VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAN #0267/01 1000958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100958Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2320

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000267 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/E - MBEYZEROV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV MA
SUBJECT: "POLITICAL" PRISONERS RELEASED IN ANTANANARIVO 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: High Transitional Authority (HAT) President Andry 
Rajoelina has released 48 "political prisoners" from Madagascar's 
jails.  Most were politicians or military leaders imprisoned under 
former President Ravalomanana, although in many cases the charges 
were legitimate even if they were singled out for punishment due to 
their political affiliations.  The HAT has not yet granted pardons 
to all 48 (to date, only 32 have been actually pardoned; the rest 
remain under house arrest), given the controversy over individuals 
such as Colonel Coutiti, who was imprisoned for torture and killings 
in both 1991 and 2002.  Post expects the HAT to pronounce on the 
remaining 16 prisoners shortly, although those already pardoned are 
pushing for an "amnesty" instead, which would allow them to 
participate in politics. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During his March 21 "installation" address, Rajoelina 
announced plans to pardon political prisoners; that same evening, 48 
prisoners were taken from Tsiafahy, Antanimora and Toamasina prisons 
and moved into house arrest at a hotel/restaurant in a suburb of 
Antananarivo.  On March 26, HAT Minister of Justice announced a 
first group of 28 prisoners who benefited from the presidential 
pardon.  The "most feared and controversial" prisoner - Lieutenant 
Colonel Assolant Coutiti - did not make the cut, and his legal 
status to date remains unclear.  Prospects for his liberty becoming 
legal are a matter of grave concern to many here.  A second group of 
four was announced on April 1, but the MOJ has yet to pronounce on 
the final 16.  Seven of the remaining political detainees (including 
Coutiti) have been transferred to their "hometown", in the northern 
city of Antsiranana, but remain under house arrest. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Most of the released "political prisoners" and the exiled 
politicians are requesting an amnesty instead of the presidential 
pardon.  In their view, "national reconciliation" will only be 
effective through an amnesty, which would restore all civil rights 
and pave the way for their participation in future elections.  Their 
current pardons serve only to end their prison sentences, without 
fully restoring their civil rights.  Potential presidential 
candidates who could benefit most from an amnesty include Pety 
Rakotoniaina (candidate in 2006, currently interim mayor of 
Fianarantsoa), Jean Eughne Voninahitsy (candidate in 2002), and 
exiled Pierrot Rajaonarivelo (former prime minister and presidential 
candidate).  On the military side, an amnesty would allow Lt. Col. 
Coutiti, Lt. Col. Rahitso and Lt.Col. Balbine to reintegrate with 
their original regiments. 
 
¶4. (SBU) At the announcement of the first list of 28 to be released, 
the prisoners strongly denounced the HAT's allegedly 
"discriminatory" decision, and resolved to stay with their fellows 
inmates out of solidarity.  The following day, they changed their 
minds, and took release instead.  During a press conference held 
immediately after their actual release, they announced their 
allegiance to Rajoelina and their plan to hold a rally on Democracy 
Square at the same time as TIM supporters, taking advantage of their 
official authorization to hold a rally.  The first rally held on 
March 31 ended with three injuries, following a confrontation with 
TIM supporters. Rakotoniaina and Voninahitsy announced during the 
rally that they would bid farewell to former President Ravalomanana, 
and that they have already booked a room for him in the Tsiafahy 
prison.  They also "warned" Ravalomanana supporters that if these 
latter continue to have their rallies, they "will take care of 
them", although they have not to date acted on this threat. 
 
¶5. (U) The 32 prisoners who have benefited from the "presidential 
pardon" are: 
 
- Lt. Col. Jean Victor Rahitso 
- Lt. Col. Hubert Maurice Balbine 
- Jean Paul 
- Fulgence Jocelyn 
- Marson Lemiasa 
- Andrianafidisoa, a.k.a. "Gen. Fidy" 
- Jean Eugene Voninahitsy 
- Laurent Boto 
- Jean Baptiste Behavana 
- Alfred Rakotomaharonirina 
- Leon Ramanantsalama 
- Lalaina Andrianjatovo 
- Pety Rakotoniaina 
- Jean Wilson Andriantsoa Ralaikoa 
- Christian Anthony Herinirina 
- Emmanuel Razafindrazaka, a.k.a. "Bolo" 
- Etienne Rasolofotianasoa 
- Jean Fidele Marie Razafindraibe 
- Hajason Jacky Ratsimandresy 
- Solo Kajaly 
- Robson Zafy Fihaora 
- Maurice Dilimizony 
- Daniel Rajaonarivelo 
- Thodile Appolinaire Ravoavy 
- Boniface Zakahely 
- Andre Nathan Mamaso 
- Georges Felix Solonirina Ravitalahy 
- Henri Rakotomalala 
- Lt.Col. Kasimo Arona Besoa 
- Lt.Col. Felicien Randrianantenaina 
- Lt.Col. Jean Rambeloson 
- Lt. Mpanjato Randriamamonjy 
 
HIGH PROFILE PRISONERS, POLITICAL AND OTHERWISE 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Lt. Col. Assolant Coutiti graduated from the 12th class of 
the Military Academy, and was a security advisor to 2002 Antsiranana 
Governor Jean-Robert GARA.  Following the 1991-1993 crisis and 
transition he was accused of several violent crimes and imprisoned 
during the Zafy Administration (1993-1996).  After the comeback of 
Didier Ratsiraka 1996, he was pardoned and even promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and was detailed to the Antsiranana Intervention 
Force Regiment.  An international arrest warrant was issued against 
him in April 2002 for "murders and criminal association".  He is 
accused of having assassinated the local manager of a bank in Nosy 
Be, who was also a local campaign leader for then-candidate 
Ravalomanana.  He is also known for having perpetrated violence, 
tortures and killings against Ravalomanana's supporters, and for 
some cases, on Merina (highlanders) in the Northern part of the 
country in 2002.  He received two life sentences, in addition to 
tens of years of imprisonment.  He has not yet been pardoned, and 
even his move from the Tsiafahy prison to the house arrest was 
controversial.  It is believed that foot-dragging on the remaining 
group to be pardoned is due to Coutiti.  On April 4, during Andry 
Rajoelina's visit to the northern city of Antsiranana, Coutiti was 
transferred to house arrest in his "home town". 
 
¶7. (SBU) Lt. Col. Rahitso and Balbine are both close to Coutiti but 
have already been pardoned.  They did not receive the same sentence 
as Coutiti, but are known for having perpetrated similar acts of 
violence, probably at a lower scale, and also in the northern 
region.  They are widely believed to have worked together with 
Coutiti.  As they have already been released, they are feared to be 
the "hands" of Lt. Col. Coutiti, who remains under house arrest, for 
possible revenge. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Pety Rakotoniaina was a presidential candidate in 2006, and 
former Mayor of Fianarantsoa.  He was sent to jail - while he was 
Mayor - for misuse of government vehicles during an electoral 
campaign.  During Andry Rajoelina's visit to Fianarantsoa, he was 
appointed President of the Special Delegation of Fianarantsoa (PDS) 
- the equivalent of an interim mayor.  The reasoning was that "he 
was an elected mayor when he was sent to jail for political 
reasons."  Several days before his "installation" as PDS, 
Rakotoniaina's wife was appointed as a member of the High Transition 
Authority (HAT). (NOTE: Post singled out Rakotoniaina in the 2008 
Human Rights Report for possible recognition as a political 
prisoner, due to his possibly unjustified implication in a 2006 coup 
attempt, and extraordinarily long sentence of 14 years. END NOTE) 
 
¶9. (SBU) Jean Eugene Voninahitsy is a former Deputy in the National 
Assembly.  Already imprisoned by the Ratsiraka administration in 
2001 and amnestied by the Ravalomanana regime in 2002, Mr. 
Voninahitsy became a virulent opponent to President Ravalomanana. 
In 2005, he was sentenced to a two-year imprisonment for influence 
peddling.  In 2006, he was accused of complicity in a prison break 
case in Antanimora, and was sentenced to four additional years.  He 
still enjoys some popularity in the western region of Melaky. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Zakahely Boniface is a former Deputy, elected in the 
north-eastern city of Mananara Avaratra, and was a strong opponent 
of Ravalomanana.  For alleged crimes in 2002, he had eleven charges, 
including attacks on state security and public order, and burglary. 
Charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, he was also sentenced 
to 30 months of imprisonment in 2007, and was kept in the Toamasina 
prison until his "release" following the presidential pardon.  He is 
believed to still have extensive support and influence in the former 
province of Toamasina. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Gen. "Fidy" Andrianafidisoa was accused of "treason and 
attempted coup" in November 2006, following his exclusion as a 
candidate in the 2006 presidential elections.  He was eventually 
sentenced to seven years in prison.  Fidy was instrumental in 
Ravalomanana's rise to power in 2002, and is known for his ties with 
Pety Rakotoiaina in Fianarantsoa. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Gen. "Bolo" Emmanuel Razafindrazaka was "Commissaire de 
Police" and General Controller of the National Police.  He was 
accused of masterminding a plot against the President.  He was 
charged with "offences against national security and arms robbery at 
a military camp."  Media reports noted that "in October 2007, a 
group of military officers installed heavy weapons such as rockets 
launcher by Ivato landing runway.  Lacking proof to the contrary, 
they planned to shoot at the presidential plane from Brussels which 
was about to land in Ivato.  Alerted on time, Air Force One's crew 
rerouted to Mahajanga and had President Ravalomanana land there." 
¶13. (SBU) COMMENT: Many of these figures were imprisoned for valid 
 
crimes, even if they may have been selectively pursued among equally 
guilty contemporaries.  However, the release of Coutiti, Rahitso and 
Balbine in particular has received extensive media attention, and 
brings the HAT's commitment to judicial independence and rule of law 
into question.  The Ambassador is pushing a declaration by the local 
diplomatic corps expressing concern about the unjustified release of 
notorious criminals; if there is no agreement to do so, post will 
release a unilateral statement to the same effect. END COMMENT. 
 
MARQUARDT