Union of Madagascan Journalists: The reopening of stations silenced by the HAT on schedule

The unexpected run of events has made Evariste Ramanantsoavina’s recent fame. He became, in 2009, the first Malagasy journalist jailed by the High Authority of Transition directed by Andry Rajoelina. At the time of a meeting between journalists, politicians and civil society members, Evariste Ramantsoavina asked the HAT communication minister to reopen the Radio Mada radio station as well as all of its counterparts banned by the HAT. 

“One regime has been ousted for having closed one media station, Andry Rajoelina’s supporters claimed democracy, so why is the HAT doing the same thing to several stations at a time” protested Evariste Ramanantsoavina, reporter for the late Radio Mada station from 1999 to 2009. This station was purchased by Marc Ravalomanana in 1999, shortly before communal elections in Antananarivo. It was the station’s first step into the political ring. 

In 2009, soldiers loyal to the High Authority of Transition stormed its facilities, seized its hardware and closed the station. In the run of these events, Ramanantsoavina Evariste ended up behind bars. Although he was freed three weeks later, another couple of reporters underwent the same fate by the beginning of the year 2010.