The magistrates´ Union intending to get the upper hand

The current transitional institutional transition fix engulfing the HAT would be an opportunity for the justice to reclaim its independence. The quest for real power happens to be the genuine stake in this crusade led by those used to decide in trials on behalf of the Republic of Madagascar.

Fifteen police officers allegedly involved in the murder of Michel Rehavana, deputy assistant attorney in Toliara. Despite so heavy charges against so many suspects, Madagascar´s Union of Magistrates does not give in.

The Minister in charge of Home Security and the National Police remains the target number one, for his fall would come up to a significant political success. The general strike failed; so the Union consequently attacked Arsene Rakotondrazaka in the Supreme Court. He is being accused of having failed to rescue an endangered victim, as a citizen and as minister, for he was actually in Toliary on that very day.

The union´s judges are accuse the police department´s minister of protecting the suspected police officers. Arsene Rakotondrazaka scarcely escaped from being charged with conspiracy, though having been mentioned in the suspects´ reports.
The Union emphasized that judges would not resume work until the Minister of Home Security steps down. It comes up to a frontal challenge to the HAT´s leader and its National Police department refusing to oblige and dismiss Minister Rakotondrazaka. The complaint lodged at the Supreme Court will however have to be approved by a Cabinet meeting.

Although Prime Minister Omer Beriziky was pushing for the resignation of two ministers respectively in charge of Justice and Home Security, Rajoelina who is not bound to give up his right to have the last say. The HAT immediately acted replaced the Supreme Court´s Attorney General. ” we will never accept it, if it has ever been illegally completed” threatened the Union as a response to such a move.
Striking magistrates are gradually losing their neutrality, for cases are queuing up at courts´ doors, but irretrievably gaining support. The public naturally supports the highly politically challenging speech: “We will no more obey any orders either from the ruling power or from politicians,” declared Marius Auguste.

The Union´s President advocated an independent judicial department, condemning the corruption attempt dared by the ruling power in order to convince striking judges to resume working and breaking ranks. He denounced the ruling power´s contempt for justice misused for its own personal purpose when need be.

Andry Rajoelina seems to have stuffed his ears and refuses to listen. The national police´s family emulates and does not give in either yet. It even turned down the Union´s invitation to address and settle the dispute through talks down. The excuse happens to be, as a matter of fact, rather simple: the Union is not entitled to summon the national police; only the justice ministry is, if ever needed.

Police officers are holding the complaint lodged against their minister as contradicting the will to recover political stability. The Union keeps on attacking although twelve policemen have been jailed in the run of the Rehavana case related inquiry. For the time being, the national police department has not yet launched any strike back against the magistrates´ Union.

The judicial blockade actually brings the transitional regime´s weakness to light. When Rajoelina cannot resort to its armed forces, he definitely has not that much power left.