Criminal and Hostage Taking Activities at Antsiranana

“We are no longer dealing with politics now,” that is what a Ratsiraka co-conspirator stated when he was asked why they do not just surrender, now that Ravalomanana has obviously won; it is quite clear that Ratsiraka’s supporters have deliberately chosen rebellion over peace, following their election loss.
Official endorsement of President Ravalomanana’s Administration by the United States, Australia and Japan is obviously not enough to temper Ratsiraka’s will to fight on.
Far from it.

In Antsiranana, pro-Ratsiraka militia men are still holding
hostages to slow down the advances of governmental forces who are closing in on the city.
Colonel Coutiti’s team is also renewing “recruiting” efforts at the University.

Students have been summoned to join the rebellion.
Panic-stricken, a few of the students decided to drop out and seek refuge elsewhere.
According to an eye-witness, despicable cowardly acts, such as vandalism, rape and racketeering, perpetrated with impunity by the militia men, are a daily harrowing occurrence in the city of Antsiranana.
This is a particularly worrisome situation for government officials because it already happened once, during the violent insurrections which destabilized Ratsiraka’s government in 1991.

Local sources report that all is quiet at Antsiranana, today.
Calm finally appears to be on its way back.
However, widespread anxiety is still the norm, not the exception.
According to military sources, governmental forces are progressively closing in on the city.
However, they will delay any eventual offensive to leave room for talks which would give the rebels a chance to surrender.
Unidentified sources claim that France is either preparing to evacuate, or evacuating her citizens aboard a ship docked off the coast of Antsiranana.

To-date, Ratsiraka and his supporters control less than 10% of the national territory.
Nonetheless, the admiral wishes to stand his ground “’till the bitter end”.

Translated by Jeanne Françoise Razanamiadana