ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar’s president went on national radio Thursday to urge the army to remain neutral in his confrontation with a political rival.
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar’s president went on national radio Thursday to urge the army to remain neutral in his confrontation with a political rival. President Marc Ravalomanana’s appeal came during increasing signs of a split within the nation’s security forces, which could increase instability on this troubled Indian Ocean island. The country generally has been peaceful since a major flare-up in January and February, but small-scale looting persists and protests can be tense. Impoverished Madagascar has long suffered from political infighting. The nation of 20 million people is known for its rare wildlife and eco-tourism. It also is one of Africa’s poorest nations, with more than half the population living on less than $1 per day. But the stakes have risen since oil was discovered three years ago. On Thursday, Ravalomanana urged the army to do as police and paramilitary forces did this week and pledge to stay out of politics. A day earlier, a mutinous colonel had declared himself army chief. "Our priority is restoring order," said Ravalomanana, 59. "I’m calling on the security forces to live up to their responsibilities and protect the people … and their property." The leaders of the cooperating army, paramilitary and police force in charge of security in the capital declared Thursday that they would work together to stop looting but said they were no longer taking orders from the president. Gal Pily Gilbain, commander of the paramilitary element in the capital force, used state radio to urge his troops to stay out of politics and politicians to "apply themselves to resolving the crisis." The director of the national police, Antonin Thalbot, added: "We call on politicians to find a solution to the crisis. Our mission is to protect property and people." On Wednesday, the leader of a group of mutinous soldiers, Col. Andre Ndrianarijaona, walked into the offices of the army chief of staff in the capital and emerged after less than an hour to tell reporters that the chief had yielded his post to him. The mutineers said they won’t take orders from the president, but it was not clear whether they have thrown their support to his rival, Andry Rajoelina. The security forces’ support for the president began to waver last month after security forces opened fire and killed at least 25 pro-Rajoelina demonstrators. The president received a measure of support Thursday from Vice Adm. Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, who had resigned as defense minister this week, apparently under pressure from the mutineers. State radio said Thursday that Ranaivoniarivo was back as defense minister. "Those of us at the heart of the army are rising up to defend our country," Ranaivoniarivo said on the broadcast. Opposition leader Rajoelina, then mayor of the capital, set off the turmoil by leading the protests against Ravalomanana and proposing that he take over. Ravalomanana is a wealthy businessman who started his political career as mayor of the capital. He dismissed Rajoelina as Antananarivo’s mayor as the crisis escalated. Ravalomanana clashed with former President Didier Ratsiraka when both claimed the presidency after a disputed December 2001 election. After low-level fighting split the country between two governments, two capitals and two presidents, Ratsiraka fled to France in June 2002. Ravalomanana won re-election in 2006, though two opposition candidates tried to challenge the validity of that vote. ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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