NRC is stirring up troubles

Without ever formally admitting to it, NRC, led by former president Albert Zafy, currently constitutes a primary cluster of opposition against the new leadership.
Crisscrossing various provinces of the Great Island, NRC founding members, in an increasingly scathing tone, are aiming blanket criticisms at President Ravalomanana’s leadership team.
In some cases, while NRC assumes stances verging on tribalism, members of President Ravalomanana’s inner circle suspect it of using game plans akin to those of former Dictator Ratsiraka.
General Razakarimanana, Antananarivo’s Chief of Province, has condemned NRC for accepting “Billions of Francs” which came directly from Paris where Mr. Ratsiraka is in a self-imposed exile.
This Chief of Province alleges that these funds are to be used to finance destabilizing campaigns aimed at the leadership.

NRC’s primary agenda, during these provincial meetings, revolves around the arrests which have essentially targeted coastal region natives.
Recently, NRC vehemently unleashed its wrath, when the courts took in Mr. Roland Ratsiraka, mayor of Toamasina, and nephew of former Dictator Ratsiraka, for questioning.
The mayor allegedly collaborated with militiamen, and rebel military forces, at the height of the political crisis.
In response to this event, NRC attempted to engage the entire port city of Toamasina in a demonstration which could qualify as the beginning of a campaign challenging the new leadership.
The only thing is the inhabitants of this former political stronghold of Dictator Ratsiraka showed no desire to answer NRC’s call.
Only a few hundreds responded, on Saturday, and on Monday.
Meanwhile an attempt to turn the city into a ghost-town has failed.

Faced with this rather dire predicament the NRC finds itself in, AREMA, the former dictator’s party, appears to want to distance itself from this entity which, paradoxically, advocates national reconciliation.
AREMA’s executive committee, realizing how the situation has evolved, has agreed to the establishment of a smooth, and systematic power transition process.
NRC, on the other hand, has yet to endorse this idea.
A group of politicians, from various political entities, including AREMA party members, has even suggested that NRC be kept in check.
Nonetheless, the new leadership sees things differently, for now.

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana