spotlight madagascar

Apparently it’s important to sentence Marc Ravalomanana to 4 years in jail, for abuse of office, but mostly for buying his expensive jet. BBC covers this plot twist. Radio VOP out of Zimbabwe has a bit more detail:

“Ravalomanana mixed public interests with his personal interests,” Justice Minister Christine Razanamahasoa told reporters, announcing the Malagasy court’s decision.

…

Wednesday’s verdict echoed the trial in absentia of Ravalomanana’s predecessor, Didier Ratsiraka, who remains an influential playmaker in Malagasy politics from exile in France. (Reuters)

So, this is confusing to me. I agree that Ravalomanana abused his power a little, and definitely bought that expensive jet, but didn’t Andry just HIJACK A PLANE TO GO TO DAKAR? Since he already assumed power by illegal means, does that mean he can break all of the other laws too? I have no idea where this is going.

Assorted Headlines:

• Madagascar drought puts 250,000 children at risk (Reuters)

• Madagascar on the brink of ‘catastrophe’ (Financial Times)

• Madagascar protests spark clashes (BBC)

• Madagascar: Media Under Attack One Month After New President Installed (allAfrica.com)

• Dozens hurt in Madagascar clashes (Al Jazeera)

• 2 killed, 6 injured in Madagascar unrest (The Associated Press)

• SADC evaluates situation in Madagascar (China View)

And so ended a turbulent week of Malagasy politics, as bizarre as some of the giant jumping rats and ring-eyed lemurs that inhabit this biological wonderland, and as brutal as the 100 or so bodies buried in the past few days, a toll taken after antigovernment demonstrations turned deadly.

The New York Times is stepping up to the plate and today’s article is one of the best so far.

That same sentiment — the dreary expectation of extended turmoil — seemed pervasive on Monday in the government ministries. “The Malagasy people are like riders aboard a rickety bus,” said a woman named Jocelyn. “This bus cannot find a driver.”

It does seem like the fracas ended on an eerily silent note this week. Last Monday, I was getting calls and texts from friends all over the United States, facebook was having a field-day with groups about updates on the Madagascar crisis. It’s about to be forgotten again, debris floating in the Indian Ocean.

VOA News – Madagascar President to Hold Talks with Opposition Over Escalating Tension

and in case you were thinking of traveling to the Red Island, probably you shouldn’t:

Travel Advisory

The Associated Press: Opposition radio station back on air in Madagascar

This one is pretty comprehensive, but vague at the same time. Since most media has been cut off in Madagascar, things must not be getting out. People are hungry for news, especially my fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are trying to get in touch with friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, the American media seems a little behind, though this country should be extremely worried about where it’s going to get its vanilla from now on, and what the film, Madagascar 3, might look like with cartoon flames and lemurs rioting.

The New York Times: Madagascar: Protesters Seek Government’s Resignation

Thanks NYT, a pretty disappointing “blurb”–I guess there are bigger fish to fry.

Reuters: Madagascar opposition calls more protests

And last but not least, Reuters, with at least one typo.

Those scenes revived memories of past political volatility on Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, and will not help the government’s efforts to present the nation as a tourist haven and sound destination for investment in mining and oil.

This quote jumped out at me–soooooo the political volatility will make it tough for tourists and foreigners that wish to rape and pillage the natural resources.  And let’s face it, a lot of tourists aren’t so kind to the earth either.  What they’re saying is that this is going to make it inconvenient for other people to go to Madagascar with the intention of extracting the good parts, whether that be oil or a lovely bungalow by a pristine beach.  I think we’re forgetting some key stakeholders here.  Perhaps the people of Madagascar are going to suffer a bit more now that the infrastructure that their economy and livelihoods rest on is being destroyed (some of it by them in a frenzy of lawlessness); maybe one should also consider the delicate ecosystems that will continue to be exploited until there’s nothing left but desert.  Will there be tourism then?  To witness a tattered, dirty and destroyed landscape–but oh, how much money some will have made…

During the last political crisis, prices skyrocketed for basics like cooking oil and rice (and pretty much everything), certain places were rife with violence, and it took a long time to recover from that.  Read about it here.  Just some food for thought.