Operation Tandroka, the state police advocating the facts

The number one public enemy, whose capture is likely to be rewarded by the HAT, would have been seriously wounded in the run of shootouts, although every attempt to put a grip on him has so far been failing. The special forces unit led by Colonel René Lylison has at least succeeded in eliminating either Remenabila’s men of trust or his lieutenants. A good start somehow.

A leader named Tsirinasy was brought down. The Dahalo band chief was leading attacks ordered by his son-in-law, namely Remenabila himself. “According to the testimonies collected from captured Dahalo thieves, chief Tsirinasy’s sons would be in possession of no less than 80 assault rifles and other military equipment,” declared the commander of the HAT’s Special Intervention Force. 27 guns and their ammunition were recovered in all so far. As a logical conclusion, a certain number of Dahalo supposed to have been killed in action were actually unarmed, or armed with blunt weapons.

Colonel Lylison accordingly responded to accusations of summary executions allegedly committed by his men: “There were casualties, but merely collateral damages caused by clashes between opposing forces. The heaviest toll only claimed 16 victims” from the Dahalo.

Officially thirty Dahalo “only” would have fallen, brought down by the security forces, out of 129 victims. The figure is miles away from reflecting the reality, unless collateral damage and citizens mistaken for enemy forces are not held in account. Some villagers should besides, have refrained from resistance to the armed forces’ up march

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Whoever surrendered and did not resist was not arrested. Out of the 70 arrests, 29 defendants are now in custody in Taolagnaro or detained the state police station of Betroka. “Raids after zebus are now history,” concluded Colonel Lylison.

The State Police’s Sate Secretary happens to be the single one state official bound to concede that the operation Tandroka might not have proved as satisfying as expected. The southern populations fear retaliation from Remenabila, and hope for Colonel Lylison’s men to be replaced as early as possible. His squad was actually composed with state policemen, artillery officers and special ground forces from the 1 RFI regiment, and suffered no human losses at all.

Argument pop-up

Former parliamentarian Louisette Raharimalala reminded a basic trade operation with Remenabila, which included an order of 6000 zebu heads. Colonel Lylison replied with emulation. “Raids after zebu flocks are in no way a new phenomenon. Merely the resumption of foreign exports caused this uncontrolled outbreak. Foreign demand for flesh gave a massive boost to the smuggle and created Remenabila. “

“Everything started with the Valabe project, in other words, the exportation of zebu heads through the harbor of Fort-Dauphin. The project was thwarted by former president Ravalomanana’s fall. By the time, a gigantic clean sweep on zebu flocks as well as the massive release of weapons of war to Dahalo thieves were planned. ” The FIS regiment’s officer carefully builds alleged bridges up between Remenabila’s uprisisng and a major political incentive, now that elections are closing in. “Some people are longing for making big money out of it in order to support their presidential campaign.”

General Richard Ravalomanana, the HAT’s specialist in producing scenarios, skims through the usual ones telling about alleged Sri Lankans and Thais in search of lands in the wild South, and equally pushes for the political incentive based theory which happens to clean the HAT from any wrong doing, for it was the one which put an end to violence in the concerned regions