Two Radio Fahazavana journalists detained over alleged involvement in mutiny
Didier Ravoahangison and Lolo Ratsimba are accused of involvement in “acts of political destabilisation” and have been detained in Antanimora prison since 8 January.
Growing threat to news media from political tension
Several journalists have been harassed in recent weeks and a website was mysteriously blocked.
Radio Mada reporter freed after two weeks in detention
Reporters Without Borders welcomes Radio Mada reporter Evariste Ramanantsoavina’s release on 20 May 2009. He had been held since 5 May.
Detained Radio Mada reporter charged and transferred to prison
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by the 7 May 2009 decision to keep Radio Mada sports reporter Evariste Ramanantsoavina in detention and charge him with “inciting revolt against the republic’s institutions, defamation and disseminating false information.” He was arrested on 5 May and forced to reveal the location from which the radio was […]
Media under attack one month after new president installed
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns the return of censorship to Madagascar in the form of orders to the state-owned media not to cover opposition demonstrations. The press freedom organisation is also worried by the closure of Radio Mada, a station that supports former President Marc Ravalomanana, and acts of vandalism against other pro-Ravalomanana […]
More journalists attacked, five newspapers cease publishing as political crisis continues
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has expressed its renewed concern after five newspapers stopped publishing and several journalists were threatened and physically assaulted during the political upheaval of the past few weeks. The media has become the prisoner of a hostile climate for press freedom since the start of the power struggle between the president, […]
Viva broadcaster raided by security forces, several other media outlets face broadcasting challenges during political crisis
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 10 March 2009 CPJ press release: MADAGASCAR: Media outlets raided during political crisis New York, March 10, 2009 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Saturday’s ransacking of a TV and radio broadcaster by security forces in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. The raid was part of ongoing […]
Reporter Ando Ratovonirina fatally shot while covering anti-government demonstration as security forces open fire on protestors
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is shocked to learn that Ando Ratovonirina of privately-owned Radio et Télévision Analamanga (RTA) was shot dead while covering an anti-government demonstration outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo on 7 February 2009. The 25-year-old reporter and cameraman was among the scores of people who were killed or wounded when security […]
Government closes TV station owned by political rival
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the government’s closure of Viva TV on the night of 13 to 14 December 2008, after the station broadcast a message by former president Didier Ratsiraka. The authorities accused the station, owned by the mayor of Antananarivo, of broadcasting statements liable to “disturb public order and security.” Ratsiraka has […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: Madagascar
Freedom of the Press 2007: Madagascar
RFI correspondent forced to leave the country after government refuses to renew his work permit
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 27 May 2005 letter to President Marc Ravalomanana, CPJ expressed concern that Olivier Péguy, a correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI) and several other international news organizations, was forced to leave the country on 22 May after the government refused to renew his work permit. Péguy, who had been reporting from […]
Newspaper director, journalist given one-month prison sentence in defamation case
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is an 11 May 2005 WAN letter to Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana: His Excellency President Marc Ravalomanana Madagascar 11 May 2005 Your Excellency, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries, to express our serious concern […]
Publication director handed down prison sentences in three separate libel cases
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested three prison sentences handed down in separate libel cases, on 1 March 2005, to Lola Rasoamaharo, publication director of the independent daily “La Gazette de la Grande Ile”. Rasoamaharo remains free, pending appeal. “We are extremely worried by these court decisions, which pave the way for greater pressure on the […]
Three radio stations closed indefinitely
(RSF/IFEX) – Three privately-owned radio stations in the port city of Toamasina, on Madagascar’s eastern coast, have been closed by government authorities after broadcasting statements by opposition figures. Radio Ny Antsika (RNA), Sky FM and Radio Feon’i Toamasina (RFT) have been off the air since 10 December 2004. The stations’ management has been summoned to […]
Opposition radio station closed
(RSF/IFEX) – On 28 June 2004, Communications Minister Clermont Gervais Mahazaka ordered the closure of Radio Say for “broadcasting false news, defamation and insults against the speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the government, and breach of operating terms and conditions”. Located in Tulear, a coastal city in southern Madagascar, Radio Say […]
Private radio station suspends programming, threats and pressure against the media continue
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 10 April 2002 RSF press release: RSF asks that the two protagonists of the present crisis – Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana – do everything to ensure that journalists can continue to work securely and freely in the country. RSF urges the two political leaders to call upon their […]