The New York Times
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — A colonel who supported a politician's takeover in Madagascar last year claimed Wednesday that he and other top-ranking officers have taken over this Indian Ocean island nation.
Col. Charles Andrianasoavina was joined by the head of security of the president he helped oust when he made the declaration to reporters he had called to a military base near the capital's airport. Also present was a general who had served as military chief for Andry Rajoelina, the DJ-turned-politician who seized power last year.
Andrianasoavina said nothing about Rajoelina's whereabouts. Rajoelina, who is believed to be in the capital, would not be able to hold onto power long without the military's support.
Andrianasoavina said the military would pursue national reconciliation, and was dissolving government institutions and putting in place a national committee to lead the country at least provisionally. He said political prisoners would be freed and called on exiles to return "to work together to save our fatherland."
The claim came on a day voters were deciding whether to accept or reject a new constitution that calls for keeping Rajoelina in power indefinitely. Voting continued; at least initially, few on the island were aware of the officers' declaration
"The people should remain calm and help preserve the peace," Andrianasoavina said. The military has shown increasing impatience with Rajoelina, who has been internationally isolated and accused of trampling on democracy. The West has frozen all but emergency and humanitarian aid for the impoverished island, famous for lemurs and other wildlife found nowhere else in the world, and the inspiration for two animated films of the same name.
In his statement, Andrianasoavina said Madagascar's people have been awaiting a resolution of their political crisis for months.
"Alas! The different parties continue to hold onto their respective positions, and the people of Madagascar are suffering the consequences of false pride," Andrianasoavina said. "Politicians, those in charge of the economy, but the people above all no longer know what to do. There's no security."
Wednesday's constitutional referendum was being held in defiance of regional efforts to find a negotiated solution that would involve Marc Ravalomanana, the president ousted in 2009, and other leaders. The proposed charter largely resembles the existing constitution, but a key new clause states that the current leader of a so-called High Transitional Authority — Rajoelina — would remain in power until a new president is elected. That was seen as a bid by Rajoelina to stay in power indefinitely, because there is no certainty new elections will be held.
The proposed constitution also sets the minimum age to be president at 35 instead of the current 40. Rajoelina is 36.
Supporters of Ravalomanana and two other former presidents had called for a boycott of the referendum.
This nation of 20 millions has been at political stalemate, with violence occasionally flaring, since Rajoelina's military-backed and widely denounced takeover in March, 2009 sent Ravalomanana into exile in South Africa. Rajoelina has refused to allow Ravalomanana to return. In August, a court Rajoelina established convicted Ravalomanana in absentia of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced him to life in prison in a case related to the turmoil of the coup that toppled him.
Rajoelina accuses Ravalomanana, a wealthy businessman, of misuse of office and being blind to poverty on the island. Ravalomanana says his rival, a disk jockey turned entrepreneur, is a populist and rabble-rouser with little genuine interest in democracy.
Infighting has been a hallmark of politics in Madagascar.
Many believe Rajoelina was somehow linked to Didier Ratsiraka, one of the country's longest serving leaders and one of Ravalomanana's most bitter rivals.
Ratsiraka took over from military rulers in 1975 and led the country for the next 16 years, presiding over a socialist and highly centralized state and clamping down on the opposition.
As the economy deteriorated and the opposition pushed for political space, Ratsiraka was forced to adopt reforms. He lost key support when troops fired on demonstrators in 1991, killing dozens. Ratsiraka lost a 1992 vote, only to emerge again to win in 1997.
The next election in 2001 pitted Ratsiraka against Ravalomanana. The results were disputed and low-level fighting split the country between two governments, two capitals and two presidents. Ratsiraka fled to France in June 2002.
Now, Ratsiraka has joined Ravalomanana and another former president, Albert Zafy, in opposing Rajoelina.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/11/17/world/africa/AP-AF-Madagascar.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — A colonel who supported a politician's takeover in Madagascar last year claimed Wednesday that he and other top-ranking officers have taken over this Indian Ocean island nation.
Col. Charles Andrianasoavina was joined by the head of security of the president he helped oust when he made the declaration to reporters he had called to a military base near the capital's airport. Also present was a general who had served as military chief for Andry Rajoelina, the DJ-turned-politician who seized power last year.
Andrianasoavina said nothing about Rajoelina's whereabouts. Rajoelina, who is believed to be in the capital, would not be able to hold onto power long without the military's support.
Andrianasoavina said the military would pursue national reconciliation, and was dissolving government institutions and putting in place a national committee to lead the country at least provisionally. He said political prisoners would be freed and called on exiles to return "to work together to save our fatherland."
The claim came on a day voters were deciding whether to accept or reject a new constitution that calls for keeping Rajoelina in power indefinitely. Voting continued; at least initially, few on the island were aware of the officers' declaration
"The people should remain calm and help preserve the peace," Andrianasoavina said. The military has shown increasing impatience with Rajoelina, who has been internationally isolated and accused of trampling on democracy. The West has frozen all but emergency and humanitarian aid for the impoverished island, famous for lemurs and other wildlife found nowhere else in the world, and the inspiration for two animated films of the same name.
In his statement, Andrianasoavina said Madagascar's people have been awaiting a resolution of their political crisis for months.
"Alas! The different parties continue to hold onto their respective positions, and the people of Madagascar are suffering the consequences of false pride," Andrianasoavina said. "Politicians, those in charge of the economy, but the people above all no longer know what to do. There's no security."
Wednesday's constitutional referendum was being held in defiance of regional efforts to find a negotiated solution that would involve Marc Ravalomanana, the president ousted in 2009, and other leaders. The proposed charter largely resembles the existing constitution, but a key new clause states that the current leader of a so-called High Transitional Authority — Rajoelina — would remain in power until a new president is elected. That was seen as a bid by Rajoelina to stay in power indefinitely, because there is no certainty new elections will be held.
The proposed constitution also sets the minimum age to be president at 35 instead of the current 40. Rajoelina is 36.
Supporters of Ravalomanana and two other former presidents had called for a boycott of the referendum.
This nation of 20 millions has been at political stalemate, with violence occasionally flaring, since Rajoelina's military-backed and widely denounced takeover in March, 2009 sent Ravalomanana into exile in South Africa. Rajoelina has refused to allow Ravalomanana to return. In August, a court Rajoelina established convicted Ravalomanana in absentia of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced him to life in prison in a case related to the turmoil of the coup that toppled him.
Rajoelina accuses Ravalomanana, a wealthy businessman, of misuse of office and being blind to poverty on the island. Ravalomanana says his rival, a disk jockey turned entrepreneur, is a populist and rabble-rouser with little genuine interest in democracy.
Infighting has been a hallmark of politics in Madagascar.
Many believe Rajoelina was somehow linked to Didier Ratsiraka, one of the country's longest serving leaders and one of Ravalomanana's most bitter rivals.
Ratsiraka took over from military rulers in 1975 and led the country for the next 16 years, presiding over a socialist and highly centralized state and clamping down on the opposition.
As the economy deteriorated and the opposition pushed for political space, Ratsiraka was forced to adopt reforms. He lost key support when troops fired on demonstrators in 1991, killing dozens. Ratsiraka lost a 1992 vote, only to emerge again to win in 1997.
The next election in 2001 pitted Ratsiraka against Ravalomanana. The results were disputed and low-level fighting split the country between two governments, two capitals and two presidents. Ratsiraka fled to France in June 2002.
Now, Ratsiraka has joined Ravalomanana and another former president, Albert Zafy, in opposing Rajoelina.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/11/17/world/africa/AP-AF-Madagascar.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss