Court vs. police forces: desecration of republican reference marks,

The Michel Rehavana file has shaken the judicial sphere to the point to driving the union of magistrates to resort to unusual means to do away with the one standing on its path, in his will to avenge a brother-in-arms. The assistant district attorney died in Tulear while being held as a hostage by policemen. The circumstances are variously being reported. The police forces put a sudden death forth, most likely a heart attack, whereas the union of magistrates is pointing at the police´s violence as the single cause for his death. 

Bad bad policemen 

The victim was beaten up by policemen for sure. The magistrate was previously humiliated, forced to kneel before the jail´s main gate and forced to order the release of a cop condemned to five years behind bars. The concerned policemen argued that their colleague neither lent nor sold his weapon to bandits out, and challenged the verdict their way. They entered Toliara´s penitentiary, weapons in hand and shot around. The justice minister condemned this rebellion and the violence which led to the magistrate’s death. The union decided to seal every court until the arrest of the rebels. The homeland security was besides on the scene, could however nothing to prevent the drama. 

This police forces´ led uprising has been being turned into a trend since the HAT dealt armed support with the armed forces… the so named law of the strong. In 2009, the very same “incident” took place in Tulear city. Three policemen have been incarcerated, blamed for corruption. About forty policemen enforced the jail and freed them three. Confrontation was hanging by a thread. Policemen apparently find it hard to obey any superior and hold their own little selves as beyond the law´s reach.  

Popular justice and capital punishment  

In Ikongo, things are a wee bit different, for the court was this time around on the wrong side. The local magistrates imposed a native and very strict rule of law named “Dina hentitra “. The culprit is being beheaded without trial. The law of the west, in this case, of the south, is basically supposed to deter tomb raiders in the region of Vatovavy Fitovinany. The case escalated when the death penalty was implemented in minor cases and duels.  

The local state police recorded 12 executions, arrested 10 persons and charged them with murder, murder attempt and implementation of an illegal law named “Dina hentitra”. The trial took place in Fianarantsoa in order to avoid any social tension, for the suspects are local traditional leaders. The court created the stir when it set all of them free. 

The verdict remains a mystery. Its side effects are first and foremost a boost to popular justice.  In May 2011, Ikongo already witnessed such a scene, as 2000 people compelled the local penitentiary´s chief to open his facility´s doors. The opposition from the district attorney and from the local state police could not prevent a couple of thieves to be beaten to death and crucified. The ruling power has definitely succeeded in turning justice and rule of the law into threatened species.