• 2009.02.03: February 3, 2009: Headlines: COS - Madagascar: Safety: Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps Volunteers in Madagascar Remain Safe [Updated]  Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 12:56 pm [1]

• 2009.02.03: February 3, 2009: Headlines: COS - Madagascar: Safety: VOA: Madagascar Says Capital Mayor Replaced  Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 12:14 pm [1]

Latest demonstration comes after a week of political protests throughout Madagascar that officials say left at least 68 people dead



Anti-government rallies turned deadly earlier in the week. Police said 44 people were killed Monday. Foreign diplomats are quoted by news agencies as saying up to 100 people have been killed in the unrest. Tensions erupted earlier this month when the government shut down a television station run by Rajoelina, a decision that was recently reversed. The international community is urging talks between the president and the mayor.

Latest demonstration comes after a week of political protests throughout Madagascar that officials say left at least 68 people dead

Madagascar Opposition Leader Declares Himself in Charge

By VOA News

31 January 2009

Caption: Madagascan soldiers on patrol in Antananarivo on January 29, 2009. The mayor of Madagascar's capital city, Andry Rajoelina, on Monday sought the removal of President Marc Ravalomanana in the wake of violent anti-government protests that left dozens dead. Photo: AFP/File/Richard Bouhet

The main opposition leader in Madagascar has made his boldest challenge yet to the nation's leadership, declaring to thousands of supporters that he is in charge of the country.

Speaking at an anti-government rally Saturday in the capital, Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina said he was now giving orders and called on the central bank not to deliver funds to the government and for ministries to close as of Monday.

No reaction to the comments was available from the government.

This latest demonstration comes after a week of political protests throughout Madagascar that officials say left at least 68 people dead.

Rajoelina, the 34-year-old mayor of the capital, led a similar protest Thursday as most businesses and schools closed down.

Rajoelina and his supporters say President Marc Ravalomanana has become too authoritarian in making decisions.

Anti-government rallies turned deadly earlier in the week. Police said 44 people were killed Monday. Foreign diplomats are quoted by news agencies as saying up to 100 people have been killed in the unrest.

Tensions erupted earlier this month when the government shut down a television station run by Rajoelina, a decision that was recently reversed.

The international community is urging talks between the president and the mayor.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2009; Peace Corps Madagascar; Directory of Madagascar RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Madagascar RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers

When this story was posted in February 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Jan 24, 2009: RPCVs March in Inauguration Peace Corps Community marches in Inaugural Parade 20 Jan Jane Albritton writes: Memories of Maury Albertson 18 Jan Sarah Chayes writes: Failing Afghanistan 15 Dec Volunteers in Guinea are Safe 23 Dec Jim Walsh reflects on 20 years of service 28 Dec Public service in Driehaus' blood 3 Jan An Interview with Kathleen Stephens 3 Jan Robert P. Cristo returns to Nigeria 4 Jan Sarah Holt makes 2,663-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail 5 Jan Zophia Kneiss is metal sculptor 11 Jan Harris Wofford is Godfather of National Service 12 Jan Melanie Edwards founds Mobile Metrix 14 Jan Jody Olsen Named PC Acting Director 16 Jan Lawrence Leamer writes: Obama betrays the Peace Corps? 18 Jan George Packer writes: Obama's Inaugural Address 20 Jan Obama going to do something great for Peace Corps 21 Jan John Bridgeland writes: Volunteer to Save the Economy 22 Jan Foy Spicer writes: Electricity as a scarcity 23 Jan Carl Pope to Step Down as Sierra Club Chief 23 Jan James Rupert writes: US Missile Attacks Kill 15 24 Jan Jeffrey Tayler writes "Murderers in Mausoleums" 25 Jan Read more stories from January 2009 and December 2008.

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Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

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PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

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