23 May 2009
International mediators negotiating a resolution to the crisis in Madagascar have announced that the rival parties have agreed on an election within 14 months in which both the ousted president, Marc Ravalomanana, and the leader who overthrew him, Andry Rajoelina, could stand for the presidency.
A statement issued by the mediators said the parties had also agreed on the formation of a range of transitional institutions - including a "High Transitional Authority" and a "Transitional Government of National Unity" - to rule the country pending elections.
The mediators comprise representatives of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the United Nations.
They said the choice of an election date would depend on an assessment of the country's capacity to arrange credible elections, to be made by international and local experts.
Discussions are continuing on what the mediators described as "the composition and formula for the proportional distribution of seats among executive and legislative institutions."
Their statement also said the parties had agreed to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and were debating a general amnesty for those who had broken the law. However, any amnesty would exclude "gross" violations of human rights, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide.
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Why they can't be like Jakaya Kikwete? This is terrible when a person takes power without official election, Please AU should check his capabilities befor he rules the country. Is he educated? I don't think so, please help Madagascar people before they kill each other. They even cant run from that Island to find refuge nearby.
I think the ousted Pdt should behave also and follow the warning by the South Africa, But if he want to kill more people by his carelessness and by showing that he doesn't care as usually he did when he was on power (amending constitution without people's agreement), then this really shows how power hungry he is! I do not agree the idea that Rakoto Albert said about communism in Madagascar. It is simple many loosing parties in Madagascar know how to keep silence after being literally vomited by the population, but this time the TIM and MFM could not contained it and they try to create terrorizing situation or genocide similar to Rwanda or far more Somali but people have understood from the beginning and very conscious. I believe that taking Ravalomanana and his allies away from the political life in Madagascar can do more good than bad for the future of the Island if they keep on to their way of inciting troubles in the capital and its suburbs. Also the international communities have to understand that to face the international crises and the local instability, the democratization lead by the HAT should be assisted with full precaution to avoid chaos. As it has been clear that the HAT is committed with 19 months plan to return the democratic regime. It is also understood why most counties in Africa hate the situation that happened in Madagascar, but they will be far more in trouble if they try to reinstall the former and resigned president because (only few groups of people were enjoying the life while he himself gets more and more authoritarian and 80% of the population gone down under the poverty line) they support a dictator leader such as Mugabe or more who are still holding power in Africa. So in that case they become so interesting to think about the bunch of leadership in Africa that could not help to get rid of the poverty!!! Above all, the ignorance also affect deeply the local community in Madagascar because of these politics of partisanship which can lead to deep and difficult trouble.
Meloky, when have you been the last time in Madagascar to bring so theorical critics like this ? No comment is needed. Just come and visit Madagascar by your own eyes to see what progress have been achieved during the past seven year: roads, conservation, schools, hospitals, new investment including the big ones like Tinto Rinto, QMM and so on. I am operating in the tourism business and we have doubled our turnover during the past three years. That's all to say about it. Thanks.
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