Madagascans threaten secession

NEWS24 27.04.2002

Antananarivo - Senior politicians loyal to Madagascan President Didier Ratsiraka on Friday threatened to secede and form an independent state if his election challenger Marc Ravalomanana was declared president next week.

Parliamentarians, senators, provincial councillors and mayors in the southwestern province of Toliara said in a joint statement they would "set up a lawful constituent assembly to establish the independent state of Toliara" if the High Constitutional Court (HCC) declared Ravalomanana head of state.

Their declaration was backed by all the governors of all the other regions of the Indian Ocean island, except the governor of the capital, Antananarivo, who has sided with Ravalomanana.

"As a magistrate, I cannot back secessionist moves but if Ravalomanana's camp continues to behave illegally, the independence of the provinces is a risk," Toliara Governor Jean de Dier Maharante said.

The HCC is due on Monday to announce the results of a recount of the hotly-disputed December presidential election, which pitted the incumbent, Ratsiraka, against Ravalomanana, the popular mayor of Antananarivo.

Country would split in two'

The official result of the ballot, announced by the HCC in January, gave Ravalomanana a slight lead over Ratsiraka but not an absolute majority, making a second-round run-off necessary.

Ravalomanana rejected the results as rigged, declared himself president in February and set up a parallel government, plunging the former French colony into political crisis.

The Toliara politicians also demanded on Friday that Ravalomanana dismantle his "government".

Ratsiraka's supporters said on Friday the HCC was illegal in its current composition. Ratsiraka stuffed the HCC with his supporters just before the December election. But the country's Supreme Court annulled these appointments earlier this week and reinstated the HCC's original members, much to the ire of the Ratsiraka camp.

The five provincial governors loyal to Ratsiraka have set up a temporary capital in the main port city, Toamasina, and set up roadblocks around Antananarivo to starve it of fuel and other vital supplies.

Antsiranana governor Jean-Robert Gara said the country would split in two if Ravalomanana was officially declared president.

"If Ravalomanana is declared we will reject this foregone conclusion and will be obliged to head towards independence," Gara said.

"We the governors of the five autonomous provinces, share the analysis of the Toliara elected officials on this point," he added. - Sapa-AFP