Following the advice of one of my good friend saveoursmile, I will try for this afternoon to forget all about politics and blog about something else which surely matters to me.
Today is my birthday. To be honest with you, since I was old enough to think by myself, I do not really like celebrating my birthday … It is a sort of indefinable feeling that prevents me from jumping till the ceiling when the day of February 04th comes …
But one thing is sure, I do appreciate when people remember it. That is the case today, especially on facebook. Woooaoo, I didn’t know that I had so many great friends there! No one in my office (in my new job) knew that it was my birthday today, … well, that’s quite normal, we don’t know one another very well yet (I have started only on January). It’s better like that because they have a kind of tradition which provides that any employer who celebrates his/her birthday has to pay some snacks and drink to everybody … I can’t afford that yet! I’m deadly broke! So much the better they do not know it and I forbid you to let the cat out of the bag …
How old am I? Pffuuiii, I’m now old enough to act, to behave and to think like a “mature” man (lol). I can tell it but after I have to kill you. Is age that important? I don’t think so … but I can’t put out of my mind that I get older and older every year. I feel it as a kind of frustrating and slow walk towards my final destination: DEATH (now I know you’re getting scared). I know that I’m too old to think about death but I just don’t like this kind of “obligation” that years put on you to be, to think and to act as an older one. Sometimes, I would like to have my young years back and to feel again the nirvana of carelessness. Like many others now, I sigh when I perceive some taste from my past, it can be an old song, an old movie, the sight of my former school, … I don’t regret the past, I just love it more than I appreciate the present life. This is the reason why I sometimes do not celebrate my birthday (by my own) … because it is the time that I feel nostalgia. Nostalgia of a school, of a place, of some of my loved ones who are not with us anymore, … (by the way, the word “NOSTALGIA” sounds so great, it would be nice to have it as a name of a night club, what do you think?)
Today is my birthday. When I woke up in the morning (who wakes up at night?), I felt a huge nostalgia. My wife greeted me with a warm and sweet “Happy Birthday Honey” When I opened my Facebook page, I was so happy to see all the great (and sometimes funny) Birthday wishes from most of my friends. My parents and my sisters kissed me and also wished me a very happy Birthday. Thanks to all of that, today was not a bad day … that’s obvious because today is my birthday.
“Loabary an-dasy” is the Malagasy word for “debate”. Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina, the leader of the Ravalomanana movement (actually, he is the n° 02) will organize today and tomorrow a “consensual and inclusive” national debate which will take place in Carlton Hotel, Anosy, Antananarivo.
The idea of organizing a national “inclusive and consensual” debate was born after the visit of Jean Ping, the president of AU commission, in Madagascar on January 21st and 22nd, 2010. Jean Ping, obviously tired to have the “Madagascar case” on his desk, presented some proposals from the AU to resolve once for all the Malagasy crisis. He mainly presented these proposals to the four movements which were all co-signatories of the Maputo agreements, and especially to Andry Rajoelina. The AU and Jean Ping have understood that the “new strongman of the island” holds all the power in Madagascar and that nothing can be done without his consent. Andry Rajoelina is also deemed by the AU and the International Community in general, except France, as the main obstacle to the implementation of the Maputo agreements and Addis-Ababa additional convention, so to a quick and fair settlement of the crisis. Jean Ping did not beat around the bush, he clearly warned that if the Malagasy political opponents keep on failing to reach an inclusive and consensual agreement within 15 days, Madagascar and its de-facto leaders will face International sanctions. I’m eager to know what kind of sanctions will it be … Which button will they press? The red? The white?
Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina has alerted that if Malagasy politicians do not find a “good agreement” before February 07th, the International sanctions will be dropped on Madagscar. “It will create a unprecedent disaster for Malagasy people and for the country. We have to find a consensus as soon as possible … it’s a matter of death or life” He said. “I, not in my quality of leader of Ravalomanana movement, but acting as a normal and any citizen, will organize a national, inclusive and consensual debate for all the forces of the nation to find a common solution to the crisis. This solution will be presented to the ICG (International Contact Group) not later than February 07th” He declared.
The policy of Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina is then to invite all the forces (including the four movements, the civil society, the army, the civil servants …) to brainstorm about a plan to end the crisis. Such plan will be agreed by the four movements (in fact there are only two key movements: Ravalomanana and Rajoelina) and submitted to the IGC. This (last chance?) initiative is good in its substance but a bit naive. After the several attempts made by the FFKM (Community of Christian Churches in Madagascar), the Malagasy civil society and above all the International Community to “force” the protagonists to agree between them, what kind of magic formula has he found to make everyone agree on a kind of “acceptable” common resolution? Well, it’s not that I’m pessimistic but after all we all have seen that so many negotiation ways have been used … and failed. On a primary view, the proposal from Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina does not highlight any spectacular any specific tric which can reconcile the opponents.
The opponents … let’s talk about them, I heavily doubt about the readiness of the Rajoelina movement to take part into such debate. The main reason is that they are not ready to share a tiny slice of their power (that they have illegaly got) through any sort of negotiation round. They have the Army, the Police, the Gendarmerie, so what else? They knew very weel that the msot important element to grab and to keep the power is the gun. They do have this gun now! So why would they negociate with you? Do they need you? You may say “International recognition, International aids, International sanctions”, but these threats would work if there were no other foreign backing (our former “Mère Patrie”, Lybia, and may be China). Let’s be frank, the transitional administration led by Andry Rajoelina would have never dared to challenge the International Community and its International, Regional institutions if there were no powerful backing behind them. The Malagasy militaries would have never dared “to complete the work that Andry Rajoelina has started” if there were no powerful and wealthy nations behind the coup.
Even if the national debate of today and may be tomorrow would end up as a complete failure or tragedy (we’re used with bloody tragedy since the take over of Andry Rajoelina), it does not hide a very important point: the initiative from a citizen to rescue his country. Even if this event is politically motivated by Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina (no one can deny that he has gained positive image towards Malagasy people since he acted as the leader of Ravalomanana movement), he has won a good point: for many Malagasy people, he is the guy who has dared to stand to do something (naive?) even if he was about to be arrested by security forces. Now I really belive that he has got another battle: the fight to have another political image, a more independant one may be.
I have here two interesting letters from Andry Nirina Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana that I found posted on internet. They both reflect the stand from each side.
Andry Rajoelina, president of the HAT (High Authority of the Transition: an entity which does not legally exist but which 100% rules Madagascar) argues that the International community has to respect the choice of Malagasy people (which means the will to organize legislative / parliamentary elections on March 2010). Yesterday, Andry Nirina Rajoelina has declared during a press conference that the legislative / parliamentary elections will be postponed. He did not specify the date but it is almost sure that it would not go beyond November 2010 which is deemed by Jean Ping, the president of the AU commission as the deadline for the Malagasy transition.
Marc Ravalomanana, former president, condemns the unilateral conduct of the transition, and urges for a strict respect and compliance of the Maputo and Addis-Ababa agreements. These agreements set up the basis of a consensual and inclusive transition.
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Andry Rajoelina’s letter
Published on Wall Street Journal on January 21st, 2010
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE FRIENDS OF MADAGASCAR: International meddling is obstructing the restoration of the constitutional order
Madagascar, my country, is sinking into a political crisis of extreme gravity, and there is no exit in sight. This situation is the result of the following series of events:
Last March, my predecessor, Marc Ravalomanana, at last became conscious of the limits of his autocratic exercise of power, having been awakened by an unprecedented popular movement. He took the initiative to leave the country, entrusted a military directory with power, then felt it was right to transfer power to me, as the constitution allowed him to do. The Malagasy High Constitutional Court, which was composed at the time only of members designated by Mr. Ravalomanana, validated these actions and ruled that they were in accordance with the Constitution.
The international community, however, railed against what it deemed a “putsch” or a “coup d’état“—terms that I vigorously oppose, considering not only the Constitutional Court’s approval, but also that the will of the large majority of the Malagasy people is to see me lead the Transitional Government.
As soon as I took office, I clearly said this period of transition should end as quickly as possible. I called for a return to the constitutional order through a rapid referendum, and through transparent and democratic elections. I asked the international community to support my country in these efforts.
The answer (from the United Nations, from the African Union, from the International Francophone Organization, from the Southern African Development Community) consisted of imposing a “consensual and inclusive” transition under the threat of sanctions. The sanctions included suspending the economic help without which my country is condemned to durable and inevitable chaos. The principle of a “consensual and inclusive” transition is in itself perfectly praiseworthy. Unfortunately, this principle clashed with the Malagasy reality, the limits of which the international community has apparently not been able to measure or appreciate.
What kind of consensus could have been found with a former president who is hated by his people, who plundered his country for his exclusive benefit, who ordered the shooting of a crowd demonstrating its legitimate will to see regime change?
Why demand, at all costs, that a national reconciliation process include two former heads of state—one who was deposed by the National Assembly and the other who is under severe penal prosecution, and whose political representation in Madagascar is almost nonexistent?
How could one imagine that a “consensual and inclusive” solution could be found with heads of parties and former heads of state, who have been disqualified by the Malagasy people but brought back to the political stage through gamesmanship? Why, when their sole aim is to demand more than what is reasonable, to block compromise, and to serve only the forces of inertia, should I be the only one held responsible for the failure of negotiations?
There are in Madagascar living forces who are much more representative of the people and of their aspirations than those who are responsible for the failures of the past, and who are still today demonstrating their incapacity to overcome mere partisan interests.
I have however accepted, under pressure from international authorities and considering the risk of eventual sanctions for my country, to compromise with heads of parties designated by these authorities. My hope is that if we are guided solely by the interest of the people and of the country, we can find a consensual way to organize quick elections.
Readers should recall that, despite the fact that I have the support of a large majority of the Malagasy people and of the army, I have, during diverse negotiations in Antananarivo, Maputo, and Addis Ababa, agreed to many compromises—probably more than I should have, given my strong base. But this is not enough for my interlocutors. Their revanchist spirit and appetite for power overwhelm the general interest.
But the Malagasy people have been waiting for six months, impatiently, for the end to an illusory and unnatural mediation. Madagascar is being held hostage to a logic that it does not understand. Because there is no exit in sight and because the country is in the midst of a long stagnation, my fellow citizens are made into victims. There is an urgent need to end this situation.
I have therefore taken the decision to stop participating to the so-called Maputo negotiations. It is my responsibility as president of the Transition is to give the Malagasy people a voice. Only a legitimate authority will be able to democratically put an end to this difficult period of trouble.
I have designated a new prime minister in charge of leading the current government, whom I am confirming in his duties and whose only mission, apart from the management of daily affairs, is to organize the next elections. I can announce that the election of the members of the Constituent Assembly of the Sixth Republic will take place on March 20, 2010. On that date, the current government will resign.
A new prime minister will then be appointed from the party which wins a majority in the next elections. That prime minister will be in charge of forming a new government, taking into account the representation of various political forces in the new parliament. This government, the result of legislative elections, will be charged with organizing presidential elections so that the new president of the Republic could take up his post before June 26.
After the Maputo failure, there is no other solution to end this crisis. The Malagasy people must have the liberty to choose their own future. May the international community understand that there is no other alternative, and help us on the path to return to the constitutional order.
Mr. Rajoelina is president of the high transitional authority of Madagascar.
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Marc Ravalomanana’s letter
January 24th, 2010
The leader of Madagascar’s illegal coup regime is attempting the impossible: to re-write recent history in an effort to blame the international community, not himself, for Madagascar’s nightmarish woes.
Only a tyrannical dictator would hijack a country at gunpoint; oust democratically-elected leaders; commit grave human rights violations; and bring the nation to the brink of social, economic, and political ruin.
Incredibly and ironically, the coup leader proclaims himself a champion of democracy and the masses, while banning opponents from the political process, reneging on political agreements, and laying the groundwork for sham elections, defying the wishes of the Malagasy people and the world for the return of genuine democracy and constitutional order.
Since the coup in Madagascar last March, the international community – the United Nations, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the European Union, and the United States – has consistently branded the coup regime illegal and unacceptable.
Last year, with the support of the international community, Madagascar’s four main political movements, including one representing the coup regime, signed an agreement to form a consensus and inclusive transition government.
The Maputo Agreements provided a framework for exiting the crisis and restoring democracy and constitutional order.
However, the coup regime quickly abandoned the agreement and resumed its oppressive crackdown on the Malagasy people.
Restoring democracy, human rights, and constitutional order in Madagascar is non-negotiable.
As the twice democratically-elected president of Madagascar, I repeat my commitment to finding a consensual and inclusive solution to this crisis.
I urge all fellow Malagasy citizens, with the support and help of the international community, to join hands on the path to righteousness.
By respecting the Maputo Agreements and by forming the agreed-upon transition government, we can restore democracy and constitutional order.
This is the solution sought by the vast majority of the Malagasy people, and this is the solution the international community supports.
Monday January 26, 2009 – Tuesday January 26, 2010 … one year ago, Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, the city where I was born, was set on fire by rioters led by people who believed that “their time have come” One year ago, it was the so-called “black monday“
Monday January 26, 2009, I went to work as every Monday. I was far away to know that I would live a traumatizing day. At that time, I worked for a business law firm located in the “Business Explorer Park” (commonly known as the “village des jeux”) in Ankorondrano. My workmates and I started the day with the review of all the files that needed to be reported to our boss. I opened my facebook page, my Gtalk and my Yahoo messenger (at that time, I had internet at office!). Our administrative assistant dropped something like: “Today is gonna be a good day! Look, the sky is so bright!” I drunk my coffee and checked the headlines on newspapers. “Gosh! It’ s all about politics! I’ m tired of it!” I said to my colleague. “What else do you want them to talk about?” He replied to me. Since Andry Rajoelina and his followers have succeeded to have their daily rallies in “place du 13 mai” (May 13th square, the place of all Malagasy revolutions), political news were headlined by all the main daily newspapers in Madagascar. We had our weekly staff meeting with our managing partner in order to organize all the works for the week. We planned a lot of goals and deadlines to be achieved for the whole week as we knew nothing about how the events would affect our lives …
Around 10.30 am Madagascar time, a friend of mine called me. She worked in Anosipatrana. With a hysterical voice, she told me that hundreds of rioters have attacked the MBS Group (the telecommunication group which belonged to Marc Ravalomanana) and burnt everything. I could not believe what I have just heared: the MBS Group? On fire? Why? I remember that I told to my colleagues: “Guys … this time, it’s gonna be a real s**t” I decided to call one of my friend who worked as a journalist, he gave me the confirmation that I was scared of: most of the rioters belonged to the “shock troop” of Andry Rajoelina. These guys were in charge of the security of Andry Rajoelina and most of the decision makers who worked around him. According to my friend, they sang “you shut Viva, we burn MBS” Our first reaction was to switch on the radio and the TV set in order to check if MBS radio and MBS Tv still broadcasted … Huge silence and blank screen …
I tried to look for more news on internet. I found out that there was another tragedy which occured in Anosy just before the burning of MBS: Andry Rajoelina and his followers came to the tribunal of Anosy to ask for the immediate release of three young students who were convicted for having bombed some ministries with Molotov Cocktails. The public prosecutor did not want to talk to them. The crowd that Andry Rajoelina led expressed its anger and disappointment with a huge stonning against the glasses of the tribunal. Knowing that, I immediately called my dad who worked as a barrister. I was afraid that he got stucked in the tribunal. Fortunately, he was away in Behoririka. He told me that several “tough guys who looked like dirty hooligans” were attacking shops and assaulting people.
After the tribunal, Andry Rajoelina and his followers moved to TVM and RNM (national public radio – TV). Andry Rajoelina made a quick speech in which he denounced the policy of these two stations which closed their doors to the opposition. There, some guys – just after the speech – runned to the premises of TVM and RNM and throwed Molotoc Cocktails. In a minute, the whole premises were on fire. The security forces who kept these two national stations have been reported missing. I was completely terrified: MBS? RNM? TVM? Are they going to burn all the TV and radio stations in Antananarivo? We could see the black smoke through our office windows.
At 02.54 pm, after attacking Magro of behoririka and Blueprint (both companies belonged to Marc Ravalomanana), thousand of rioters came to Ankorondrano and looted the Magro’s headquarters and the Auditorium. It was a nightmarish scene … Thousand of people who run to Magro and Auditorium to stel what they can … Few minutes after, Magro and Auditorium were burnt …
Several companies were victim of looting during the black monday: Courts, Jumbo Score, Zoom, Supreme Center, … these companies which had nothing to do with the crisis, were unfairly looted and burnt.
Monday, January 26, 2009 is considered as the beginning of the fall of Marc Ravalomanana’s power in Madagascar. Everyone has noticed that security forces (police, gendarmerie, army) were strangly missing during that day. Did they receive instructions from Marc Ravalomanana not to react in order to avoid a bloodshed? Did they really mean not to act in order to show to Marc Ravalomanana that he was not anymore the real leader of the country?
Some politicians, close to Andry Rajoelina and the TGV, declared that all these lootings were the expression of a social explosion. I agree with the social explosion but to that extent? That’s too big to be swallowed …
One year ago, very late in the evening in a Internet Café in Analamahitsy, I posted my own testimony about the events and my feelings about how disgusting the policy of the “orange revolution” has become to oust Marc Ravalomanana. Are we always obliged to burn and to loot when we want to change our leaders in this country ??! One thing is sure, anyone who has taken part into this shameful event did not take profit from it. So … who is the looser in the story?
After the success of the rally that the three movements had last Saturday in Anosikely (downtown of Antananarivo), just in front of the Senate palace, the leaders of the main opposition to Andry Rajoelina and his HAT (High Authority of the Transition) have publicly announced the same day that they will have their daily rallies on this new place that they have renamed “place of reconciliation”.
Place of reconciliation
The choice of such name was not fortuitous since the three former presidents’ movements have decided to unify their effort and to merge to become one great opposition resistance movement named “Madagasikara movement”. This merger was seen as a (fake or casual?) reconciliation between politicians who have in common the denial of the inclusive and autoritarian transition of Andry Rajoelina.
Future actions
According to Zafy Albert and Manandafy Rakotonirina, the most important target of the movement is to complete the setting up of the transition government and the institutions provided by the Maputo convention and Addis-Ababa additional agreement. This means that the “Madagasikara movement” will try to take over the ministries in order to put “their ministers” in their ministerial seats. This reminds us the actions made by Andry Rajoelina and his people on january 2009. Such target justifies the choice of Anosikely as location for the daily rallies of the Madagasikara movement: most of the key ministries are located around and within the district of Anosy.
If the Madagasikara movement really have the intention to take over the ministries in Anosy, we all can expect some “heavy clashes” between ralliers and security forces. According to some local journalists, such take over will occur this week…
Samy tratrin’ny farany daholo intsika eee !!! Izay foana no henoko androany efa nanomboka tamin’ny dimy ora maraina (ora ifohazako). Samy faly daholo ra-Malagasy efa miala aina ny taona 2009 … Iza tokoa moa no halahelo an’io taona io? Ny taona 2009 amiko aloha dia mendrika antsoina hoe “taonan’ny henatra” satria tsisy n’inoninona vanona fa fanapotehana sy korontana no nasetry. Taona izay niheverin’ny sasany botry saina fa taonan’ny “fanantenana” nefa toa lasa taonan’ny “fanaintainana”.
Tadidiko laotra ny lalana efa naleha tamin’ny taona 2007 sy 2008 ka noheveriko hoe 2009 izany no taona hijinjana ny vokatra … tssss … “gaga eo ialahy” hoy ilay namako izay. Ireo sombin’asa kely mba efa vita tamin’ny 2007 sy 2008 toa lasa lavenona sisa ankehitriny satria nisy an’ilay ben’ny tanàna iray izay naniry mafy ny ho mba lasa filohan’ny repoblika.
Dia ahoana fotsiny izany? Inona moa no ambara? Io izy io! Eo ampamaranana ny taona 2009 dia POTIKA TANTERAKA ny toe-karena. Ny AGOA tsy hisy intsony amin’ny 2010. Maro dia maro ireo orinasa nikatona sy nandroaka mpiasa. Tapaka ny fanampiana ara-bola avy any amin’ny Eropeanina (FED) sy ny FMI (FRPC) ka mety tsy ho voaloha intsony ny karaman’ny mpiasa-panjakana (ny miaramila ao anatiny 
). Ny ankabeazan’ny orinasa Malagasy dia tsy mahaloa hetra intsony.
MIKORONTANA ny ara-tsosialy. Lasa mitobaka eran’ny tanàna ny mpivarotra (izay ireo tsy an’asa ihany) ka mitarika tsy filaminana. Ny vaky trano sy ny fanendahana lasa nirongatra.
Ny Miaramila, Zandary sy Pôlisy dia minia jamba, marenina sy maona satria hono “tandroka aro ny vozona”. Ireo namany mba masaky miteny tonga dia mahazo kobay …
TSY MILAMINA NY FIRENENA MALAGASY – VERY NY FIRENENA MALAGASY. Izany no firenena lovaintsika amin’ny taona 2010 …
The environment of Madagascar is in a critical situation due to the illegal logging and fraudulent MASSIVE export of Malagasy rosewood. This situation has started when the Malagasy political turmoil has worsen and when Marc Ravalomanana, the former president of the “red island”, has really lost his control over the country. The rosewood trafficking is not the only “environmental crime” which has occured but it remains the worst ecological disaster that Madagascar has experienced.
Nowadays, it appears that the rosewood trafficking involves also a “big” French shipping company: CMA – CGM. Through its Malagasy subsidiary, CMA – CGM Madagascar (which parent company is headquartered in Marseille, France), this shipping company ships out of Madagascar’s sea borders countless containers of illegaly logged rosewood.
“Everybody is deemed to know the law” CMA – CGM knows very well that through transporting illegal goods, it is liable to penalties. These goods (the rosewood) are considered by the law as illegal when their logging have been illegaly made … which is clearly the fact here, and CMA – CGM knows IT!
CMA – CGM Madagascar is among the four great shipping companies which operate in Madagascar: CMA – CGM, UAFL, Spanfreight and Safmarine. These three laters have agreed to stop carrying rosewood following criticism but CMA – CGM remains “very active” despite repeated complaints from conservation groups. Such behaviour reflects the general attitude of French economic leaders in Madagascar: arrogant and contemptuous. Such behavious is promoted by a sense of impunity provided by the current Malagasy state led by Andry Nirina Rajoelina who is believed as very close to French interests.
Facing all of these criticisms, CMA – CGM Madagascar has declared that it has already obtained an authorization from the minister of environment and forests … No kidding! And if you were granted with an authorization to ship slaves, would you do it ???
According to the conservation groups, CMA – CGM has, at many times, been warned that the goods they carry were of illegal origin, but this French company just don’t care …
With the CMA- CGM’ s acts in Madagascar, it is the global image and reputation of French companies which are spoilt.
Arahabaina intsika rehetra tratrin’ ity krizy mafy krismasy ity. Mino sy manantena aho fa samy somebiseby amin’ny fety sy firavoravoana maro isan’karazany intsika rehetra (eny e, misy ihamy koa ireo izay voatery mbola tsy maintsy mitady vola fa tsy met ampy ny eo am-pelatanana).
Na dia fety aza ny andro dia somary sahiran-tsaina ihamy ny tena rehefa miheritreritra momba ny toe-draraha eto amin’ny tanana. Ny krizy politika tsy mety tapitra. Ny krizy sosialy efa manomboka mamaivay. Ny … tsy haiko intsony e! Marina tena manomboka matahotra ny amin’ny hoavin’ny fireneko, ny namako, ny havako, ny vadiko sy indrindra indrindra ny tenako (ie izaho aloha dia tena tia tena be mihintsy e). Raha izao tantaran’adala izao no mitohy dia ho aiza intsika rehetra? Dia sanatria ve ho matin’ny hanoanana eto daholo ve ny faritany 22? Dia hifamono, hifanendaka eto ve intsika rehetra. Very daholo mandrakizay tokoa ve ireo silany kely izay efa nitsinjovana? Very ao anatin’ny aizina tsisy fiefarany ve ity Nosiko ity? Tsisy intsony ve ny fanantenana?
Maro ireo fanontaniana ireo no mibosesika ato an-dohako. Na dia mitsikitsiky sy mivanivany aza ny manodidina ahy ato an-trano dia tsy mety miala ato an-dohako ilay tenin’ilay ra-namana izay: “vita daholo intsika amin’ny taona 2010″… Vita daholo ahoana? Valiny boraingina: tapaka omaly ny AGOA – tapaka ny FED – tapaka ny FRPC tapaka daholo e! Dia inona intsony ny antsika? Aza valiana hoe: “vitantsika Malagasy irery foana io e!” Vita inona? Aza mivarotra saka be loha eo e! Paingotra aza tsy vita!
Mangidy sy maizina be ny taona 2010 raha izao no mitohy. Ny mpitondra lasa tsy mahatsiaro ny tena fidobokin’ny adalany eo amin’ny fiainan’ny vahoaka. Ny mpanohatra tsy manaiky lembenana intsony. Ny miaramila miandany. Mitombo toy ny parasy ao am-bala ny tsy an’asa. Ny mpampiasa vola tsy taitra amin’ny Madagasikara intsony …
Very an-dalana ny Tanindrazana ka inona no mba afaka ataontsika? Neutre ve ianao? Ao anatin’ny “majorite silencieuse” ve ianao? Dia mino tokoa ve ianao fa mbola hisy dikany izany amin’ny 2010?
Dia ahoana ary?
“I am very pessimistic” The US Ambassador, Neils Marquart, said yesterday to journalists concerning the continuation of the AGO program in Madagascar. Yesterday was the deadline for the Malagasy authorities (note that I do not write “Malagasy government”) to comply with the conditions to have the AGO back for 2010.
Through the mouth of an ambassador, and especially, in regards to the untold rules of International diplomacy, such statement may really mean something else. According to the practices, diplomatic statements are sometimes used to mitigate a truth which should not be disclosed yet. It is also used to prepare the public for an unavoidable event. May be the US Ambassador wanted to launch the following message: “You Guys have failed. You have missed your last chance to get the AGO for 2010. There will be no Madagascar AGO 2010″. If this is the real unbearable truth, it is now time for the 200,000 local future joblesses to look seriously for another job or another activity to survive.
Yesterday was also the last day given to the Malagasy authorities to apply for the renewal of the AGO program for 2010. AGO program is an annual economic program which needs to be renewed every December. I do not know till now if the Malagasy authorities (especially the ministry of trade) have done such application.
Here is a very strong and appealing evidence that confirms my (understable) pessimism concerning the fate that is reserved to the Madagascar AGO program: Last Friday (12.11.2009), the US congress voted to cancel the eligibility of Madagascar under AGO. But despite such vote, the final decision belongs to the president Barack Obama. Actually, like in Madagascar, the president has to enact (to promulgate) the act to make it enforceable.
According to the last information I have, the US government (through a statement from Ian Kelly, Sopkesman of the US state department) decided last night to give 10 more days of deadline for the Malagasy authorities to set up a national unity and consensus transitional government (an administration which is 100% agreed by the four political movements, the Army, the civil society, the private sector, the civil servants, and by the people (the so called “vahoaka”)), and to restore the “rule of law”. Madagascar then has till next Tuesday to comply with these conditions, otherwise, there will be Madagascar AGO program for 2010.
The SADC is quite unhappy with the decision of Madagascar (decision made by the current “de facto” Malagasy authorities, led by Andry Nirina Rajoelina) to ban all flights from Mozambic, Kenya, and South Africa. Andry Nirina Rajoelina has instructed his minister of transport, Rolland Ranjatoelina, to issue a ministerial order which bans all flights from or / and to Mozambic, Kenya and South Africa. This is to forbid all the participants to the negotiations round of Maputo III to come back home (mainly the delegations of the three political movements).
Since Monday, the SADC has handled unformal meetings to find the “appropriate reply” to this Madagascar’s decision. Unofficially, the SADC may ban the SADC’s air space to all flights of Air Madagascar. This also means that the planes of Air Madagascar would not be allowed even to overfly SADC countries. There are several african countries which would be involved in this “blockade”, such as: South Africa, Mauritius, Mozambic, Zambia, Angola, Swaziland, Rwanda, …
If this decision becomes effective, it will be disastrous for Air Madagascar and its partners.
