The Fahazavàna radio on the front line again

For several months, the Fahazavàna radio has been the single left private radio station in Antananarivo to broadcast Marc Ravalomanana’s supporting demonstrations on a daily basis. Because of the exactions committed by Andry Rajoelina’s partisans against his own media group, the deposed president has no more far reaching communication means. 

Although being keen on remaining independent, in spite of the crisis, the Fahazavàna radio channel largely keeps on broadcasting the Magro square based gatherings’ progress on a daily basis. The station also welcomed in the studio many supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, and granted them the opportunity to express their views freely about the evolution of the political crisis. 

Such a thing because a cause for various reactions from the camp of the High Authority of Transition One of Andry Rajoelina’s advisors suggested “the implementation of suitable measures” to the ministry for Communication, in order to hinder the Fahazavàna radio from moving forward. In clear, it has been suggested to shut the protestant radio station down. 

The Fahazavàna radio station would, however, be keen on displaying its commitment with the FJKM church. A large part of its programs is dedicated to the reformed church’s activities. However, Andry Rajoelina’s supporters have not forgotten that the church had Marc Ravalomanana himself as vice president.  

Now, the Fahazavàna radio is considered without a doubt by the partisans of the HAT as a pro-Ravalomanana channel which simply deserves to be silenced, just as the Radio Mada did, closed by the authorities, or also MBS group, set alight by the pro-Rajoelina demonstrators by end of January.  

Let us do remind that Madagascar lost 40 places in Reporters Without Border’s yearly chart in 2009. The free fall has definitely been caused by…the political crisis.  

Shutting down a radio channel can only cause further more damages to free thinking and press freedom. Did the partisans of the HAT already forget that such action engaged against  Andry Rajoelina’s Viva TV channel back in December 2008, served as the main incentive to trigger the demonstrations which paved the way to the putsch against Marc Ravalomanana in March 2009?