Mbabane — Deposed Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana will return to the island state under the protection of the 13-member regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ravalomanana told a media briefing on 15 April in the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane, that his return would kick-start a national dialogue with his successor, President Andry Rajoelina, in the hope of holding presidential elections by the end of 2009. He did not divulge the date of his return.
"I was forced to leave the presidency seat at gunpoint, but I am going back to Madagascar in peace. I am confident of SADC and the security they will give; I am confident things will be fine," Ravalomanana told the media.
"Only a few soldiers were used to oust me, but that does not mean the entire army is against me. Those who carried out the coup are criminals who used intimidation tactics to force the other soldiers to be part of their deeds," he said.
A coup by a few
Ravalomanana said only about 150 to 200 soldiers were involved in the coup, and that he was encouraged by a series of mass demonstrations against the coup in the capital, Antananarivo.
"I have been told that banks have been closed and that things are not fine. I hope the discussions we hope to hold with political parties will result in democracy prevailing, and the situation will calm down," he said.
"Our constitution may have to be amended to cater for another election this year - though this can be a complicated process - but there has to be democracy in Madagascar, not forced removal from power," Ravalomanana commented.
"We have to hold discussions with all political parties and civil society to create a power-sharing government until an election is held."
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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The outed President is known as the 20 % President! His cronies were forcing all foreign investors to grant him free 20 per cent of shares in their companies before they could get legal permission to undertake business.
Should he return, he must declare all his wealth and belongings and volunteer to face the courts.
I suggest you to look at those sites to understand more topmada.com or sobika.com Thanks and hope you will understand
It's really outrageous that an President can lie like that. All malagasy witness his resignation, including the ambassador of the USA. One thing Jean Ping and his African peers did not understand the situation in Madagascar. The change in Madagascar was initiated by the people. "When the horizon is blocked, when the rotation is prohibited when the electoral commission is not consensus, when the Ravalomanana regime not think that will continue, even at the cost of the blood of people, when criticism is banned, when checks are destroyed, when the people have more confidence in the electoral process, when a dictator does not want to organize a peaceful, when the constitution of a country is crumpled and subject to the moods of a tyrant of assoifé power, where the expression of the people is superbly ignored, when dictator that listens to the voice of personal aspirations and enjoyment " When there is more than possible alternative option, and the people and the army must take responsibility! Malagasy democracy is specific to us. Ravalomanana himself came to power through this mechanism, refusing to go to a 2nd round called by Abdoulaye Wade and the OUA in Dakar in 2002!
Do you really know what happen in Madagascar. Do you agree if a president is ousted by 10,000 people on the street with the help of mutins? What he says is right.There was a free election in 2006 and he was elected with 54% (This result never happened before with 80%) so there is no problem. Let Malagasy choose who they like.Let the SADC and AU and UN make a free election and we shall see. But I'm not this Gay will accept that because he doesn't have any party, and no one knew him before.
May be you but not all Malagasy so far witnessed Marc Ravalomanana's resignation, for even the thousands of his partisans in front of the President Palace didn't see it coming this day. So I doubt that Ravalomanana is the liar...The only way to make sure that all Malagasy choice is respected is inviting them to go to the ballot. Andry Rajoelina rejected this option of a referendum since this is simply a big headache for his coup project. Besides, he doesnt want to let the President Ravalomanana finish his mandate.
Unfortunately Andry Rajoelina ignored that a prince is never safe upon his throne so long as those who have been dispossessed of it are still living. (Non vive sicuro un principe in uno principato, mentre vivono coloro che ne sono stati spogliati.) Machiavelli. It's not that I am one of these revanchists but I (we) need constitutional order reinstalled. Otherwise, our children will face another coup d'etat by another Andry Rajoelina after 5 years. and that this the whole point.
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