Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANTANANARIVO718
2007-07-20 09:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
MALAGASY MAYOR FINALLY CAPTURED
how-toVZCZCXRO8033 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHAN #0718 2010921 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 200921Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0097 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000718
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND DRL
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: MALAGASY MAYOR FINALLY CAPTURED
REFTEL: A) ANTANANARIVO 580
B) ANTANANARIVO 434
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1389
D) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1372
E) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1297
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000718
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND DRL
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: MALAGASY MAYOR FINALLY CAPTURED
REFTEL: A) ANTANANARIVO 580
B) ANTANANARIVO 434
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1389
D) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1372
E) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1297
1. (U) After eight months on the lam (REF D),former Mayor of
Fianarantsoa and presidential candidate Pety Rakotoniaina was
arrested by mixed police and gendarmes forces in the southern city
of Fianarantsoa on the evening of July 19. For the moment, he is
being held in Antananarivo under charges of embezzlement of
government property (namely cars); infringement of electoral laws
(for putting up blockades on December 3, 2006, to inhibit voting);
offenses against law enforcement officers; and threatening the life
of the Chief of Region. Police may add evading arrest to the
charges.
2. (U) Media attention to the search for Rakotoniaina had subsided
in the months following the December elections, but the front pages
of newspapers reported July 20 with a sigh of relief that the Pety
story was over with his capture. His wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina,
remains under pretrial detention for her suspected role in setting
fire to University of Fianarantsoa buildings in May to stir up
political unrest (REF A).
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although never formally charged, Rakotoniaina is
also suspected for his links to foiled "coup" leader General
Andrianafidisoa (Fidy) (REF E). With the December 12 arrest of
General Fidy (REF C),the arrest of former Mayor of Tamatave and
presidential candidate Roland Ratsiraka for embezzlement (REF B),
and now Rakotoniaina's capture, the GOM is tying up loose ends
against its political opponents alleged to have broken the law.
Fidy was convicted for his coup attempt and Ratsiraka continues to
await trial in what may well be a sound case of corruption. The
charges against Pety also may be legitimate. Some in the diplomatic
community will no doubt ring these arrests up to GOM suppression of
the opposition. Post would counter that no one, even an opposition
politician, is above the law. However, if the evidence is there,
the GOM needs to bring the accused forward for a fair and timely
trial - or else let them go. END COMMENT.
SIBLEY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, AND DRL
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC MA
SUBJECT: MALAGASY MAYOR FINALLY CAPTURED
REFTEL: A) ANTANANARIVO 580
B) ANTANANARIVO 434
C) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1389
D) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1372
E) 06 ANTANANARIVO 1297
1. (U) After eight months on the lam (REF D),former Mayor of
Fianarantsoa and presidential candidate Pety Rakotoniaina was
arrested by mixed police and gendarmes forces in the southern city
of Fianarantsoa on the evening of July 19. For the moment, he is
being held in Antananarivo under charges of embezzlement of
government property (namely cars); infringement of electoral laws
(for putting up blockades on December 3, 2006, to inhibit voting);
offenses against law enforcement officers; and threatening the life
of the Chief of Region. Police may add evading arrest to the
charges.
2. (U) Media attention to the search for Rakotoniaina had subsided
in the months following the December elections, but the front pages
of newspapers reported July 20 with a sigh of relief that the Pety
story was over with his capture. His wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina,
remains under pretrial detention for her suspected role in setting
fire to University of Fianarantsoa buildings in May to stir up
political unrest (REF A).
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although never formally charged, Rakotoniaina is
also suspected for his links to foiled "coup" leader General
Andrianafidisoa (Fidy) (REF E). With the December 12 arrest of
General Fidy (REF C),the arrest of former Mayor of Tamatave and
presidential candidate Roland Ratsiraka for embezzlement (REF B),
and now Rakotoniaina's capture, the GOM is tying up loose ends
against its political opponents alleged to have broken the law.
Fidy was convicted for his coup attempt and Ratsiraka continues to
await trial in what may well be a sound case of corruption. The
charges against Pety also may be legitimate. Some in the diplomatic
community will no doubt ring these arrests up to GOM suppression of
the opposition. Post would counter that no one, even an opposition
politician, is above the law. However, if the evidence is there,
the GOM needs to bring the accused forward for a fair and timely
trial - or else let them go. END COMMENT.
SIBLEY