An electoral campaign without freedom of speech

The referendum related campaign was dry, murky, dull and one way oriented. In the end, only the scenes of violently repressed anti governmental demonstrations proved to be this HAT dominated propaganda period`s exciting moments, although the Central Committee used to expect an adversary for the YES vote.

Three TIM party former parliamentarians together with the Ravalomanana sphere condemned the politically motivated arrests carried out in an electoral period; the HAT´s led violation of human rights and pressure against opponents. They are still challenging the HAT´s unilateral decision to impose a referendum without complying with any political deal wanted by the international community. The jail sentences quickly pronounced against Fetison Andrianirina and a couple of other opponents to the dictating power were labeled as a deterrent against freedom of speech.

The Interior ministry issued the ban on any political demonstration, on the HAT Prime Minister´s bidding. “I don´t understand this order” said Monja Roindefo, former HAT Primer Minister, opponent and self proclaimed defender of the real change. He underlined the ban`s stupid nature, as the HAT leaders and his ministers are freely roaming across the country, campaigning for the referendum and the YES vote.

The HAT´s musclemen are restricting the definition of freedom of speech to campaigning either for the YES or for the NO vote. Incitation to refrain from voting as well as any voice rising against the referendum are become a crime. “Some individuals are longing for troubling the referendum, they are drawing people to stay away from polling stations” argued general Richard Ravalomanana, somehow a skilled actor promoting apocalyptic scenarios in order to deter international observers  from making the move.

A potential very strong abstention rate is more than likely in Antananarivo. Supporters of the NO vote however blossomed all of a sudden. In the campaigning period´s very last week, some minor parties moderately allied to the HAT finally took a stand and said NO: Pierrot Rajaonarivelo´s MDM, the OTIK´AFO and so on, usual champions of breaking news´ statements now relegated to the observers´ bench away from the political pitch.

Drawing the opposition to take a stand, even for the NO vote, proved to be the campaign`s genuine stake. Dead duck, the opposition kept holding on saying NO to the REFERENDUM itself. This abstention might be a opened gateway for the YES vote´s victory, as well as a vastly more significant setback for the ruling power, in terms of abstention rate, despite Andry Rajoelina`s countrywide tour paid by state funds, without a shadow of protest from the CENI, as usual