Opposition – redirecting their focus toward provincial cities

Without a well defined goal, the opposition, spearheaded by former president Albert Zafy?s CRN, is doing everything in their power to organize public rallies in provincial cities, most particularly, the eastern port city of Toamasina, former dictator Didier Ratsiraka?s stronghold. On April 9, 2003, members of this opposition political entity attempted to use a student protest to rally the crowd, once more, but without any success.

While Antananarivo, the capital city, lives in peace, the coastal cities of Toamasina (East), Toliara (South), and undoubtedly, Mahajanga (West) in the near future, are the target of pseudo-political rallies designed solely to spread chaos, and disorder. Two political entities emerge as the major proponents this cause: at the forefront, the CRN, with a handful of its party leaders known for their affiliation with the former regime, and to a lesser extent, the KMMR, President Ravalomanana?s former support committee. Their primary goal is to destabilize the current leadership through the provinces. Essentially, it is an attempt to launch, from a particular region, a protest, or even a rebellion, much like the one which took place in 1971 when the MONIMA party had tried to instigate a localized farmer?s revolt, which ultimately was violently repressed.

At the end of this week, the KMMR is planning another political rally in Toliara. However, KMMR, and CRN, the two political entities which are opposing the new leadership, have a difficult time forming a unified front. On their own, they are both relentlessly, and sharply criticizing the new administration. And keenly aware that the pro-Ravalomanana dominated lower chamber, for obvious reasons, is not likely to allow parliament to pass a motion to censure, which could lead to a new government, or even a motion to impeach the president, they have chosen to take their message directly to the people. Nonetheless, their efforts to rally big crowds have not exactly been a runaway success.

For a few politicians, old habits obviously die hard. Sources within the higher echelon of government indicate that these individuals have yet to break their natural tendency to resort to chronic destabilization. Former dictator Ratsiraka?s AREMA party, using the carrot, and stick approach, continues to push for a national reconciliation forum, and is demanding that its Secretary general?s five year sentence, without the possibility of parole, for his role as an accessory to the unlawful attempt to unseat the new leadership, be reversed or commuted. For the moment, however, the new regime has other more pressing concerns.