Military no longer neutral?

Madagascan troops guarding government ministries did nothing to prevent the installation on Monday of an alternate cabinet appointed by self-declared president Marc Ravolomanana. Although the army had officially said it would remain neutral in the conflict, the lack of intervention is seen as a clear indication of military support for Ravalomanana. "The army's failure to prevent Ravalomanana's appointees from entering government ministries sends a strong message to President (Didier) Ratsiraka that his grip on power is tenuous," Hussein Solomon, political science researcher at the University of Pretoria, told IRIN. Ravalomanana also declared himself chief commander of the military. President Ratsiraka imposed martial law on the capital last Thursday as the political crisis deepened. Madeleine Ramaholimihaso, who headed an independent consortium of NGOs that monitored the December election told IRIN that although the situation was tense there were no clashes reported. She added: "In some instances army troops even formed a gap to allow (Ravalomanana's) appointees to enter the building." "The gatherings in the capital, Antananarivo, were peaceful and no increased army presence was visible," she said. Opposition supporters had set up barricades and trenches throughout the city over the weekend to prevent military vehicles from entering the city to enforce martial law. Unrest in Madagascar started after Ravalomanana declared himself president nine days ago, a move that prompted concern abroad. Disputing official election results, he said he won more than half the vote in the 16 December presidential race. According to official results, however, he and Ratsiraka each won under 50 percent of the vote, making a run-off necessary. Ravalomanana, 51, has refused to take part in a 24 March run-off against Ratsiraka. Despite the relative calm in the capital, NGOs are still concerned about the security threat in outlying areas. On Sunday, in the northern town of Antsiranana, a bank director was killed and a businessman was beaten by government loyalists who suspected them of being opposition party supporters. "The biggest fear now is for opposition party supporters in the north of the island. It is easier to monitor activity in the capital, but one cannot say the same about the more rural areas," Ramaholimihaso said.