Does Andry Rajoelina’s Special Intervention Force still worth it?

The FIS never had any legal basis. Nobody else but its former joint commander addressed the issue, in face of his men’s deviations. It brought nothing to Lt Colonel Charles Andrianasoavina but his expulsion from Ambohitsorohitra with the label of the traitor suspected of being involved in a Coup attempt. There had been no second putsch. The clash between both famous” commanders” in 2009 would have restored order within the FIS, because the suspected activities related to fund embezzlement stopped. The special unit has never been officially questioned again. 

The Lt-Colonel Lylson, alone in command, declared shortly after, that his squadron was obeying colonel Richard Ravalomanana’s Emmo Reg, actually a big fat lie regarding to these soldiers of Ambohitsorohitra. The FIS is tackling some missions in other regions. This special force used the press in order to pledge its special operations. The method is original: conducting cross-examinations live on TV. 

Part of the FIS’ achievements is equally the arrest of opponents to the regime, in quality of political police force. Somehow, it failed from demonstrating an outstanding operational potential during clashes around Fort Duchesne on May 20th, 2010 with armed opposition. Alleged high profile criminals are also part of its hunting board.  In Toamasina, a kidnapper would have produced live confessions compromising high profile figures before dying from injuries, a bullet in the… thigh. The file has not yet been unveiled, but the issue is already a ticking time bomb. 

The commander of the HAT guard did obviously not appreciate ambassador Châtaigner’s speech on July 14th, as he called upon an end to the Special Intervention and to militia forces. According to the Lt Colonel Lylson, only Andry Rajoelina has the right to do away with the FIS. He estimated that such remarks were unsuited to diplomats. 

The “hero” who gave a hand to Antananarivo’s mayor in 2009 in the run of his rise to power rejected all the allegations of human rights violation. “The FIS never breached the law”. It is technically true, since it is the HAT which makes and alters the law the way it wants, no strings attached.The commander of the special forces based in Ambohitsorohitra’s presidential palace is intending to do what he’s expected to without giving a damn about his excellence Jean Marc Chataigner’s remarks.  

The Lt Colonel Lylson argued that the French ambassador would be hostile to the FIS because of Malagasy trouble makers having the dual nationality.  The HAT has been criticized by his single and most significant ally, France, following the violent arrests of “French” objectors, among whom Ambroise Ravonison and Eliane Naike, both being par of the Ravalomanana side.   

The FIS has, somehow, been putting up a low profile since the mitigated clashes with the FIGN forces led to one casualty in its ranks, not a single opponent sent behind bars, no alleged putsch maker arrested. The unit commanded by the Lt Colonel Lylson did not take part in the military parades of June 26th either, officially for being in charge of the party day’s security. A stunning speech from the French ambassador was needed to awake Ambohitsorohitra’s soldiers up.