AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - To end the crisis a neutral government may include a few army officers

Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides)- It may take a “neutral” national-unity government, formed of “technicians” (representatives of the civil society, freelance professionals, etc…) to pull Madagascar from political crisis which has gripped the Island for the past 14 mesi. “At present this is simply an hypothesis put forward by the President of the High Authorities for Transition (HAT), Andy Rajoelina” Fides was told by a journalist working with Radio don Bosco in the Malagasy capital, Antananarivo.
Rajoelina proposed the idea of technical executive after meeting yesterday, 3 May, leading members of the army, who presented him with an ultimatum either he, Rajoelina, presents, before the end of April, an articulated programme to lead the country out of the crisis, or they, the army, will make a direct intervention.
“ The details of Rajoelina's plan are still unclear, but there did emerge a concrete possibility that as part of the technical executive, some ministries might be entrusted to army commanders. It is clear that the army's role in the crisis is becoming increasingly important ” said Fides' source. Rajoelina mentioned the possible formation of a neutral government in his televised discourse to the nation, in which he expressed disappointment for the failure of the summit in Pretoria, which ended on May 1 with no result (see Fides 3/5/2010).
“Rajoelina is due to have another meeting with army chiefs and then deliver another address to the nation within the next 48 hours ” say Fides sources. What is more, the three “mouvances” , political movements led respectively by three former Presidents, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, have also announced a series of media conferences for today. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/5/2010)