Colonel Rakotonandrasana: a file to deal with a foreign military intervention

Minister Noel Rakotonandrasana said that the Madagascan army will be prepared to resist a possible pacification intervention. “All must be taken seriously, either a true or false slight gossip “, he has declared. COMESA’s warning and president Ravalomanana’s stated intentions «must be held in account to be ready in case of an intervention “. 

Can anyone be ready to an armed conflict in few days even when the defence Minister» prepares a file to deal itself with this possibility “. Colonel Rakotonandrasana confirmed that anyhow coastal surveillance has been enhanced during the past few weeks. A possible landing of these armed servicemen coming from Africa on the eastern part of Madagascar is expected. 

The colonel, one of the masterminds of the mutiny which led a army faction to push to what is qualified of Coup by the international community, doesn’t display a real determination. Noel Rakotonandrasana would not be a bully war lord. “So good if there is not any foreign intervention “, he said, stating that” no one wants confrontation “.   

Colonels Rakoronandrasana and Ndriarijaonas, respectively national defence minister and army chief of staff have been rewarded of their involvement to the ousting of president Ravalomanana to the prejudice of all army generals. The minister dictated the resolutions from the recent military assembly to the one they made president. 

“The army will no more be used to defend either personal interests or to political aims “. A platform will be created in collaboration with the civil society in order to avoid the abusive use of the armed services. A clear procedure will be defined to make soldiers’  interventions efficient. 

Andry Rajoelina already promised to give the soldiers the advantages they want. Minister Rakotonandrassana asked more. He wants his department to manage the wages directly without the Finance Ministry’s involvement. Real estate funds and emergency funds are also foreseen. Out of question to make president Ravalomanana’s «mistake” of reserving a lot more money to education and to health care rather than to the army.