MADAGASCAR: SECURITY MINISTER STOPS POLITICIANS' RETURN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000856 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E MARIA BEYZEROV STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR CHAMILTON AND WJACKSON PARIS FOR WALLACE BAIN LONDON FOR PETER LORD TREASURY FOR AIERONIMO AND FBOYE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MA SF SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR: SECURITY MINISTER STOPS POLITICIANS' RETURN (FULL TEXTS) REF: A) 09 ANTANANARIVO 850, B) 09 ANTANANARIVO 848, C) 09 ANTANANARIVO 853 ¶1. (SBU) The de facto GOM has clarified its intention to keep rival political leaders from returning to Madagascar after their summit in Maputo, Mozambique (reftel A and B). Minister of Internal Security Organes RAKOTOMIHANTARIZAKA issued a note on December 11 listing 25 individuals who were to be prevented from travelling to Madagascar, and then followed up on December 12 with a statement providing background to his decision. Citing "threats to public order and internal security", the GOM has barred their return indefinitely, pending an eventual "normalization" of the security situation. In our view, the purported "security concerns" behind the ban are nothing more than a pretext for ill-advised actions driven by Andry "TGV" Rajoelina's hardline supporters, including this minister. On December 15 at 0900, Ambassador Marquardt will join other local COMs demarching Rajoelina on this issue. This follows multiple unsuccessful calls over the weekend to senior GOM officials by the US, French, and Mauritian (on behalf of SADC) ambassadors seeking the get the ban lifted and permit the return of the stranded delegations. Please see reftels A and C for further analysis of the current situation. ¶2. (U) Following is a complete translation of note number 0366-MSI/CAB, issued by Minister of Internal Security Rakotomihantarizaka on December 11. [BEGIN TEXT] REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR Nation - Liberty - Development Note No. 0366-MSI/CAB THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL SECURITY In view of the Constitution, In view of the Charter of Transition, In view of the pressing need to maintain public order and peace inside the territory of the Republic, Given that the return of the individuals listed below seriously threatens public order and the country's internal security, Takes the following measures: Article 1: The following individuals are denied access to the territory of the Republic of Madagascar: Albert Zafy/Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina/Manandafy Rakotonirina/Emmanuel Rakotovahiny/Eugene Regis Mangalaza/Regis Manoro/Tabera Randriamanantsoa/Ange Andrianarisoa/Azaly Ben Marofo/Baro Rafatrolaza/Denis AndriamandAroso/Marcel Miandrrisoa Serge Radert/Roger Ranaivoson/Jose Vianey/Roland Ravatomanga/Rakotosoa Ramisandrazana/Didier Ratsiraka/Tantely Andrianarivo/Sophie Ratsiraka/Mamy Rakotoarivelo/Yves Aime/Fulgence Fanony/Heritafika Ratsimbazafy (NOTE: Two individuals listed above did not attend the talks in Mozambique, and are still in Madagascar: Jose Vianey and Fulgence Fanony. They have not been arrested, although an arrest warrant against them is rumored to have been issued. END NOTE.) Article 2: Requests airline companies servicing the Malagasy territory to prevent them from boarding any flights to Madagascar. Article 3: Urges all civil and military authorities to take all necessary measures to enforce the present measures. Antananarivo, December 11, 2009 MINISTER OF INTERNAL SECURITY Organes RAKOTOMIHANTARIZAKA [END TEXT] ¶3. (U) Following is a complete translation of a statement issued by Minister of Internal Security Rakotomihantarizaka on December 12, further explaining the previous document. [BEGIN TEXT] REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR Nation - Liberty - Development ANTANANARI 00000856 002 OF 002 Statement The Minister of Internal Security, also in charge of maintaining public security and order, has decided to temporarily deny access to the territory of the republic by the delegations of the three movements. We can state without ambiguity that a strongly negative reaction and a harsh contestation by the population have surfaced as a result of: ¶1. The resolutions signed by the three movements' leaders and adopted in Maputo, after the meeting of the delegations and other figures in attendance; ¶2. The letters sent to the United Nations Secretary General and to the Prime Minister of Denmark, and signed by the figures from the three movements, namely Professor Albert ZAFY and Mr. Fetison RAKOTO ANDRIANIRINA, Doctor Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY and Mamy RAKOTARIVELO; These resolutions and letters, in addition to the defamatory statements, have respectively been seen by the Malagasy population as: ¶1. An act of treason, harmful to Malagasy sovereignty, given that any procedure aimed at setting up the people's government should not take place outside the Malagasy territory; ¶2. A serious offense against the nation, considering the two-fold unlawful insult to the Malagasy head of state, which, for the population, is a violation of Malagasy national pride at the international level. Considering these elements, some individuals have been preparing violent reactions of hostility against these factions, which would have caused public disorder or even clashes that we must prevent in order to protect the republican institutions and preserve public order in general. This measure is absolutely not an action of hostility against the individuals affected by the decision, but is part of the normal mission of the Ministry of Internal Security, which must prevent any action likely to affect public security and order. We need to point out that this decision is a preventive measure from the administrative police and is aimed, on one hand, at ensuring serenity and calm in the country as we are moving closer to Christmas and New Year, and on the other hand, to preventatively and effectively ensure the individual security of each member of the delegations of the three factions. All security measures shall be taken so that we can preventatively normalize the security situation for all, eventually allowing for an abrogation of this decision. Antananarivo, December 12, 2009 THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL SECURITY Organes RAKOTOMIHANTARIZAKA [END TEXT] MARQUARDT