Madagascar: When the population is unarmed

Soldiers storming the presidential palace

The above images are from Madagascar. It is instructive, insofar as it shows what can happen to a country when the citizens are unarmed. The military has arrested the legally elected prime Minister, his wife and bodyguards. The deposed President, Marc Ravalomanana, is now in exile, in Swaziland. The presidency has been handed over to Andry Rajoelina by the military. Other than France, no country recognizes the ‘new’ President, nor his transitional government.

Think it couldn’t happen here in sweet T&T? Think again. Remember 1970 and 1990.

Read more here, here and here.

Military coup in Madagascar

Madagascan soldiers outside the office of President Marc Ravalomanana in Antananarivo on Monday. Photo:Alexander Joe/AFP

Military leaders in Madagascar have handed over control of Madagascar to the president's rival, opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.

Associated Press story here.

There has been escalating social unrest in this Indian Ocean island country for months now.

Civil unrest in Madagascar

Police in Madagascar today fired on unarmed, peaceful protestors, killing at least 25 and injuring over 80. The world’s fourth largest island has experienced looting, arson, widespread protests in the last two weeks. Over 90% of the 10,000 recorded flora and fauna, are found nowhere else in the world. The country, with a population of over 20 million has a history of coups and counter coups. At first glance the situation appears quite complicated. See story here, and here.

Andrydago, a blogger and lawyer, posts about dramatic inflation that accompanies the unrest. All the prices of goods are increasing. “This is the case especially for rice, sugar, yoghurt, milk, butter, oil and gas.”

What in the world…?

What is really happening around the earth? Violent protests, burned buildings, closed tv stations, looting and death in Madagascar. The fall of the Icelandic government, with accompanying riots. Cholera claiming over 3000 lives in Zimbabwe, with over 50000 infections. Close to 250,000 Tamil civilians trapped in 250 sq km area in Sri Lanka. Violent protests in France.

We live in interesting times.


THE 5th SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
The 5th Summit of the Americas being hosted in T&T from April 17 to 19 will involve controversy. Ambassador Carlos Luis Alberto Rodriguez, head of the national secretariat in charge of preparations for the summit stated, “…additional police officers from Caricom countries could be posted in T&T for the summit.” What exactly does that mean? Posted where? In hotels where the visiting dignitaries are staying? At the summit sites? On our streets? Will they be armed? If a foreign police officer shoots a Trinidadian citizen on Trinidadian soil, what are the legal ramifications? Will local law enforcement officers arrest their foreign counterparts? Can that aggrieved citizen sue the foreigner? What are the details of the arrangement? If law enforcement officers of other nations are to be posted here, in a sovereign nation, then what are the ramifications of this? Will this set a precedent? Will a negative incident set back CARICOM and CSME progress? Have the organizers thought this through properly?

Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (Fitun) president, David Abdulah, has already given notice that his organisation planned to protest during the summit. Because of cultural differences, Trini protesters may be viewed as being ‘out of order’, ‘disturbing the peace’ (drumming, playing steel pan, singing, dancing) or even aggressive (shouting, hurling insults). A foreign law enforcement officer posted here, may misinterpret the body language of a protester and react according to training. This training may very well be anti-terrorist in nature. Overreaction can result in serious injuries, or even fatalities.

PEANUTS RECALL
Story in todays Express:

Trinidad has been named as one of four countries to which a United States-based company shipped peanuts, possibly tainted with a bacteria that has sickened and killed people.

The Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), on Wednesday, issued an alert to recall all its products shipped since January 2007.

According to the statement, the peanuts were "distributed nationwide to institutions, food service industries, and private-label food companies, as well as in Canada, Haiti, Korea and Trinidad".

Officials at the Consumer Affairs Division of the Legal Affairs Ministry appeared unaware of the recall last evening.

Now this story sent me into my preps, but could find no brand associated with the PCA. Of the two brands stockpiled, one was on the ‘safe’ list, and the other is locally produced. Peanut butter is a good, dense, high-energy food, suitable for a ‘bug out’ situation.

- Trini Funshooter