P 180804Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2213

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANTANANARIVO 000186 
 
DEPT FOR DS, D, P, M, S/CT, CA, AND INR 
DEPT FOR DS/AF/IP 
DEPT FOR DS/ITA/AF 
DEPT FOR AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019 
TAGS: ASEC CASC MP PGOV PREL PTER MA
 
SUBJECT: EAC CONVENED TO DISCUSS INCREASING ANTI-AMERICAN 
PRESS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TAKE OVER 
 
¶1. (SBU) An Emergency Action Committee (EAC), chaired by DCM 
Stromayer, was convened on March 17, 2009 to discuss the 
recent increase of anti-American press and the military take 
over of the Presidential Palace. Also discussed were the 
present status of the other Presidential Palace located in 
Iavoloha, with the Malagasy president in residence. 
 
¶2. (C) The DCM reported that he, the Ambassador and members 
of the international diplomatic community had met earlier in 
the morning with the Foreign Minister and the Minister of 
Commerce and Economics to discuss the situation. The 
Ministers had both advised the president to resign and leave 
the country, to no avail, and requested that the diplomatic 
community go to the Palace and encourage the president to 
resign. The community was reluctant to comply with this 
request because the president needed to reach this decision 
with his advisors. If he did decide to resign, the 
international community stood ready to assist his departure. 
No one could guarantee that an emissary would receive safe 
passage in and out of the palace. In addition, as evident by 
a flurry of recent press articles, a visit to the palace by a 
foreign diplomat would possibly be interpreted badly in the 
press, possibly leading to retaliation or other consequences 
against the foreign community. 
 
3.(C) The Defense AttachQ Officer's (DAO) major concern was 
not the imminent take over of the palace, but the vacuum that 
would follow as the country tried to establish new 
leadership. The military supports different factions and no 
one knows how committed they are to their present leadership. 
There is already some trouble and dissent in the ranks. RAO 
supports the DAO's perception of the situation. 
 
¶4. (C) The Political Officer (PO) reported that the coalition 
that supported TGV was composed of several factions. They 
united behind TGV because he was a vehicle to vocally oppose 
the president. They will not likely stay united or support 
TGV if the president departs. Therefore, the resignation of 
the president may well lead to future instability. 
5.(C) The Management Officer (MO) voiced concern that the 
events of the last few days had crossed some additional 
tripwires. His concerns include the palace takeover, the 
possibility that the president and his supporters will refuse 
to give up peacefully and informal confirmation that the 
reduction of Air France flights was a function of the 
security situation. The MO recommended moving to ordered 
departure. 
 
6.(C) The Regional Security Officer (RSO) expressed that the 
crisis has entered another phase and asked the EAC to 
reconsider the current situation. With the local press - both 
in print and radio - expressing anti-American sentiment at 
times against the Ambassador by name, RSO warned the Embassy 
or Americans could be targets. RSO will continue to monitor 
the situation and all persons are advised to be more alert to 
their surroundings, reporting anything suspicious or unusual 
that they might see. 
 
7.(C) The Ambassador did not attend this EAC meeting, as he 
was meeting with the greater diplomatic community at the CMR. 
 
8.(C) The EAC determined by vote (three for and seven 
against) not to recommend to the Ambassador that he request 
ordered departure. However, most of the committee felt that 
the events of the day could change their opinion and another 
EAC was recommended for later today or tomorrow. Note: The 
DCM will host an EAC at 8:00 am local time to specifically 
review tripwires. 
 
MARQUARDT