Ex-Madagascar ruler starts exile in France

Former ruler’s last stronghold falls to troops loyal to new president

MSNBC 07.07.2002

PARIS, July 7 — Didier Ratsiraka, the former president of Madagascar ousted after a seven-month power struggle, arrived in former colonial power France on Sunday for what looked like the start of a life in exile. Back in Madagascar, meanwhile, the last of Ratsiraka’s army capitulated to forces loyal to the new president.

RATSIRAKA, 65, A former socialist revolutionary, arrived on a flight from the Seychelles, where he fled to the Seychelles on Friday as troops loyal to rival President Marc Ravalomanana advanced on his last bastion, the eastern province of Toamasina.

The two have struggled for the presidency of the island off southeast Africa since disputed a December poll which Ravalomanana says his rival rigged. Ratsiraka’s critics accuse him of plundering state coffers while in power for 23 years.

A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said he would make no official comment on Ratsiraka’s arrival. Diplomats said Paris apparently wanted to keep a low profile in the case after switching its support from Ratsiraka to Ravalomanana last week.

Ratsiraka told journalists that he hoped to return to the island to contest a new election against Ravalomanana.

“There must be a second round of elections or a referendum must be held so the people can choose their freely elected president,” Ratsiraka, looking relaxed despite the long flight, told reporters waiting for him at the VIP lounge.

“If democracy returns and we prepare for new elections, then I will go back,” said the former president.

Asked if he had asked for political asylum in France, where he a residence, he said: “Not exactly. I don’t know how long they’ll have me here.”

STRONGHOLD SURRENDERS

In Madagascar, meanwhile, a white flag flew above the welcome sign at the airport in Toamasina, until Friday Ratsiraka’s the last stronghold.

The first of Ravalomanana’s forces arrived in the eastern province by plane on Sunday, sent to bridge the gap until the rest of his troops arrive by road.

On Sunday, the commander of the province, who until Friday officially took orders from Ratsiraka, was summoned to the empty airport by Ravalomanana’s officers. He came with two other officers to confirm their support for the new regime.

“All the military here recognize him (Ravalomanana) given the current political situation,” Gen. Iandro Fenomanana said. “From now we recognize Mr. Ravalomanana, the president of the republic, as supreme commander of the armed forces.”

There were reports of pro-Ratsiraka militias still hiding in the area, and while most of his close political allies fled with him, those who remain were anxious.

Ratsiraka’s nephew Roland, the moderate mayor of Toamasina, said on Sunday he had appealed to people to remain calm.

He said some people felt let down by Ratsiraka’s sudden departure, and were worried about the imminent arrival of troops from the other side.

“The people of the town are obviously divided,” Roland Ratsiraka said, sitting in the leafy surrounds of the Neptune hotel, which several of his uncle’s ministers left hurriedly on Friday morning.

“Everyone has to accept the situation... . Of course not everyone is happy ... but seeing what’s happened, you would have to be mad to continue (fighting) ... we are looking to silence arms and for everything to go back to normal.”

CLEAN UP BEGINS

The same plane that brought the first Ravalomanana reservists into Toamasina flew back to Antananarivo with Ratsiraka’s former information minister, Fredo Betsimifira, on board.

Betsimifira, who was stopped from fleeing by boat last week, said he had given himself up on Sainte Marie, a small island off the coast. Several other hard-line Ratsirakists remain at large.

People in the seaside town were reluctant to talk about politics, though some admitted they were nervous about reprisals now the Ravalomanana government had completely taken power.

Ratsiraka was born in the province, and traditionally Toamasina has always voted against the people who come from the high plateau where the capital, Ravalomanana’s stronghold, lies.

On Sunday, Toamasina was quiet. Families picnicked in the sunshine by the front, rickshaws went about their business on the dusty roads.

Whatever their political persuasions, many people seemed glad the crisis was over. The province has been cut off from the capital for months, after Ratsiraka’s military and militias put up roadblocks to bar the route to Antananarivo.

“For six months we have been prisoners,” one woman said, buying doughnuts on a tiny roadside stall. “There were barriers — some manmade, some caused by flooding. Now that Ravalomanana is coming and the barriers are down, everyone is relieved.”