Madagascar YMCA closes due to violence

28 January 2009

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in civil protest which has turned violent in the last few days in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, and for security reasons, Madagascar YMCA closed all its centres and offices until peace returns to the city.

The protest is in response to calls from the capital’s outspoken young mayor, Andry Rajoelina, who has called for the removal of the government. Rajoelina, aged 34, has accused the government of stifling democracy and clamping down on press freedom. He is calling for President Marc Ravalomanana to step down and for a transitional government to be formed, which he would lead.

“As of yesterday, there are 43 recorded deaths and hundreds have been injured. All main stores and retail outlets have been looted.

“Madagascar YMCA sent out a call for peace, while incriminating the acts of violence and vandalism, and pled for the respect of the right of the young people, so that they don't continue to serve as simple instruments in this, but responsible citizens on whom the nation can count”, stated a YMCA Madagascar report issued by José Rambinintsoa, President, and Lantonirina Rakotomalala, National General Secretary.  

The mayor defied government warnings to hold a major rally last Saturday, and called on the 20,000 assembled to engage in a general strike. President Marc Ravalomanana called for calm, and returned to Madagascar on Sunday, cutting short a trip to South Africa where he was attending a summit of regional leaders. On Monday, unrest peaked as mobs set alight the state radio building, the television station owned by the president and two warehouses of the president’s food processing company. Late in the day, Rajoelina then called for calm.

Rajoelina has been turning up the heat in his opposition to the government since it shut down his television network in December for broadcasting an interview with former president Didier Ratsiraka.

“The planned negotiation talks have been aborted. Now all private radio has stopped. Communication has ceased on the island,” said the YMCA statement.

Rajoelina ran against Ravalomanana’s party as an independent candidate in municipal elections in 2007. Since then, he has become the regime’s most vocal opponent. Rajoelina will not be eligible to run for presidency in the next polls in 2011 as the age limit of 40 years rules him out.

A resident of the capital, who wished to remain anonymous told IRIN news, “Rajoelina is too young and not competent enough to lead the country. He is just being used by the old dinosaurs of Malagasy politics, who want to gain more power."

Source: Africa Alliance of YMCAs (www.africaymca.org)