Madagascar: Transitional government is trampling on freedom of

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Madagascar: Transitional government is trampling on freedom of
speech
Posted By Mialy Andriamananjara On April 24, 2009 @ 3:25 pm In Arrest and Harassment, Features,
Madagascar, News | 6 Comments
A series of unfortunate decisions taken by the Andry TGV Rajoelina
High Authority for the Transition (HAT) government is seriously threatening freedom of speech in
Madagascar.
First, there was the arrest of three demonstrators, most famously, “Razily“, the young man seen
bearing a flag in this amateur video
beaten by soldiers.
[1]
, before being thrown into a pick up truck and callously
As comments a reader on Madagascar Tribune
[2]
online :
“Mais quel symbole !!!. Un homme seul qui brandi fièrement le drapeau de son pays
arrêté sans ménagement par des militaires sensés justement défendre les couleurs de
ce drapeau. Lui même jeté dans le fourgon !!!.”
“But what a symbol!!! A lone man who proudly bears his country's flag, ruthlessly arrested by
soldiers, who are supposed to defend the flag's colors. Himself thrown into a truck !”
We still do not know for sure what happened to Razily, but he is hailed a hero by Malagasy internet
users. Malagasy mainstream media seem not to have followed up with his fate. Malagasy social
[3]
media users, like Solofo Rafeno
, on his twitter account and his blog are orchestrating a campaign
to demand that the HAT government free Razily and the other two men who were with him. Solofo
also demands to know the whereabouts of a pro-Ravalomanana journalist who has been reported
missing since the grab of power.
A petition
[4]
now circulates on Facebook for those demanding Razily's freedom.
Then, last sunday, Andry TGV Rajoelina's government seized equipment from two radio broadcasting
stations, Radio Fahazavana and Radio Mada, which both support the ousted President Marc
Ravalomanana.
Mydago.com
[5]
reports the closure of the two stations :
“Pendant le jour du Seigneur du 19 avril, la Radio Chrétienne Fahazavana (Lumière)
ainsi que Radio Mada et TV Mada ont été détruits par les militaires mutins du Capsat. Il
faut reconnaître que ces organes d’informations ont depuis quelques jours gêné, voire
irrité le nouveau régime issu du coup d’état de Madagascar. Nous pouvons nous
souvenir que déjà depuis quelques jours, par exemple nous avions eu vent de plaintes
de brouillage sur Radio Mada. Par ailleurs, d’autres informations ont confirmé que des
pressions s’exercent sur les journalistes de la Radio et la télévision nationales (Radio et
TVM).”
“During the Lord's day of April 19, the Fahazavana (Light) Christian Radio, Radio Mada and TV Mada
have been destroyed by the mutineers of the Capsat. One has to acknowledge that these media have
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since a few days bothered, even irritated the new regime issued from the coup d'etat in Madagascar.
We remember that since a few days, we have heard complaints of interference on Radio Mada.
Moreover, other medias have confirmed that journalists of the national radio and TV stations are
recipients of pressure.”
It is ironic to recall that back in December 2008, it was Andry TGV Rajoelina's VIVA TV station which
[6]
was forced to close
by Marc Ravalomanana, for broadcasting a speech by former President
Ratsiraka where the latter harshly criticized Ravalomanana and incited the Malagasy people to revolt.
Fijery
[7]
notices the similarity :
“Dimanche dernier, au milieu de toute la splendeur de leur clairvoyance, Andry
Rajoelina et Gilbert Raharizatovo ont fait un copier-coller de la décision ridicule de
réduire Viva TV au silence, et ont tenté de fermer Radio-Mada et Radio Fahazavana.”
“Last Sunday, in a splendid act of shrewdness, Andry Rajoelina and Gilbert Raharizatovo (Note of the
Author: Gilbert Raharizatovo is Andry Rajoelina's Minister of Communication) did a copy paste of the
ridiculous decision to reduce VIVA TV to silence, and tried to close down Radio Mada and Radio
Fahazavana.”
After his nemesis, Ravalomanana, closed down VIVA TV, Andry TGV organized protests in the streets
to demand the reopening of the television station, touted his outrage at this blatant disrespect of
freedom of speech and democracy, and branded Ravalomanana a “dictator”. Global Voices has a
[8]
special section
on the crisis. Yet not even six months later, after Andry TGV successfully grabbed
power with the help of mutineers, and proclaimed that freedom is won and dictatorship vanquished,
Andry TGV's sbires are now the ones threatening radio and TV stations with closures, intimidating
[9]
journalists and bloggers, forbidding public protests and shooting at protesters,
all under the
pretext of preserving law and order and public safety, a surprising concern for a government that not
even two months ago, has itself used street protests, intimidation and general thuggery to rise to
power. Due to the violence and the threats, shops and factories were forced to permanently shut
down, their employees were dismissed, the $350 million a year once promising touristic industry
tanked, hotels are now staying empty. The HAT government has proposed that entry visas, which
once cost 60 euros to obtain, are now to be offered for free in a desperate measure to revive
tourism.
The HAT government, which professed last month that elections were not needed because the people
had already spoken through the streets, then proceeded to forbid all public rallies. As reports The
Cyber Observer
[10]
:
“Today (Tuesday April 21st, 2009), the HAT prime minister Monja Roindefo led a special
council at the state palace of Iavoloha.
It has been decided that, starting from tomorrow (Wednesday April 22nd, 2009), all
political rallies throughout Madagascar, are forbidden until further notice.
In order to maintain the public order (bear in mind that when Andry Rajoelina came to
power, he proclaimed state of emergency throughout Madagascar), the state has the
right to make such decision. But in the other hand, due to the fact that there is a daily
and massive growing wave of public contestation throughout Madagascar, is it really
wise to impose such a ban?”
On Monday April 20 and again on Thursday April 23, there were massive crowds in Antananarivo,
protesting the shut down of the pro-Ravalomanana radio stations. Unfortunately the Rajoelina
government copied Ravalomanana's methods and ruthlessly repressed the protests, showing in the
process that Ravalomanana the “dictator” may be gone, but his replacement, Andry TGV Rajoelina is
not fulfilling his promise to bring freedom and democracy to Madagascar. One of the reproaches
Andry TGV Rajoelina's supporters made to Ravalomanana was the use of armed civilians mingled
with soldiers during protests repressions. Yet again, civilians were seen carrying weapons alongside
soldiers, and some were even seen giving soldiers orders, when together they shot at protesters
without warning, and according to some accounts, used deadly bullets.
According to witnesses, the Associated Press
BBC
[11]
and the
[12]
, two people died and more than 15 were wounded on Monday.
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“The BBC's Jonny Hogg in the city saw at least one person shot in the back at close
range, and said cars were set on fire close to government buildings. “
“Radio Madagascar said numerous casualties were being taken to the Antananarivo's
main hospital. There was no immediate confirmation of the report nor official word
about injuries or deaths.”
“An AP reporter saw roaming gangs erecting barricades and burning cars in the capital,
with the worst unrest concentrated near a downtown square that has become the focal
point for protests.
Supporters of ousted President Marc Ravalomanana had defied a ban on
demonstrations issued by Madagascar's military-backed leader Andry Rajeolina
following repeated clashes.”
Soldiers then wanted to invade HJRA, Hopital Ravoahangy Andrianavalona, the hospital where the
wounded were taken -to what end one cannot help but wonder- but the protesters managed to stop
them.
The Cyber Observer
[13]
offers a suggestion as to why the soldiers wanted to storm the hospital:
“According to some eye-witnesses, 02 people were killed by security forces in Anosy.
This information has been confirmed later by Fahazavana radio (this radio is back on air
since today at 01.30pm Madagascar time - we do not know yet where its current
location is and if it has been allowed by the ministry of telecommunication to broadcast
again). The bodies of these 02 people are now at the HJRA hospital in
Andrefan’Ambohijanahary.
According to another eye-witness, there were militaries who came to HJRA hospital to
take the bodies of these 02 people. They were heavily armed. People around the
premises of HJRA hospital did not allow them to do so. Now at the time I am typing this
post, Fahazavana radio is calling people to go to Andrefan’Ambohijanahary to protect
HJRA hospital”
Back in February, on Red saturday, Ando Ratovonirina, one cameraman of the television station RTA
[14]
was killed
in the line of action by the soldiers of the then embattled Marc Ravalomanana. Two
months later, this time again, a professional journalist of the same television station, Razafindraibe,
was killed by Andry TGV Rajoelina's government
[15]
Freedom of speech still evades Madagascar. Fijery
journalism on Malagasy life :
, also in the line of action.
[7]
writes a sober analysis of the lack of impact of
“…qu’est-ce qu’une vie de journaliste dans un pays ou même la sacro-sainte
Constitution n’est pas respectée ? La presse a déja payé un lourd tribut dans cette
crise, avec deux décès et plusieurs agressions. Et vu le faible niveau de respectabilité
de la pratique politique et des politiciens dans notre pays, il est inutile pour les
journalistes Malgaches d’adopter littéralement la devise de Jean-Jacques Rousseau :
Vitam impendere vero.”
“…what is one journalist's life worth in a country where even the sacred constitution is not
respected? The press has already paid a heavy price during this unrest, with two deaths and many
assaults. And with the poor ethics of our politicians and the shameful political practices in our
country, it is useless for Malagasy journalists to literally adopt Jean-Jacques Rousseau's motto ”
Vitam impendere vero.”
Article printed from Global Voices Advocacy: http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
URL to article: http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/24/madagascar-transitionalgovernment-is-trampling-on-freedom-of-speech/
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[1] video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8t23s_manifestation-pro-ravalo-28-mars
[2] Madagascar Tribune: http://www.madagascar-tribune.com
[3] Solofo Rafeno: http://maudigascar.blogspot.com/2009/04/appel-au-hat-ou-est-razily.htm
[4] petition : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=74530633072
[5] Mydago.com : http://mydago.com/2009/04/radio-et-tv-madagascar-lumiere-sabotespar-les-militaires-du-capsat/
[6] VIVA TV station which was forced to close: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12
/23/madagascar-a-television-station-is-forced-to-stop-broadcasting/
[7] Fijery : http://fijery.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/manoratra-foana-fa-eh-eh-eh/
[8] special section: http://globalvoicesonline.org/specialcoverage/madagascar-powerstruggle-2009/
[9] forbidding public protests and shooting at protesters,: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04
/01/causes-and-consequences-of-the-coup-in-madagagascar/
[10] The Cyber Observer: http://andrydago.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/last-news-allpolitical-rallies-are-banned-until-further-notice/
[11] Associated Press: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article
/ALeqM5hfV75EHUookBtBk2OlprGZBpDTzgD97O5DP80
[12] BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8008979.stm
[13] The Cyber Observer: http://andrydago.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/last-news-02people-died-from-the-clash-with-security-forces-in-anosy/
[14] cameraman of the television station RTA was killed : http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/02
/09/madagascar-bloggers-react-to-red-saturdays-bloodshed/
[15] killed by Andry TGV Rajoelina's government:
http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.orgtwitter.com/jungeez/statuses/1576335927
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