More grenade attacks as govt tries to keep prices down

Madagascar's defence ministry on Wednesday downplayed concerns that a spate of grenade attacks on government-linked targets was threatening to destabilise the giant Indian Ocean Island. The latest explosion occurred during the weekend at the home of a government official in the eastern province of Toamasina. Three more attacks occurred at the regional headquarters of President Marc Ravalomanana's Tiko dairy company and a Tiko warehouse, defence ministry spokesman Paul Andre confirmed. "Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the buildings were damaged. The police have already begun their investigations but, as yet, we have not arrested anybody," Andre told IRIN. Since late June political and business associates of Ravalomanana have been targeted by a series of similar attacks, but officials have remained tight-lipped over possible suspects. Andre, however, said a former military officer was arrested and charged following a grenade attack in July this year on the home of Bernard Randriantiana, the mayor of a small village in the southeastern province of Toliara. "Apart from that officer, we suspect that there are many others who are involved in this vendetta against the government. There is an ongoing enquiry to find out exactly who is behind such actions," Andre said. Since January Ravalomanana's government has been the focus of demonstrations by army reservists demanding better compensation for their role in the 2002 political crisis. During one such protest in June, a reservist injured himself and 22 other people, including three policemen, when he exploded a grenade. Observers have said the recent unrest is linked to growing frustration over rising prices and in recent months rampant inflation has brought hundreds of people onto the streets in protest. The latest concern has been the hike in rice prices, which jumped to 6,500 Malagasy Francs (Fmg) (66 U.S. cents) a kg from Fmg 4,500 a week ago. The rapid rise has been attributed mainly to consecutive cyclones that destroyed rice crops, a sharp depreciation of the local currency, and climbing oil prices that have pushed up transport costs. In August the Malagasy authorities bought some 25,000 mt of rice from Pakistan at a subsidised rate to alleviate some of the pressure, but it has proven insufficient. More rice was reportedly being imported from Thailand and the selling price would be capped, preventing wholesalers from selling it at higher rates. Political analyst Desire Ramakavelo noted: "Unless the government resolves the high costs of basic commodities, we are likely to see more attacks ... I don't think the intention is to destabilise the country, but people want to alert the authorities to their hardships." There were concerns over the widespread availability of light weapons following the 2002 political struggle between Ravalomana and former president Didier Ratsiraka which saw the country split into two.