Magistrates' strike halts justice

Madagascar's minister of justice was locked in negotiations with the country's magistrates on Tuesday over demands for better pay and working conditions. A stayaway by the magistrates has brought Madagascar's judicial processes to a standstill. The ministry's spokesman, Rena Ravonniandro, told IRIN that "it was still unclear" whether any progress had been made since the country's Magistrate Union (MU) appeared bent on receiving better compensation immediately. A deal reached last week between the government and the MU agreed to increase the pay of magistrates and other civil servants from the end of July, but on Monday the MU embarked on strike action, calling for immediate implementation of the plan. "The minister has told the magistrates many times that there aren't enough funds available to increase their salaries immediately. The budget for this financial year has already been approved, and it will be impossible to find extra funds to pay salaries. In July we will be in a better financial position," said Ravonniandro. The MU has demanded a 100 percent increase, arguing that current salaries were insufficient to cope with the rise in the cost of living. In 1999 the salaries of magistrates were raised to improve their performance, but reports of corruption in the judiciary have persisted. "We already have a serious backlog of cases and this is going to make it worse. According to our law, a person cannot be detained for more than 24 hrs without appearing before judge. Without anybody working, we are forced to set these people free," said Paul Andre, secretary of the defence ministry. In a bid to stem corruption, President Marc Ravalomanana raised the salaries of civil servants soon after he took power in 2001, but the MU have pointed out that magistrates were excluded from the increase.