Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DARESSALAAM188
2009-03-24 04:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:
TANZANIA MEDIA REACTION: Increase Pressure on Madagascar
how-toVZCZCXRO7746 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHDR #0188 0830444 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 240444Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8355 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000188
SIPDIS
FOR INR/OPN/MR AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA MEDIA REACTION: Increase Pressure on Madagascar
Regime
The March 23 edition of English language daily "The Citizen"
(circulation 7,500) carried the following editorial commentary on
page 8 entitled "Increase pressure on Madagascar Regime:
"The African Union's decision to suspend Madagascar following an
unconstitutional change of government in the Indian Ocean Island is
commendable. What happened in Madagascar last week after opposition
leader Andry Rajoelina took power with the support of the army
amounted to a coup, as rightly observed by the chairman of the AU's
Peace and Security Council, Mr. Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba.
The AU's decision should send a strong message that flagrant
violation of the constitutions of member states by power-hungry
individuals out to satisfy their egos has no place in present-day
Africa. Madagascar has swiftly transformed from a democracy into a
civilian-cum-military dictatorship, dealing a blow to efforts to
entrench democracy on the continent.
Mr. Rajoelina cannot claim to be a democrat after inciting
Madagascans to violence in response to his sacking as the mayor of
Antananarivo by former President Marc Ravalomanana earlier this
year. Mr. Rajoelina finally took power last week, but not before at
least 135 people died in illegal street protests called by the
opposition leader in his quest to settle scores with Mr.
Ravalomanana.
It should be remembered that Mr. Ravalomanana was elected in
December 2006 in elections that international observers generally
considered free and fair. If the 34-year-old Rajoelina was a true
democrat, he should have waited until the 2016 elections when he
would have been eligible to contest the presidency.
Madagascar's constitution, which has effectively been suspended
following last week's coup, bars candidates below 40 years of age
from vying for the presidency, which means that Mr. Rajoelna would
still be ineligible even if he wished to stand in the 2011
elections. The regime in Antananarivo already faces international
isolation following Madagascar's suspension by the AU, the Southern
African Development Community's decision not to recognize the new
leaders and the United States' declaration that it planned to halt
all but emergency aid.
More pressure is needed to ensure a return to democratic and
constitutional rule on the island in the shortest time possible."
ANDRE
SIPDIS
FOR INR/OPN/MR AND AF/E
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA MEDIA REACTION: Increase Pressure on Madagascar
Regime
The March 23 edition of English language daily "The Citizen"
(circulation 7,500) carried the following editorial commentary on
page 8 entitled "Increase pressure on Madagascar Regime:
"The African Union's decision to suspend Madagascar following an
unconstitutional change of government in the Indian Ocean Island is
commendable. What happened in Madagascar last week after opposition
leader Andry Rajoelina took power with the support of the army
amounted to a coup, as rightly observed by the chairman of the AU's
Peace and Security Council, Mr. Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba.
The AU's decision should send a strong message that flagrant
violation of the constitutions of member states by power-hungry
individuals out to satisfy their egos has no place in present-day
Africa. Madagascar has swiftly transformed from a democracy into a
civilian-cum-military dictatorship, dealing a blow to efforts to
entrench democracy on the continent.
Mr. Rajoelina cannot claim to be a democrat after inciting
Madagascans to violence in response to his sacking as the mayor of
Antananarivo by former President Marc Ravalomanana earlier this
year. Mr. Rajoelina finally took power last week, but not before at
least 135 people died in illegal street protests called by the
opposition leader in his quest to settle scores with Mr.
Ravalomanana.
It should be remembered that Mr. Ravalomanana was elected in
December 2006 in elections that international observers generally
considered free and fair. If the 34-year-old Rajoelina was a true
democrat, he should have waited until the 2016 elections when he
would have been eligible to contest the presidency.
Madagascar's constitution, which has effectively been suspended
following last week's coup, bars candidates below 40 years of age
from vying for the presidency, which means that Mr. Rajoelna would
still be ineligible even if he wished to stand in the 2011
elections. The regime in Antananarivo already faces international
isolation following Madagascar's suspension by the AU, the Southern
African Development Community's decision not to recognize the new
leaders and the United States' declaration that it planned to halt
all but emergency aid.
More pressure is needed to ensure a return to democratic and
constitutional rule on the island in the shortest time possible."
ANDRE