Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Three were left dead and ten wounded after the revolt on May 20, carried out by members of the “Force d'Intervention” of the Police Force (FIGN), the special police force based in Fort Duchesnetra in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar (see Fides 20/5/2010).
"The Commander of the FIGN, Colonel Raymond Andrianjafy, and several rioters were arrested. Today, May 22, he is scheduled to appear in court to face charges," an editor from Radio Don Bosco told Fides. "The local press says that some of the policemen arrested admitted having received money from some politicians linked to former President Marc Ravalomanana, in exchange for fomenting the rebellion."
Andry Rajoelina, President of the High Transitional Authority, who has led the country since the resignation of Ravalomanana, has accused the former President of having fomented the FIGN rebellion in order to discredit the current leadership on the island.
"The local commentators agree in attributing Ravalomanana with instigating the revolt, also because in connection to the rebellion of the special police, in front of barracks at Fort Duchesnetra, a demonstration was organized by the FJKM, a Protestant Church of which Ravalomanana is Vice-President," Fides sources said. "The event, which had been planned for some time and emphatically announced by the local media, was scheduled to take place at a location that is far from Fort Duchesnetra. Then, all of a sudden, it was moved to the military barracks, to support them in the revolt."
Ravalomanana, living in exile in South Africa, has denied having supported the FIGN rebellion and has reiterated his commitment to finding a negotiated solution to the crisis in Madagascar. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/22/2010)
