Antananarivo (Fides Service)-“There are political forces which want the situation in Madagascar to precipitate” Salesian Father Cosimo Alvati, director of Radio don Bosco in Antananarivo, told Fides with regard to attacks during festivities for the national day of independence on June 25.
Grenades were launched by unidentified persons during ceremonies for independence day in various parts of the Island: Toliary, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga. About forty people were injured. The most serious attack was in Toliary where a grenade was thrown among crowds in the streets; many children were among those present.
“The devices were of relatively low potential and perhaps this is why no one was killed” Father Alvati told Fides. “The aim was obviously to destabilise the country, using as a lever old ethnic divisions and the present economic crisis. It is significant that they struck in the provinces where there is less control by government and police ”.
“Madagascar is experiencing a serious economic crisis. In a year the buying power of the people has lessened” Father Alvati said. “The country depends heavily on imported goods and local money, the Malagasy Franc, has halved its relation of exchange with the Euro. If a year ago 1 Euro was worth 6,000 Malagasy Francs, today it is worth 12,000 FMG. People are literally going hungry”. “The causes of the economic crisis derive, on the one hand, from the strong revaluation of the Euro (most imported goods come from Europe, France in particular), and on the other from structural weakness of Malagasy economy which cannot be corrected in a few years especially without foreign aid ” Father Alvati told Fides.
“These attacks are inserted in this dramatic situation. The aim was obviously destabilise the situation and make the government fall ” the missionary concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2004 righe 28 parole 327)