation and angered the other 56 parties of Madagascar who were not invited to the negotiation table. Unfortunately, all these political forces seem to be interested only in power and not in the welfare of the people.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2009)
