Good morning Madagascar.......

This is the island my family originates from. After having spent numerous years in France, my parents decided to build a house there and share their time between France and Madagascar.

As soon as I heard about the recent upheavals in the island, I’ve been calling them every two-three days to check how they were and what was happening.

So briefly here are the facts: the young mayor of the capital city Antananarivo, called for a general strike on January 24^th and a huge demonstration took place to protest against the policy led by president Marc Ravalomanana, and the lack of freedom of expression. Apparently, the two men had already a very tense relationship since Andry Rajoelina was elected mayor of the city.

It only got worse when Rajoelina's private TV channel Viva was banned for having featured an interview with former president Didier Ratsiraka, last december.

Two days after the strike, thousands of people demonstrated again in the capital and set fire to the National Radio and Television building and some stores belonging to the president's family, causing the death of 68 persons. Since then, the mayor has been relieved of his duties but is firmly determined to win the battle. He refused his dismissal and proclaimed himself the new leader of the country and started to organize a transitional government.

left, Andry Rajoelina and right, president Marc Ravalomanana. Both men come from entrepreneurial background.

A. Rajoelina wearing the orange scarf as a sign of contestation

"we thought the demonstrations would gradually come to an end....said my father on my phone, this morning, but on sunday, thousands of people gathered in front of the presidential palace and the police started to shoot killing 28 people, I heard but I'm not sure. This is bad...and the minister of defense just resigned and is now replaced by an army officer, and this is not good at all..."

I can hear my mother talk by his side. I know she’s sad and thought this was bound to happen. Madagascar is a very poor country and the growing gap between the very poor and the very rich makes her sick. I dare not tell her she’s quite privileged herself to live in a sheltered house and in a manucured area. At least, she tries to do her bit and has made plans to build a school in the countryside outside Tana, although now she confesses being confused. She had faith in president Ravalomanana as for the past few years, the Malagasy economy gained some strength through foreign investments, but his recent purchase of a Boeing 737-700 worth 112 billions of ariary (the malagasy currency) the equivalent of 43 millions of euros, made her quite angry.

“you know, she said, supposedly this is the budget allocated to education and research….so here it goes !

If you add to this that 70% of the population lives below the poverty threshold and 49% of children under five are ill-nourished, this costly purchase appears shocking if not obscene.

"Oh...and the last thing you should know, my father says, is about this Daewoo contract...

- What’s that ?

- Well…imagine half of the land is confiscated to grow corn to be exported to South Corea

What you mean ?

- There is a lease contract signed for 99 years between Madagascar and Daewoo. Supposedly for free…we don’t know much about it yet, but like I told you, it’s about letting 1 million hectares of good land without seeing any benefits for us !"

I wish I could have stayed longer on the phone with my parents. I’ve read a few articles about this contract between Madagascar and the South corean mega firm. To think Madagascar was a former colony which won its independence and then now what ? Is it going to be one of these lands newly exploited by rich countries in order to feed its people while the people of Madagascar have barely anything to eat ? So sad.....



pics: i can't even remember where the pics are from surely... AFP