STUDENTS BURN MADAGASCAR CAMPUS AMPHITHEATRE

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000580 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL PARIS FOR D'ELIA DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF/E - CKOLLMAR DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA - DROTHSTEIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM MA SUBJECT: STUDENTS BURN MADAGASCAR CAMPUS AMPHITHEATRE REF: ANTAN 435 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) Police contacts report that an unknown number of students set fire to the amphitheatre on the campus at the University in Fianarantsoa, in south-central Madagascar, early June 13. The entire building and an adjoining registrar's office, where many students' files are stored, burned to the ground. Police suspect political opposition figures in this anti-Ravalomanana stronghold put the students up to the arson, but have no suspects yet. ¶2. (SBU) In recent months there has been unrest at campuses in many of Madagascar's coastal cities (reftels). Unpaid school fees, lack of electricity, and political discontent - in that order - have motivated students to protest, sometimes violently. This arson is a typical act of Malagasy political violence; a symbolic and destructive act of protest against authority. SIBLEY