Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO1131
2007-11-07 04:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
GRENADE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT'S COMPANY IN TULEAR
how-toVZCZCXRO9856 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHAN #1131 3110455 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 070455Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0632 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0942 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001131
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF CKOLLMAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: GRENADE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT'S COMPANY IN TULEAR
REF: 06 ANTANANARIVO 972
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001131
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF CKOLLMAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: GRENADE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT'S COMPANY IN TULEAR
REF: 06 ANTANANARIVO 972
1. (SBU) An early morning grenade attack on a MAGRO building, part
of the TIKO conglomerate owned by President Marc Ravalomanana,
slightly injured one gendarme and caused minor material damages
November 5. Local security forces in the southwestern city of
Tulear have launched an investigation to identify the unknown
assailants. The city of Tulear is calm at this time. On the same
day, a military sergeant was arrested for stealing weapons from a
military camp stock room south of the capital of Antananarivo. At
that time, gendarmes noticed an undetermined number of weapons,
likely AK-47s, had previously been taken.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Gendarme contacts are characterizing these acts
as attempts to destabilize the populace preceding the December 12
municipal elections. Over the years, Post has reported on similar
incidents, usually grenade attacks against symbolic buildings and
political figures' homes. Often done after hours, these expressions
of political discontent have usually resulted in minimal damage or
injury (reftel). The President's MAGRO factories in Tamatave and
Fianarantsoa have both sustained grenade attacks with minimal damage
since he took office in 2002. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND INR/AA
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF CKOLLMAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: GRENADE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT'S COMPANY IN TULEAR
REF: 06 ANTANANARIVO 972
1. (SBU) An early morning grenade attack on a MAGRO building, part
of the TIKO conglomerate owned by President Marc Ravalomanana,
slightly injured one gendarme and caused minor material damages
November 5. Local security forces in the southwestern city of
Tulear have launched an investigation to identify the unknown
assailants. The city of Tulear is calm at this time. On the same
day, a military sergeant was arrested for stealing weapons from a
military camp stock room south of the capital of Antananarivo. At
that time, gendarmes noticed an undetermined number of weapons,
likely AK-47s, had previously been taken.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Gendarme contacts are characterizing these acts
as attempts to destabilize the populace preceding the December 12
municipal elections. Over the years, Post has reported on similar
incidents, usually grenade attacks against symbolic buildings and
political figures' homes. Often done after hours, these expressions
of political discontent have usually resulted in minimal damage or
injury (reftel). The President's MAGRO factories in Tamatave and
Fianarantsoa have both sustained grenade attacks with minimal damage
since he took office in 2002. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT