Tiko

The Tiko agency, some months after the looting. People took every single stone (see older post to check how it was before).

L'agenzia Tiko rasa al suolo, dopo aver preso tutti i prodotti all'interno, poi il tetto, ogni singola pietra e' stata smontata (e apparentemente venduta). Qui c'e' la foto di com'era prima.

Kung Fu Coup?

From www.topmada.com:
Ultimatum de 24H lancé à Andry Rajoelina
Andry Rajoelina a fait l’objet d’un ultimatum du Maître Avoko, fils du Maître Pierre Be, des Kung-Fu Wisa. « 24 heures sans une heure de plus ou nous allons agir pour faire cesser la barbarie des Capsat. » C’est l’avertissement lancé dans la lettre qui aurait été envoyé au Président de la HAT.


Interesting ultimatum from the Malagasy Kung-Fu Master Avoko (son of Master Peter the Great in free translation from French/Malagasy) : they give the ”president” Andry Rajoelina 24 hours, or they will take action against the violence.
I like the initiative, but I’m a bit uncertain if Kung-Fu is as efficient against trigger happy soldiers with Kaleshnikovs as it might seem from some Hong-Kong movies. A bold move. But then again that’s also what we said when Rajoelina declared himself president, so who knows what might come out of it?

Kung-Fu Wisa?

sondaggio

Andiamo bene...


Un mois après sa prise de pouvoir, quelle opinion avez-vous de Andry Rajoelina ?

* Très mauvaise opinion (85,0%, 3 179 Votes)
* Mauvaise opinion (7,0%, 251 Votes)
* Très bonne opinion (4,0%, 168 Votes)
* Bonne opinion (4,0%, 148 Votes)

Nombre total de votants: 3 746 (from www.topmada.com)

Photos 2

This is the english course, electricity is no longer stable in Toliara.
Questo e' il nostro corso d'inglese, l'elettricita' non e' piu' stabile a Toliara.



How many people do you think are needed to fix a car?
Quante persone pensate occorrano per riparare un auto?




Il nostro "antipasto" di Pasqua... mmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Our starter for Easter.



Maki:


Baobab sulla pista per Andavadoka:




Non e' un effetto ottico...la parete e' inclinata.
Qui siamo con Børre e Annelise:




Questo e' il ciclone che ha sfiorato Toliara alcune settimane fa:

Photos

Here some photos from the last months (ecco alcune foto degli ultimi mesi):


Birger and Christine:




Andavadoka


Quando trovi un'auto con un guasto... la devi spostare!










La spiaggia di Ambatomilo, nord di Toliara (il posto dove Serena potrebbe aprire il baretto). Ambatomilo's beach, north of Toliara.

More troubles

Again. Yes, unfortunately it is happening again.
Yesterday the pro-Ravalomanana were demonstrating. They met a strong repression by the army: 2 people died and many are injured. The Min. of defence declared on RFI that there was no shooting... but by hearing the registration of the protests and by looking at some photos, it seems very well the opposite.
NB Toliara is calm.

More info:
in english
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8008979.stm
in french
http://www.topmada.com/2009/04/20/repression-meurtriere-de-la-manifestation-des-legalistes-photos/
http://rfi.fr/actufr/articles/112/article_80329.asp

Italiano: Ancora. Sta succedendo di nuovo. Ieri i sostenitori di Ravalomanana stavano dimonstrando, fino a quando l'esercito ha sparato: 2 morti e diversi feriti. Il Min. della difesa ha dichiarato alla radio RFI che l'esercito non ha sparato... l'audio della protesta e le foto sembrano dimonstrare il contrario.
NB A Toliara tutto e' calmo.

What now?

Trying not to think of the tragedy in Abruzzo, I put my head down in the local newspapers... and I get into a different “tragedy”: the situation in Madagascar.
Some of you asked us for an update, well, here a brief one.

As you probably know, Ravalomanana had to flee the country (he went to Swaziland to plead his case to the SADC), and Rajoelina is now the president of HAT (the high transition authority), basically the President until new elections (2010? 2011?). Many countries and international organizations have condemned the new power, labelling it as unconstitutional and speaking of coup d’etat. Supporters of the now former President are protesting in the streets of Tana, but the new power repressed some of those protests, also trough military means. Maybe forgetting the freedom of speech and democracy values, they where shouting for just few weeks ago.

In Toliara everything is calm, too calm. Restaurants and hotels are semi deserted, and tourists are basically unseen. The economy of the country is uncertain as many of the international donors froze the flow of money due to the nature of the current government. Furthermore, with this instability in the country, who is going to invest money in Madagascar? Who is going to organize an exotic and relaxing travel here?

The HAT reduced the price of the oil in the market, the prices of transport in some areas, the prices of bread. The last one came out as flop: people noticed that the bread became also smaller; making it actually more expensive for big families (those buying 1 baguette for 300Ar, now need to buy 2 baguettes at 200Ar… so 400Ar). The newspapers report the flop, but only in their 5th or 6th page. The youngest head of state in the world is in the meanwhile touring the country, making promises, and offering Zebus. We actually catch a glimpse of him parading the streets of Toliara with people flocking around him.

Going on with the newspapers reading, we can even find news about Tiko. Do you remember Ravalomanana’s private empire? The one producing and distributing milk derivates, oil, etc? Well, after the looting of the retail Tiko stores, the factory was still functioning (but not delivering) in Antsirabe. I said “was” because few days ago the factory was looted too, apparently by the military troops of a new auto-proclaimed general. Since than, Tiko is publishing adds on newspapers, reporting the “unjust” actions of HAT. According to the new power, those actions are justified, as Ravalomanana hasn’t paid taxes in the last years. Probably true. Nevertheless the HAT hasn’t said what will happen to the 3.500 employee that worked at Tiko. Nor what will happen to those transporting their products. Nor what will happen to those selling products to Tiko (milk from Fifamanor, etc.). Nor what the stores will sell now, as Tiko had the monopoly of some products in the country.

We noticed that at the Toliara famous disco, girls under 18 are numerous, seeming less scared to get checked by the police. Another “old” rule enforced by Ravalomanana, a friend told me… while waiting to see if the HAT will enforce it too entrance seems free to everyone: a small sign of a more general anarchy in the air.

Ravalomanana is gone now, however he is announcing to come back soon. We again, wait to see what will happen…

L'Aquila

This is the city where I studied for 5 years... I'm worried for the friends I haven't reached yet...

photos from www.corriere.it)










It is so sad to see those pictures. I was in panic when I heard the news, calling my friends, not getting answers... it is orrible to be far, and not being able to help.

Un abbraccio

A life in crises?

Crisis is a popular word these days. To mention a few, we are (in theory) affected by the global financial crisis, the global warming crisis, the socio-economic crisis and the political crisis in Madagascar. Affected by all these crises you should think that we live a quite tough life, but as our visitors from Norway could witness, our life is far from very tough. Except for an exceptional identity crisis or the more common “I have to run to the bathroom – crisis”, we are by no means in need of crisis management.

To say that we live a totally normal life these days is to exaggerate, since waking up to the sounds of grenades and gunshots is not a part of our daily routine. Neither is to wake up with police equipped with Kaleshnikovs and bulletproof vests, having a check point outside our house. However, a part from those incidents and the fact that we are very attentive to the news, our life is pretty normal. We have restarted our English teaching, and the students seemed very happy to have us back. Yesterday we had a conversation class, where the discussion of course was the political situation of Madagascar. Some of them are very well informed about what’s going on, others are relying on information they are getting from others. In a situation like this it is very interesting to hear all the rumors that go around, some of them quite spectacular.

The situation in the capital however, is reported to be critical. The opposition claims to control the army, and gave the president a deadline to leave his post. However, the president has made it clear that he will not do so, even after the opposition took control of prime minister’s office. So we are back to the same question we have been asking ourselves for the last two months: “What will happen next?” The president seems isolated, but how isolated is he, since he’s not leaving the presidential palace? Is the army really controlled by the opposition, or is it not that simple? We have given up on the guessing game, it’s just to wait and see…

The Americans are as usually having a bit more of a precautionary approach. The US Embassy has asked their citizens to consider leaving the country, and the substantial amount of American Peace Corps volunteers that are here, are according to our information being brought to South-Africa.

It was interesting to see the reactions of our students when we told them about the Americans leaving the country. We often get the feeling that many do not understand the gravity of the situation for the country. After a week as “tourists” we saw how difficult the situation is for the tourist business. We were basically alone in all hotels along the road between Antsirabe and Tulear. We saw businesses were people were laid off. In the magnificent National Parc Isalo, we were the only visitors that day. In Anakao, south of Tulear, three out of about 20 hotels bothered to be open. And of course, most likely, this is just the beginning…

In Tana there have been new rounds of looting just recently. The country has proved itself unable to protect private investments, making it impossible for foreign investors who used to see Madagascar as a country of opportunity. Tourists won’t come in big numbers for a long time. Another crisis is in the air…

Italiano: Una vita in crisi?

Crisi e’ una parola popolare di questi tempi. Per esempio siamo (in teoria) in piena crisi finaziaria globale, c’e’ la crisi per il cambiamento climatico, e la crisi socio-economica nonche’ politica in Madagascar... Con tutte queste crisi penserete che la nostra vita qui e’ abbastanza difficile. Invece, come hanno constatato i nostri ospiti norvegesi, il nostro quotidiano e’ lontano dall’essere complicato. Eccetto per le eccezionali crisi d’identita’: la piu’ comune “devo correre al bagno-crisi”, non abbiamo bisogno di una speciale unita’ di gestione della crisi.

In ogni caso, dire che abbiamo una vita totalmente normale in questi giorni, e’ esagerato, dato che svegliarsi al suono delle granate e colpi di fucile non e’ parte della nostra normale routine. Come non lo e’ svegliarsi e trovare la polizia armata di Kaleshnikovs e giubbotti antiproiettili per creare un posto di blocco davanti a casa nostra. In ogni caso, a parte questo tipo d’incidenti ed il fatto che siamo molto attenti alle notizie, la nostra vita e’ piuttosto normale. Abbiamo ricominciato con l’insegnamento dell’inglese, e gli studenti sono sembrati molto contenti di riaverci tra loro. Ieri facevamo conversazione in classe, e la discussione era naturalmente sulla crisi politica in Madagscar. Alcuni studenti sono molto ben informati su quello che accade, mente altri si basano piuttosto sui sentito dire. In situazioni come questa e’ molto interessante sentire tutte le voci che girano, alcune di queste sono alquanto spettacolari.

In ogni caso la situazione nella capitale appare critica. L’opposizione afferma di controllare l’esercito, e ha dato al presidente un ultimatum per lasciare l’incarico. Ciononostante, il presidente ha rifiutato di andarsene, pur sapendo che l’ufficio del primo ministro e’ ormai nelle mani dell’opposizione. Quindi torniamo a chiederci la stessa domanda che ci siamo chiesti negli ultimi due mesi: “cosa succedera’ adesso?” Il presidente sembra isolato, ma quanto e’ isolato dato che rifiuta di lasciare il palazzo presidenziale? L’opposizione controlla davvero l’esercito o ne controlla solo una parte? Abbiamo smesso il gioco del tirare a indovinare, aspettiamo per vedere...

Gli Amercani hanno come al solito in queste cose, un approccio piu’ cauto. L’Ambasciata americana ha chiesto ai suoi cittadini di lasciare il paese, ad esempio i numerosi volontari (peace corps) normalmente presenti qui, sono stati trasferiti in Sud Africa.

Vedere le reazioni dei nostri studenti alla notizia che della partena degli americani, e’ stato interessante. In quanto spesso ci sembra che molti qui non si rendano pienamente conto della gravita’ di quello che sta succedendo. Dopo una settimana da “turisti” con i nostri amici venuti a trovarci, abbiamo visto quanto e’ difficile la situazione per gli operatori turistici. Eravamo infatti praticamente soli nei vari hotels sulla strada tra Antsirabe e Toliara. Abbiamo visitato diversi posti dove il personale e’ in cassa integrazione (non pagato). Nel magnifico Parco Nazionale dell’Isalo eravamo gli unici turisti. Ad Anakao, sud di Toliara, solo tre dei circa 20 hotel, erano aperti. E naturlamente, molto probabilmente, questo e’ solo l’inizio...

In Tana recentemente ci sono stati dei nuovi furti di massa. Il Paese ha dimostrato di essere incapace di difendere gli investimenti dei privati, perdendo l’opportunita’ di attirare investimenti dagli stranieri che vedevano il Madagascar come un posto sicuro. Probabilmente i turisti non si faranno vedere per un bel po. Un altra crisi nell’aria...

Madagascar: Waiting and uncertainty follows “Red Saturday”

from http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/18010.html
By Venusia Vinciguerra and Lucien David (photo) for www. afrika.no in Madagascar | 03.03.2009



The Tiko stores are the property of Madagascar's president Ravalomanana. Many of them were looted during the unrest (Photo: Lucien David)


Antsirabe (Madagascar - Venusia Vinciguerra) - Uncertainty is now the most common feeling for the people living in Madagascar. The population, as well as the expatriates in the country, appears exhausted from the constant feeling that something big will soon happen, but then nothing seems to really happen.
Andry Rajoelina, former major of Antananarivo, proclaimed himself new head of state, and attempted to create a parallel administration and install his ministers into position. He started his “orange revolution” after president Ravalomanana closed his TV channel, VIVA TV, due to the broadcasting of an interview with the former president, Didier Ratsiraka.
The young Rajoelina called for a general strike in Antananarivo on January 26th, a strike that turned into a mass looting in the capital. The main factories and retails stores of Tiko, the president’s company, were attacked, robbed and destroyed. In addition, his TV and radio channels where destroyed, together with the national TV and radio channels, leaving most of Madagascar without broadcasts. The mass pillaging went on, destroying the few well functioning malls of the city, and emptying many rice storages, owned by privates. leaving the impression that the looting was not driven only by political intentions, but also by desperation or by opportunism.
The same escalation was witnessed the day after in other cities, as Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toliara, where Tiko storages and stores as well as rice reserves were emptied and vandalized. Looting continued over night between Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th. Reportedly about 100 people died or got injured, mostly due to accidents connected to the pillaging, while the army remained mostly an observer of the happenings. In Toliara there was a broad and massive participation, entire families carried as many rice bags as they could handle: on bikes, rickshaws, carts or on their shoulders. Also children were involved, and some made themselves thieves for a bag of orange juice, or for parts of broken toys. BIANCO, an anticorruption agency financed partly by Norway, was also vandalized: computers were stolen and sold, documents were thoroughly burned (!), and even windows, toilets, cables and roof’s components disappeared. The looting left the city of Toliara with a feeling of Wild West in the air. Stores remained closed for some days; especially those run by Indo-Pakistanis, who fear the anger of the Malagasy people against their commercial supremacy. Some goods are now scarce in the city: milk and butter, which are produced and distributed only by Tiko, but also oil is hard to find. Many foresee an increase of rice prices, the main staple for Malagasy people, and market prices for vegetables and fruits rose already.
Some weeks passed in uncertainty and apparent calmness, until Saturday 7th of February. Samedi Rouge (Red Saturday), as it is called by the Malagasy press, witnessed the shooting against the demonstrators who crossed the “red line” in front of the presidential palace in Antananarivo, making 28 victims (including a reporter), and numerous injured. A video reconstruction of the shooting is now being sold on DVDs and publicly screened in several Malagasy towns.
Ravalomanana did not recognize Rajoelina as a counterpart for negotiations in the beginning, and discharged and replaced him from his post as mayor of the capital. Predictably Rajoelina did not accept this decision, and went on to designate another replacement, leaving the city with two unelected mayors.
Finally on February 23rd, negotiations between Mark Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina started, with the assistance of representatives from the Council of Christian Churches in Madagascar (FFKM). Three meetings between the two contenders increased the hope for a peaceful solution. However, the hope diminished when the president did not personally attend the 4th meeting. Predictably Rajoelina declared the end of negotiations, and did not show up to the next meeting. Also the archbishop of Antananarivo, Odon Razanakolona, one of the facilitators, quit the negotiations, as he saw no developments. As a result, demonstration restarted, leading to two other fatalities in Fianarantsoa. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed the former foreign minister of Mali, Tiebilé Dramé, as facilitator, and asked the archbishop to rejoin the negotiations.
The consequences of this political instability are numerous. Among others, the crisis of the tourism market, with nearly 100% cancellations, and 50% workers sent home according to the FHORM (Fédération des hôteliers et restaurateurs de Madagascar), and the Malagasy National Tourism Office, who made an official declaration asking the parties to quickly find an agreement. Another immediate consequence is the delay of the start of the new university year, with even the risk of a year cancellation due to lack of security (L’express de Madagascar, 28.02.2009).
Many are tired of the president’s actions, denouncing him of focusing on his own interests over those of the population. At the same time, it is not clear if the young businessman and former DJ Rajoelina will be the answer. It seems like the ex-major will continue his efforts to remove the president; but after the last events in Antananarivo, his popularity seems uncertain. Many see in this situation a repetition of Ravalomanana’s struggle to take the power from Didier Ratsiraka in 2002. However, there is a core difference: in 2002 the two contenders where conflicting over a contested election, while Rajoelina’s current request is not related to any electoral event.
Finally, this contest involves two merinas (the ethnic group of the highlands), and might not seem a fair play to the coastal population, who would like to see their ethnicities well represented, maybe by a president.
Uncertainty spreads in Madagascar, people wait.

Calvin (Andry TGV) and Hobbes (Ravalo)?

shall we translate it in malagasy and make flyers of it?







Grazie Silvia Jun per la striscia.

- What is going on?

First of all, things seem to be more and more back to normal for most people in Madagascar. However, there are at least two people that are not living a normal life these days. The two main characters in this "wanna be democratic and non-violent coup d'etat like situation" are not doing anything that we find normal, considering the situation. As soon as we feel that we understand some of the motivations behind their actions, they go out and do something unpredictable.

The self-proclaimed president/ex-mayor, yesterday finally achieved one of his main goals, to physically install his "ministers" in four of the ministries. If he achieved this because he asked wifes and children of militaries to go in front of his supporters, I don't know (he actually didn't show up himself). According to reports, the presence of young girls dressed in orange (Orange Revolution, like in Ukraine) with mini-skirt (tbc), where especially noticable in front of the protestors. As could be expected, the military forces were so stunned by this move that they let the croud enter the empty ministry buildings.

The first one to take office as a "Minister" was our old friend from our troubled visa days, mr. directeur de Cabinet (see earlier blogpost) in the Ministere de l'Interieure. But our promoted friend didn't really last long. After the "orange movement" had celebrated their victory during the evening, the Ministries were once again brought back into the control of the president, by the help of the army.

While all this is going on, the negotiations between the two parties are apparently making some progress. The situation is getting more and more confusing. There could be a solution tomorrow, but more likely 6 months is a better guess. The good thing is that the violent conflict doesn't seem to be escalating. If any of the parties is seeming to gain support, it's the president's. However, at the moment none of them seems to have a high standing among the people. And for what these two are doing to the country, I totally understand them.
Get over with it - and let the people live their normal life!

(Forced) stay in Antsirabe

We are in the very nice town of Anstirabe. It is a mountain city at about 3h south of the capital Antananarivo. Here it’s summer, but the temperature is a lot lower than in Toliara. We arrived here on our attempt to go to Tana to receive our long awaited guests. As most of you know, they had to postpone their trip, and we stopped in Antsirabe (also to get some medical controls). We got welcomed by rain (it is the season now) and chilli temperature…especially for us, used to the torrid south. Against us, the fact that we came not well equipped for this fresh welcome, and could only go around with sandals and shorts. But the sun shines in most of the mornings, and with no interruption for the last two days, showing all the beauty of this city, founded by Norwegians (!).
Yes, because Antsirabe has very little of the dusty south, with low buildings. Here the houses remind the British cottages; they are built in red bricks with dark wooden floors, and have balconies and flourishing gardens. We often walk around with wide open eyes, dreaming of living in one of those. Here it is also possible to find a lot of vegetables and fruits, fresh and tasty, not to mention all the different home made cheeses, garnished with flowered spices…

But (there is a but), lately living in Antsirabe seems a bit harder. Tourists are lacking, due to the current political instability, and vendors are getting desperate. Some of them spot you from distance and offers 10 even 20 necklaces for 2 or 3 euro. We can see they need cash, and they are afraid things will get worst… we buy from some, but we can’t buy from all of them. When we go for a walk, we feel obliged to take street with fewer vendors not to get surrounded. It is sad to see, and as them we fear it might get worst.
We hope people will soon be able to enjoy again this beautiful town of Madagascar.

Bad news from Toliara

First of all: me and Birger are in Atsirabe. We're 3h south of the capital, and many hours north of Toliara. Here is so far calm. We're at the Norwegian missionary station, and we feel safe.

Yesterday afternoon (12/02/09) I got a phone call from the Italian embassy, Pretoria, South Africa. They called me because they new I am in Antsirabe, and the told me to stay here and absolutely not go back to Toliara. While talking with them, I got an sms. It was from Christine, the director of the Alliance Françoise who lives in our building in Toliara. She wrote that: looting restarted, and they (her and her son) were stuck in their flat. Esterel, an Italian neighbour restaurant, ran by a couple of friends, was attacked the evening before. Worried I called one of the two owners of Esterel. Instead I got answered by another person who spoke first Malagasy and then French to me. I asked of my friend, and with a rather scary tone I was answered that he was my friend from now! So, I called the other restaurant owner. He answered. The evening before someone attacked the restaurant, and his colleague, with a gun at his head, was forced to give away all his stuff, including passport. They haven't made it home, but to a safe place nearby, where other people also gathered. He said that the people attacked the stores owned by the karana (the Indo-Pakistani) and that the army was trying to protect the stores in the centre, with shooting and grenades. They had no phone credits left, but they were in contact with the embassy in Pretoria. Then I called Christine, she was home with her son, understandably worried. Our building is practically empty, only her, her son and a German-French couple are there now. Furthermore, our landlord is a karana as well. Anyway, it should be a safe place. It is the first time we hear of a vazaha place being attacked, and we hope it will not continue. We hardly find news on the internet, but we hope the situation will soon calm down.

I repeat: here in Antsirabe is totally calm.

Update: I spoke with some people from Toliara this morning (13/02/09), it is calm now (11.30AM), people are out.


Italiano: Prima di tutto: io e Birger siamo in Antsirabe. A 3 ore a sud della capitale e molte ore a nord di Tolira. Qui tutto e’ calmo. Siamo alla missione norvegese, al sicuro.
Ieri pomeriggio (12/02/09) mi ha telefonato l’ambascita italiana da Pretoria, Sud Africa. Sapevano che siamo ad Ansirabe, e mi hanno detto di restare e assolutamente di non tornare a Toliara. Nello stesso momento ho sicevuto un sms di Christine, direttrice de l’Alliance Françoise che vive nel nostro stesso tabile a Toliara. L’sms diceva che: furti e sommosse reano ricominciate, che lei e suo figlio erano bloccati nell’apprtamento, e che l’Esterel un ristorante italiano gestito da amici che si trova di fronte a casa nostra era stato attaccato la sera prima. Preoccupata ho chimato uno dei due gestori, ma mi ha risposto qualcuno in malgascio prima ed in francese poi. Ho chiesto del nostro amico ma ho ricevuto una risposta sarcastica, che diceva che da ora era lui il nostro amico. Quindi ho chiamato l’altro collega, che ha risposto. Mi ha detto che la sera prima qualcuno ha attaccato il ristorante e il suo collega, che con una pistola puntata contro ha docuto consegnre tutto, persino il passaporto. Non sono poi riusciti a tornare a casa, ma hanno trovato riparo in un posto sicuro li vicino, insieme ad altre persone. Per telefono mi ha anche detto che la folla ha tentato di attaccare i negozi dei karana (Indo-Pakistani), ma che l’esercito provava a difenderli sparando colpi di fucile e granate. Mi ha poi detto che erano rimsti senza credito telefonico ma che erano in contatto con l’ambasciata. Ho quindi chimato Christine, che era a casa con suo figlio, e comprensibilmente preoccupta. Il nostro stabile e’ al momento praticmente vuoto, solo lei, suo figlio ed una coppia franco-tedesca e’ li adesso. E’ la prima volta che sentiamo di un’attivita’ vazaha attaccata, e speriamo non sia la prima di molte. Non troviamo news su internet, ma speriamo che la situazione si calmi.

Ripeto: ad Ansirabe e’ calmo.

Aggiornamento: Ho parlato con delle persone a Toliara questa mattina (13/02/09), tutto e’ calmo al momento (11.30AM), le persone circolano liberamete.

The conflict escalates in Antananarivo

As many of you probably have seen in the news, things have not at all calmed down in Madagascar. Saturday, after a big rally in the capital, the crouds decidided to storm the President's palace, with the result that the police started to fire shots into the croud...

Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7876543.stm

We were in fact on our way to the capital to meet our friends that were suppose to come to visit us from Europe, but after the dramatic event, they were forced to cancel/postpone.

We had a rather strange journey north from Tulear. Having a real malagasy experience with a Taxi Brousse that went "en panne" after 1 1/2 hours drive, leaving us on the side of the road for several hours until we were able to hitch a ride with a car that passed. We stopped in Antsirabe, which is 3 hours south of Tana. We are staying at my old school. It will be very interesting to see what happends the next days... The conflict will surely continue in Tana, and we fear that it will spread to other cities as well.

We'll keep you updated on the situation.