Your columnist, Thomas L Friedman, “Maybe in America” (July 29) is correct in drawing attention to growing disorder, even rampant anarchy, in the world. Sadly, in choosing my country Madagascar, which he calls Mad-agascar; to illustrate his point, he is even more correct. Since I was deposed in a violent, foreign-backed, coup ‘d état in 2009, Madagascar has descended into such lawlessness that a 2010 Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment Report said …”Madagascar’s very sovereignty may soon be under threat”. This from a country which under my administration had a growth rate in excess of 7.5% per annum, was committed to the UN’s Millenium development goals, was the first country in the world to receive a Millenium Challenge Account; and which was extending health, education and economic opportunity to all. We certainly weren’t perfect, but we were trying with the support of the international community to develop our country for the good of all Malagasy. Since then, as Thomas L Friedman has experienced, our country is being raped by those who trade political influence for commercial gain – leaving its economy in ruins, destroying its sensitive and unique environment and destroying its people. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was appointed by the international community as the mediator to return Madagascar to political normalcy and to try and stop the descent into chaos. Although we co-operated fully with SADC, the process was biased in favour of the coup leader in violation of African Union and international norms. Notwithstanding this, we finally signed a SADC Roadmap, now enshrined in law in Madagascar. It led to elections, from which we were excluded and which led to the ascension to power of President Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Your columnist salutes him – hoping he has “some Hercules in him”. I wish we could share that view. President Hery came to power with the backing of the former coup leader, who openly campaigned with him, in flagrant violation of prohibitions in the Roadmap. Now the two have fallen out. Despite the Roadmap providing for my unconditional return to my country, under an amnesty that I don’t need, I am stuck in South Africa. My passport has been seized on phony charges, which have already been dismissed by international bodies such as Amnesty International, and the new president is actively blocking my return. All the while, Madagascar descends further into chaos. Just this month (July) the UN 2014 Human Development Index report ranked Madagascar 155 of 187 countries, as a country with low human development – alongside Yemen and Zimbabwe. While political gerrymandering continues, the Malagasy people suffer devastating poverty (more than 75% live on less than US$10 per month) and total disruption of civil liberties. I declared my desire to return to Madagascar in peace to work alongside all democrats to rebuild our country. I supported the new president – hoping he could bring about the desperately needed reconciliation in Madagascar and asked the US Government to work with him – lifting sanctions and returning African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) opportunities to Madagascar. Unfortunately, I have now had to withdraw my support. The new President is not the “Hercules” your columnist hopes for. Mr Friedman cites a colourful example of US strength, using the phrase “only in America”. We urge the US and the international community to stand firm on Madagascar. Keep the sanctions and don’t extend opportunities to the government until the SADC Roadmap is fully implemented, until political gangsterism is ended and until all Malagasy citizens are able to work together to rebuild our beautiful island for the benefit of all Malagasy. Perhaps it is “only in America” that there can be the determination to do what is right – rather than what is politically expedient. tim-madagascar.org/index.php/component/k2/item/755-president-ravalomanana-to-th-freidman-new-york-times-unfortunately-i-have-now-had-to-withdraw-my-support-the-new-president-is-not-the-hercules-your-columnist-hopes-for
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 23:24:29 +0000
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