REFUGEE ADMISSIONS REFERRAL:

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000312 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E-MBEYZEROV, PRM-EOBRIEN NAIROBI FOR JZIMMERMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS PHUM PREF MA MP SUBJECT: REFUGEE ADMISSIONS REFERRAL: RANDRIASANDRATRINIONY, YVAN REF: A. 08 STATE 110175 ¶B. 09 ANTANANARIVO 282 ¶C. 09 ANTANANARIVO 292 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Antananativo is referring Yvan RANDRIASANDRATRINIONY and his family to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Randriasandratriniony is the former President of the Malagasy Senate and President of political party Tiako-i-Madagasikara (TIM),and fled to Mauritius following the military coup in March 2009; his family remains in Madagascar. Below is biographic information for the principal applicant and his two dependents, and relevant information for referral into the USRAP. ¶2. (SBU) Principle applicant data: Name: RANDRIASANDRATRINIONY, Yvan DOB: 25-DEC-1961 POB: Fianarantsoa, Madagascar Nationality: Madagascar Gender: M Address: Lot MB 75 Mahabo, Andoharanofotsy, Antananarivo, Madagascar (currently in Port Louis, Mauritius) Telephone: (Mauritius) 230 713 5613, (Madagascar) 261 33 11 078 85 Email: ryvan84 (at) yahoo.fr Marital Status: Married ¶3. (SBU) Dependents' data: Name: RAOLINIRINA, Vololona Brigitte DOB: 20-JUL-1961 POB: Antananarivo, Madagascar Nationality: Madagascar Gender: F Marital Status: Married Address: Lot MB 75 Mahabo, Andoharanofotsy, Antananarivo, Madagascar Telephone: 261 33 20 773 07 Email: milamiresaka (at) hotmail.com Relationship to PA: Wife Name: RANDRIASANDRATRINIONY, Fenohoby DOB: 04-MAR-1991 POB: Antananarivo, Madagascar Nationality: Madagascar Gender: M Marital Status: Single Address: Lot MB 75 Mahabo, Andoharanofotsy, Antananarivo, Madagascar Telephone: 261 34 13 216 01 Email: milamiresaka (at) hotmail.com Relationship to PA: Son ¶4. (SBU) DESCRIPTION OF PERSECUTION CLAIM: Yvan Randriasandratriniony has been President of Tiako-i-Madagasikara (TIM, the political party of recently-deposed President Marc Ravalomanana) since October 2007, and President of the Malagasy Senate from May 2008 until the military coup on March 17, 2009. In the weeks preceding the coup, Yvan and numerous other high-ranking members of the former government received direct threats against their lives and property from opposition protesters. Although these protesters have now taken power and formed a transition government (the High Transitional Authority, or HAT) under "President" Andry Rajoelina, the threat persists, and is made worse by the inability of the GOM to provide security for public figures on either side of the political divide. A recent explosion at a pro-HAT military facility south of Antananarivo, a molotov cocktail attack against the residence of former National Assembly President Jacques Sylla, and arson attacks in the last two months against (pro-Ravalomanana) Senator Moxe Ramandimbilahatra and interim head of the Antananarivo city government Guy-Rivo Randrianarisoa are just a sampling of the increased use of violence from militant elements in both camps. ¶5. (SBU) The HAT recently issued arrest warrants for former President Ravalomanana and former Minister of Finance and Budget Haja Razafinjatovo for acts allegedly committed during Ravalomanana's rule; the former had already fled the country (as have several other former ministers),and the latteris reputed to be in hiding in Madagascar. It is not likely that either would receive a fair trial in the current political climate. Security forces recently imprisoned four members of parliament for as-yet-unspecified involvement in the anti-HAT protests, and additional political arrests have occurred in the past 24 hours. They have also allegedly framed the head of GOM anti-corruption unit BIANCO for possession of illegal hardwoods in order to engineer his removal, and arrested a leading anti-HAT protester and her husband. Yvan justifiably claims to fear similar reprisals due to his former positions and political affiliations if he returns to Madagascar, as well as due to the possible claim that he -- and not the HAT President -- is the rightful head of state. ¶6. (SBU) JUSTIFICATION FOR RESETTLEMENT: After initially going into hiding after the coup, Yvan then fled to Mauritius where he attempted to obtain a visa to the United States in order to join his 22 year-old daughter, who is currently studying in Texas (he has two daughters over 21 years old, who have not been included in this referral). He was refused the visa, as the consular officer was unable to evaluate Yvan's ties to Madagascar under the circumstances. Regardless, Yvan has no personal or cultural ties to Mauritius, is unable to return to Madagascar, and his family will remain separated until they are able to be resettled elsewhere. His child in the United States is his only close personal tie abroad. ¶7. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Former Mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina was swept to power in violent protests that stretched from January to March 2009. While the immediate cause was the December 2008 closure of Rajoelina's television station after he aired a speech by exiled former President Didier Ratsiraka, the movement grew quickly to include a diverse array of forces aligned against former President Marc Ravalomanana and his party. Accused of abuse of power and mixing affairs of state with those of his vast business empire, Ravalomanana and his party, TIM, were quickly overwhelmed after a mutiny within the army removed his control over the country's security forces. In the month since the coup, the HAT has been unable to consolidate its control over the country, opposition protests have continued almost daily, and the last two weeks have seen an increasingly harsh crackdown against the anti-HAT opposition, including members of the former government. For a complete summary of the month since the March coup, see reftels B and ¶C. ¶8. (SBU) ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR URGENCY: Yvan has fled to nearby Mauritius, and can only remain there until June 1, ¶2009. (At this writing, it is rumored that he may now be in Addis Ababa, but we have no confirmation of that claim.) At that time, he will have to seek to adjust his status in Mauritius, or depart for another third county. In the meantime, his wife and son remain in Madagascar, and the current government is unable to guarantee their security. ¶9. (SBU) Embassy POC for this referral is Political Officer Jeffrey Hulse, email HulseJA (at) state.gov, office 261 20 22 212 57, fax 261 20 22 345 39, mobile: 261 33 02 007 35. MARQUARDT