Madagascar

At least 28 dead after police fire on demonstrators

Article published on the 2009-02-08 Latest update 2009-02-08 14:20 TU

A man tries to escape gun shots in Antananarivo, 7 February 2009
(Photo: AFP)

“Carnage” was the headline of a special Sunday edition of Antananarivo’s daily Gazette newspaper. At least 28 people are dead after the presidential guard opened fire Saturday on demonstrators marching towards the President’s offices in the capital. The violence increases tension between President Marc Ravalomanana and former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina, who wants to oust the president.

“In the city’s three main hospitals, we counted 28 dead and 212 injured,” said Captain Lala Rakotonirina, head of public relations for the national police force.

“Ninety per cent of the injuries were from metal projectiles,” said Eric Rambinison, an official at the university hospital where most of the dead and injured were sent.

On Sunday, people came to the hospital to try to find their missing relatives.

“I saw people who were totally devastated as they entered and came out of the mortuary room,” said correspondent Nick Champeaux. “There were also people who were very anxious, because they hadn’t heard from their relatives since yesterday, so they were looking for their names on the lists of people indicating who was treated and where, and what hospital department.”

On Saturday, presidential security forces opened fire on demonstrators marching towards the president’s office after a rally held by Rajoelina. Tens of thousands listened as he proclaimed himself the head of a transition government. He also named Roindefo Monja as the Prime Minister of his opposition government.

Towards the end the speech Rajoelina asked the crowd: “I have one question for you: do you want to go to the presidential palace?” The crowd responded “yes”.

Only 30 anti-riot police blocked the streets leading towards Ambohitsorohitra Palace, which used to belong to the mayor until Ravalomanana took power in 2002 and began using it as presidential offices. Demonstrators broke through the first line of police, and were confronted with a second, which started shooting live bullets at the demonstrators, according to witnesses.

Rajoelina, who said the violence was a reaction against peaceful, unarmed people, has been calling for the president to be impeached for improperly running the government, and pushing people into poverty.

The United Nations ambassador arrived in Madagascar Saturday. The international community has called on Rajoelina and Ravalomanana to talk to each other. Correspondent Nick Champeaux reports that people in Antananarivo seem to agree.

“In the streets people in wealthy and poor neighbourhoods said they were fed up with this ongoing fight between the [former] mayor and the president, because this fight has now turned deadly and bloody,” he said.

“Their task may be more difficult now that supporters of the mayor were killed,” he added

Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara said “it’s time for us to talk to each other and listen to each other,” and announced on state television that a night-time curfew, already in effect, would be extended for a week, and that mass gatherings were prohibited.