Tension roils in Madagascar

  1. Posted on Monday 26 January 2009 - 12:30
    KingsleyKobo
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    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coat
    There was heightened tension in island Madagascar over the weekend as hundreds poured on the streets for the arrest of the city mayor, Andry Rajoelina. He is reported to have gone ahead to organize a banned demonstration on Saturday in the capital - Antananarivo - drawing about 25, 000 supporters.
    madagascar map
    The island’s media report that the situation has brought a cold war between President Marc Ravalomanana, his major opposition, Andry Rajoelina and the mayor.

    President Ravalomanana, who was away in South Africa attending a summit on Zimbabwe, cut short his visit and flew into his country Sunday afternoon to handle the situation. He was welcomed at the airport by thousands of his excited supporters, cabinet ministers and his prime minister, Charles Rabemananjara.

    Rabemananjara told the crowd: “The president has just arrived, and we will be putting heads together to punish any civil disobedience. Madagascar is a place where laws are respected, so whoever disobeys will face it.”

    Later in the evening, President Ravalomanana exhorted Madagascans to “think about positive and objective attitudes that will help move the Island forward and not on what will destroy it. The whole Africa is watching and waiting as we prepare to host the next African Union summit. It will be a great honour for us to receive eminent personalities across the continent. Let us not cede to disastrous distractions.”

    Rajoelina was elected mayor of Antananarivo in December 2007, and ever since, he has relentless criticized President Ravalomanana’s policies of leasing and selling portions of land to the South Korean government for the cultivation of rice, which are wholly exported to South Korea, whereas Madagascans can hardly purchase few kilos for consumption. The mayor even tags his president as a dictator.

    Viva, a private television station owned by the mayor was shut down recently, including his radio station. As at last night, thousands of his supporters were surrounding his residence against any eventual arrest.

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