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At 8.50 a.m. when I past by the Independance Avenue, only few people were there and a lot of organizers of the meeting led by Andy TGV.
One of the blockings - next to shoprite Analakely
At 9.30 a.m. there were trucks of gendarmes who took away the chairs the organizers put on Place du 13 Mai. the crowd there got upset and threw stones to those gendarmes who, finally, left the place. The strikers decided to put blockings surrounding the area of Place du 13 Mai in order to avoid the entering of more trucks of gendarmes.
While waiting for their leader Andry Rajoelina, the pro TGV were animated by the famous Sareraka (always present during such festivity) and Rakiky.
General Dolin
Senators
Lahiniriko Jean
Alain Ramaroson
Wellknown politicians were also present such as Alain Ramaroson, Lahiniriko Jean, current Senators, representative from Toliary, from Fianarantsoa, from Mahajanga (from the 6 provinces but only those 3 people made a short speech supporting Andry Rajoelina), representative of union … who turn by turn took the floor. I would not forget to mention General Dolin.
Journalists (and bloggers) were there... doing their job... reporting
The Mayor arrived at Place du 13 Mai at 11.00 a.m. and after a prayor led by a pastor, a speech led by Perle Rasoloarijao, Andry Rajoelina took the floor and announced the “big” decision he promised yesterday.
Perle Rasoloarijao (see pic above) explained some points of the Constitution that, according to the pro TGV, the President Marc Ravalomanana did not respect: penetration of foreign force army who took off the transmitter of VIVA radio and who protected the MBS station; the state sold a 1.3 millions hectares of land to asouth Corean company, DAEWOO Logistics (Wanted by the Métropole); non respect of the investiture and the Constitution by buying the AIR FORVE I with 60 millions dollars…
Andry Rajoelina
Andry TGV said it is no more time for discussion. He waited and waited and waited (yesterday, then this morning) but… nothing. Now, the pro TGV wants the current President Marc Ravalomanana and the current gov to resign.
Today, for the “big decision”, Andry Rajoelina proclaimed himself the first responsible in Madagascar and then the “one” who will take decisions and who will lead all minitries in the Island.
Andry Rajoelina also announced that there are military officers who are still working with the current gov so he, TGV, will discuss with them.
The protest will keep on on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 at 10.00 a.m. always at Place du 13 Mai Analakely. All ministries will be closed on Monday, Andry Rajoelina ordered, and all workers will come to the meeting in Analakely.
Let me remind you what happened on Monday, January 26th, 2009.
Andry Rajoelina led “his people” to the Palace of Justice at Anosy where some of those strikers threw stones to RNM/TVM station. But, according to the Mayor, he and his followers kept on their way and went to CENAM. Since ” his people” shouted “MBS…MBS…MBS”, this is what Andry TGV replied:
“Tsofy rano aho andeha fa tsy ho any amin’ny MBS mba tsy isian’ny hoe ny Ben’ny Tanàna no nitondra anareo any. Fa satria izay angatahan’ny vahoaka no atao dia tsofy rano aho andeha ary tsofiko rano ianareo ho any”.
[free translation] “Let me leave you and not go to MBS so noone can say that the Mayor brought you there.Because we do whatever the people want, let me leave you but I let you go there (to MBS)”
This reply was a BIG, BIG, and BIG MISTAKE.
In a Mayor’s interview on Radio Antsiva (see previous post Tana on a strike: January 27th, 2009), he said:
We (the Mayor and his followers) are Pacifists. We want Peace. That’s why we wear orange, colour of Pacifism. (In fact, orange is colour of Democracy)
When you are PACIFIST, you are against any kind of violence. Andry Rajoelina exactely knew that his followers wanted to attack and to destroy MBS but, as a leader, what did he do? or should I say what didn’t he do? Andry Rajoelina did not even try to convince “his people” not to go to MBS because of the “Pacifism” he always mentions. Instead, he “blessed” his followers to go to (and to destroy) MBS.
Let me remind you the following of this story. There were gendarmes at MBS, protecting this propriety. Well, foreigner gendarmes or mercenaries said the Mayor. (I don’t know because I was not there). Two young people among the crowd were shot by those agents. Reaction of Andry Rajoelina?
I would not meet the President until the gendarmes who shot the young guy at MBS will be judged. (one of the conditions)
And he even kept on with “Arresting Roland Ratsiraka or Dolin shouldn’t be the matter but condemning the “real” criminal who is this gendarm who killed the young guy of 18″
(Well, there were two young guys who died in this MBS story but, I guess, only one family agreed to use the death of their son, brother as a “hero” for having fought for the country’s delivery from, what do they call?,… “autocraty”).
This decison was another BIG, BIG, and BIG MISTAKE.
Firstly, we should all know that everyone has the right to protect their propriety, right? By coming in the zone of MBS, these young guys and the crowd were wrong. The agents shot in the air first to prevent those strikers to continue their goal but… they did not care, they kept on. The shots were gone and … you know what heppened.
Secondly, by accepting that this young guy (we will use only one as I said) was killed during the protest led by the Mayor, Andry Rajoelina totally agreed that the responsible of the destruction of MBS is TGV followers. Though, he completely denied the other attacks and robberies. I am sorry, but it is normal if people are confused.
Madagascar : Bernard Kouchner appelle au dialogue et à la retenue (28 janvier 2009)
Le ministre des Affaires étrangères et européennes, Bernard Kouchner, s’est entretenu avec le président Ravalomanana, avec le maire de Tananarive, Andry Rajoelina, et avec Roland Ratsiraka.
Le ministre a appelé tous ses interlocuteurs au dialogue, à la retenue et à l’unité nationale afin de trouver une issue pacifique et durable à la crise que vit actuellement Madagascar.
Il a souligné que la France était attachée à ses liens d’amitié avec Madagascar et au respect de la légalité, et entendait rester strictement impartiale.
Il a exprimé à ses interlocuteurs ses condoléances pour les victimes et souligné l’importance d’assurer la protection et la sécurité des populations malgaches et étrangères.
Notre ambassade et nos consulats restent en contact très étroit avec la communauté française. Par précaution, les établissements scolaires ainsi que les instituts de recherche restent fermés aujourd’hui. Des consignes de prudence ont été prodiguées à nos compatriotes. Nous déconseillons tout déplacement à Madagascar.
DagoTiako 