No rest for the wicked rebels

When the former president proposed a “cease-fire”, Sylvain Razafimandimby, the joint army chief of staff categorically stated: “We will settle for nothing less than an unconditional surrender;
Ratsiraka can go ahead and wave his white flag, but as far as we are concerned, he started the hostilities, and thus it is up to him to put an end to them.”

General Jules Mamizara, defense minister, agrees with Razafimandimby.
He does not want to hear about a hypothetical cease-fire either.
Especially while the militia men and the military forces loyal to Ratsiraka pursue criminal acts against unarmed citizens, and particularly now that the governmental forces are on the verge of controlling the situation over the entire Malagasy territory.

Moreover, according to military sources, governmental troops are redirecting their focus on the province of Toamasina where Ratsiraka entrenched himself to, following his election defeat.
As a Ravalomanana supporter stated, “There is no doubt that Ratsiraka’s hasty cease-fire proposal was prompted by the will, and determination of the governmental army to restore order as soon as possible.

Time to regroup

A deputy, close to Ravalomanana’s inner circle, views Ratsiraka’s proposal as a tactical maneuver aimed at buying time to reorganize, regroup and shore up his defense.
The heat is on, and he is feeling it, all around him.
It is not surprising that not very many pro-Ravalomanana supporters trust the former president’s call for a stop to all hostilities.
Knowing Ratsiraka, by calling for a cease-fire, he is simply using his usual “carrot and stick approach” as a smoke-screen aimed at duping the international community, while he continues to spread terror wherever he can.

Since Ravalomanana’s officers intend to restore order over the entire Island within a few days, the cease-fire trap is not likely to succeed.

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana