spotlight madagascar

After a couple of days of apparent calm, violence has started again in Madagascar.  According to AFP, police killed 23 protesters today. That’s a pretty big number.  The New York Times is reporting that “Madagascar’s main foreign donors, meanwhile, have suspended financial aid pending clarification of the management of public funds, the European Union envoy Jean-Claude Boidin said Friday.”

There are also reports from Al Jazeera English:

Police fire on Madagascar protests

Police reportedly opened fired on protesters marching towards office used by the president [AFP] At least 30 people have been killed after police opened fire on an opposition protest in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, local reports say. Supporters of Andry Rajoelina, an opposition leader and former mayor of Antananarivo, were marching towards offices used by Marc Ravalomanana, the president, when the shooting began on Saturday. “Up to now 25 are dead,” a senior police officer at the scene told the Reuters news agency. Fanja Saholiarisoa, a journalist in Antananarivo, told Al Jazeera that hundreds of people had been wounded in the violence. “The mortuary is full and the hospital is full. On TV there is a special announcement calling on people who have cars to come and pick up the injured people from the hospitals,” she said. Doctors said about 180 people arrived at the city’s main Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital. Rajoelina accused the government of murdering civilians. “The people were not armed, they only had their courage,” he said on his Viva Radio station immediately after the shooting.

Reuters India as well as Reuters UK also picked up the story. I had a text this morning that the situation was featured on NPR, but I can’t find it yet.   I’m extremely worried about this.

The Associated Press has this to say:

The stakes in Madagascar, known for its eco-tourism and vanilla production, have risen since oil was discovered three years ago but most of its people still live in poverty.

Lova at Global Voices has been covering the story from the beginning.

So, when I went to bed last night, there was no news. I got maybe 3 Google Alerts all day. My website went from 8000 hits 2 days ago to 3ooo yesterday. Everyone thought things were calmed down, from what I could glean from news and the internet. But the emails and texts and messages I was getting from friends throughout the island still reflected fear and uncertainty. When I opened my eyes this morning and then opened my computer, I had 15 Alerts and facebook was aflutter with the vaovao. There’s a smorgasbord of things for you to much on today.

• from the BBC:

“Since the president and the government have not taken their responsibilities… I will run all national affairs as of today,” he [Rajaolina] said.

• from AFP:

“I want to head this democratic transition. It is the wish of the people. There is need for fresh blood, a new vision,” he [Rajaolina] told reporters.

• from China View:

• This is one of most interesting articles I’ve read all week. Christianity Times Online interviewed Todd MacGregor, an American serving as the Anglican Bishop of Tulear, via email. Here’s an excerpt of the article, entitled “Jesus weeps in Madagascar”:

The root causes are numerous. I have chosen just a few to comment on: the economy, opposing leadership styles, and politics.

People are not happy about the economy. The majority of the people are extremely poor and life has not improved for them. The poor are getting poorer and the wealthy are becoming wealthier. Some claim the president may have used his position to benefit personally and financially.

• Bloomberg mentions that there were 2000 people at today’s rally (which still might be going on).

And then there was a bunch of articles, from AFP, CNN, Reuters, and the Associated Press.

Some are asking, how can Rajaolina just proclaim that he’s in charge? Some are asking, where is Ravalomanana? Even more are asking, who is financially backing the Mayor in this endeavor to gain power over Madagascar? (Dare I even mention his name?) With this transition, will there be greater democracy and equality for the people–will anything change?

I’ve just received word that Sondra, my great friend and the co-founder of Spotlight Madagascar, has been evacuated with the help of Colin (HELP Madagascar) out of Tamatave, along with some RPCVs and current Peace Corps Volunteers. According to observers, there is tear gas, looting, grenades, and general destruction and anarchy. This was the intended site for our community center, in the idealistic world of our original vision and mission, and it’s very close to my heart. As I’m trying to process all of this information, it’s very difficult to see where these developments will take Madagascar, and what it will mean if the rest of the world doesn’t take notice.

Sondra and Sara, Christmas 2007