Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, is the main political opponent of President Marc Ravalomanana and continues his protest, although with seemingly less supporters.
On February 3, the mayor was fired by the Prefect of the capital. Rajoelina, however, defeated the measure, and in a demonstration held on February 4 announced that he would step down, asking his colleague Michele Ratsivalaka to take over temporary control of the city (see Fides 4/2/2009).
Rajoelina then encouraged his supporters to continue protesting in front of the City Hall. The number of demonstrators, however, has remained about the same or diminished. Fides sources at Radio Don Bosco, the most important Catholic radio on the island, say that “the people have to earn a living; they cannot go to the demonstrations because they have to work, not because there are no longer reasons to protest.”
In order to help our readers better understand what is taking place on the most important African island, we will present a brief synthesis on the current crisis.
On January 26, serious conflict broke out between the police and supporters of the city's mayor, Andry Rajoelina, the main political adversary of President Marc Ravalomanana.
The conflict leads first to strikes declared by the opposition, to protest the government's decision to close “TV Viva,” the property of Mayor Rajoelina. The government had called for its closing last December, following the airing of a program in which the President in exile, Didier Ratsiraka, spoke. The demonstrators destroyed and sacked businesses and set fire to the headquarters of the national television station and the property of President Ravalomanana, who also owns a radio, two newspapers, a construction company, and one of the most important supermarket chains in the country.
According to the police, 44 people have died. According to other sources, the number is at 120. The protests have continued in the days that followed, although they have lost intensity and are no longer violent. On February 3, Rajoelina announced that he would present a petition for President Ravalomanana's dismissal from office, in the Constitutional High Court and would form a transitional government which he himself would preside. The government immediately responded by removing Rajoelina from office. Rajoelina, however, defeated the measure, and stepped down, handing over his place to provisional mayor Michele Ratsivalaka. In the meantime, the Constitutional High Court has declared itself incapable of examining Rajoelina's request.
The reasons for the protest go beyond the situation at hand, the forced closure of Rajoelina's television station, and are rooted in the frustration of the people of Madagascar, who in 2002 elected Ravalomanana with the expectations that he could turn the country around. From 2002-2007, the national economy has experienced a growth, however the majority of the population has not seen an improvement in their living conditions. Ravalomanana is accused of having restricted democracy, especially in the media, and of being in cahoots with foreign dealers in exploiting the nation's natural resources. The opposition especially denounces the decision to hand over 1.3 million hectares of arable land to a South Korean multinational for 99 years.
Rajoelina has been able to funnel this frustration of the people, however various observers say that he does not possess the political weight needed to offer a real alternative to the current President. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 5/2/2009)
