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1 | “Resign or Else”: Portraits of Media Repression in Madagascar | “Miala fa raha tsy izany…”: Na ny endri-pamoretana mahazo ny gazety ao Madagasikara |
2 | VNR is a young journalist at one of the largest newspapers in Madagascar. | Tanora miasa ao amin'ny fanaovan-gazety lehibe iray i VNR. |
3 | When we first talked over the phone, her number was hidden and the first thing she said was to ask carefully what was the purpose of me wanting to talk to her. | Nafeniny ny laharam-pindainy tamin'ny voalohany niantsoany ahy haontaniany izay antony hitadiavako tafa aminy. Nanaiky ny hihaona tamiko, teny amin'ny toerana be mpandalo eny Anosy Antananarivo, izy sy ny namany mpanao gazety ihany koa ka eny indray no mijery toerana ahafahana miresaka malalaka. |
4 | She and another journalist friend agreed to meet with me at a busy corner of Anosy, a borough of Antananarivo, where we could decide where we could discuss freely. | Fomba fiteny fotsiny ny hoe miresaka malalaka fa sady mibitsibitsika izy mirahavavy nandritra ny ora roa niresahana no niherikerika be ihany. Sarotra dia sarotra ankehitriny izany hoe miresaka malalaka izany eto Madagasikara. |
5 | Speaking freely was clearly not in a possibility as the two journalists whispered and looked over their shoulders for the whole 2 hours we were talking. | Be loatra ny fisambotsamborana amin'ny tsy antony nandritra izay volana vitsivitsy izay, be loatra ireo olona miafina noho ny fihazana ireo mpanohitra politika. |
6 | Having a frank conversation has become very difficult nowadays in Madagascar. | |
7 | Too many arbitrary arrests have happened in recent months, too many people are still trying to escape the intense “witch hunting” of political opponents. | Efa nisy ny tatitra navoakan'ny Reporters sans frontières amin'ny faneriterena mahazo ny media eto Madagasikara. |
8 | A report on threats upon members of the media in Madagascar has already been published by Reporters Without Borders. | Mety hoe tsy hita intsony eo amin'ny lohateny lehiben'ny gazety eto an-toerana ny krizy eto Madagasikara. |
9 | The crisis in Madagascar may have vanished from the front pages of national newspapers but the reason for its disappearance is not a lack of newsworthy events to report but a systematic repression imposed on journalists trying to investigate abuses of power in the current military-backed transitional government. | Tsy milaza izany fa tsy misy intsony ny zavatra tokony hotaterina fa eo dia eo ny fangejana mahazo ny mpanao gazety raha vao misy ny fanadihadiana ataony momba ny fihoaram-pahefan'ny mpikambana eo amin'ny governemanta tetezamita, arovan'ny miaramila ankehitriny. Milaza sompirana ny iray amin'ny olana mianjady amin'ny mpanao gazety eo am-panatontosana ny asany ny mpamaham-bolongana Malagasy Cyber Observer : |
10 | Malagasy Blogger Cyber Observer hints at one of the issues faced by journalists while performing their duties: | Lasa “mpiasa” na mpitondra tenin'ny antoko na hetsika politika ny mpanao gazety any amin'ny ankamaroan'ny firenena afrikana mpiteny frantsay. |
11 | In most of Francophone African countries, journalists become the ”agents” or the ‘'spokepeople” of political movements or parties. | Nitafa tamina mpanao gazety 7 izahay nandritra ny 4 herinandro nandalovanay tany an-toerana. |
12 | Over the past 4 weeks, we have spoken to 7 journalists, most of them testifying anonymously only about investigations they were conducting and how the ensuing threats aborted the publication of the information. four of them are from print media, one from radio, one from television and one is from an online news site. | Nametraka fepetra any ankamaroan'izy ireo fa hijoro vavolombelona ry zareo rehefa tsy lazaina ny anarana sy momba azy ireo tamin'ny fanadihadiana nataony nefa norarana ny famoahana izany fanadihadiana izany. Miasa amin'ny fanaovan-gazety an-tsoratra ny efatra amin'izy ireo, amin'ny radio ny iray, amin'ny televiziona ny iray ary amin'ny famoaham-baovao an-tserasera ny iray farany. |
13 | The following article is a collection of testimonies on what journalists are going through on a daily basis and their thoughts on the current state of Journalism in Madagascar. | Angom-pijoroana vavolombelona mihitsy amin'ny andavanandrom-piainan'ny mpanao gazety sy ny fomba fijeriny amin'ny fanaovan-gazety ankehitriny eto Madagasikara ity lahatsoratra ity. |
14 | VNR explains the atmosphere in the news room now: | Notantarain'iVNR ny rivotra iainana ao amin'ny biraom-pitendrena vaovao ankehitriny: |
15 | ”TM (a friend who works for another renown daily newspaper and also a contributor to news website topmada.com) and I were reticent to come talk to you because it is increasingly difficult to know who to trust in the community. | ” Tsy nazoto ny hiresaka aminao izaho sy i TM (namana miasa amin'ny fanaovan-gazety hafa sady mpanolotra vaovao tao amin'ny topmada.com) tamin'ny voalohany satria mihasarotra ankehitriny ny mitady olona azo itokisana ao anatn'ny holafitra. |
16 | I was told two weeks ago that it was my choice if I wanted to denounce the abuse of power by the current administration but that the team will not pay for my indiscretion and that I was on my own. | Nilazana aho roa herinandro lasa izay fa safidiko samirery raha hiampanga ny fihoaram-pefy ataon'ny fitondrana ankehitriny aho, fa tsy tokony hiharan'ny vokatry ny safidiko kosa ny ekipa, noho izany dia izaho irery ihany no tompon'andraikitra amin'ny lahatsoratra soratako. |
17 | I was investigating the appropriation of a private food factory by the government to provide discounted staple products to the population. | Nanadihady ny fandrombahan'ny governemanta ankehitriny ny zava-pihinana ilain'ny mponina vokarina orinasa tsy miankina iray aho. |
18 | My chief editor comes to me and say that the journal is not to sink because of me, that if I wanted to commit career suicide, I could not drag the whole paper with me. | Nanatona ahy ny tonian'ny lahatsoratro fa tsy arendrika miaraka amiko kosa ny gazety, fa raha te-hamono ny asako aho, dia tsy (mahazo alalana) hisintona ny gazety hiara-maty amiko. |
19 | Another journalist, LA, from a different newspaper, also worked on the case. | Efa nanao fanadihadiana tamin'ity tranga iray ity ihany koa i LA, mpiasa amin'ny fanaovan-gazety hafa. |
20 | The security forces came to their news room and in no uncertain terms stated that LA was to: “resign or else”. | Niditra tany amin'ny biraon-dry zareo ny mpitandro ny filaminana dia nilaza mazava tamin'i LA fa : “miala fa raha tsy izany…”. |
21 | Neither her findings or mine were ever fully published.” | Tsy navoaka manontolo na izay nosoratako na izay nosoratany.” |
22 | TM adds: | Nanampy i TM: |
23 | “ Topmada.com has been a fairly successful news website, compiling reports from journalists like myself in a real time manner. | “ Nahombiazana haingana dia haingana tokoa ny vohikalam-baovao Topmada.com, izay namoaka haingana dia haingana ny vaovaon'ny mpanao gazety toa ahy. |
24 | It was updated twice a day since the beginning of the crisis but the owner's family was recently threatened so it has not published a new article since early June. | Namoaka vaovao in-droa isan'andro izy hatramin'ny nanombohany tamin'ny ankapobeny saingy tratran'ny fandrahonana ny tompony, vao tsy ela akory izay, ary dia tsy namoaka vaovao intsony izy hatramin'ny fanombohan'ny volana jona. |
25 | I have submitted articles several times but was told no to bother writing anymore.” | Nandefa lahatsoratra matetika aho saingy nilazana aho tsy hisasatra foana intsony.” |
26 | Understandably, most of them did not want the names of their workplaces revealed. | Mazava loatra fa tsy nanaiky ny hampisehoana ny anarany na ny gazety iasany ny mpanao gazety. |
27 | One of them, Evariste Ramanantsoavina, ex-journalist for Radio Mada, did not care for anonymity anymore since his name was already dragged in the public eye. | Fa tsy niraharaha ny hiafin'anarana intsony ny iray amin'izy ireo dia i Evariste Ramanantsoavina, mpanao gazety tao amin'ny Radio Mada teo aloha rehefa notaritaritina ampahibemaso ny anarany. |
28 | He explains the circumstances of his arrest on May 5th, why he was freed and his perspective on journalism during the crisis: | Notantarainy ny fandehan-javatra tamin'ny nisamborana azy tamin'ny 5 mey, sy ny fomba nahafahany ary ny fomba fijeriny momba ny fanaovan-gazety mandritra ny krizy: |
29 | formerly jailed journalist of radio mada via http://pakysse.wordpress.com | Ilay mpanao gazety tao amin'ny radio mada nogadraina. sary: http://pakysse.wordpress.com |
30 | “ I am a mere sports radio journalist. | “ Mpanao gazety ara-panatanjahantena tsotra aho. |
31 | At the height of the crisis in March, no one would come to work at radio mada anymore so I was left alone to mane the radio. | Nandritra ny fotoana nampamaivay ny krizy tamin'ny volana marsa dia tsy nisy intsony ny olona nandeha niasa tao amin'ny radio mada hany ka niasa irery aho hatreo. |
32 | I would read bulletin that were sent to me by the producers, most of them heavy on communique from former president Ravalomanana. | Namaky ny vaovao sy fanambarana nalefa tamiko aho ary ny ankamaroan'ny dia avy amin'ny filoha teo aloha Ravalomanana. |
33 | I am an old man with health issues so by mid-April, I had to take a leave from radio mada. | Efa antitra sy taizan'aretina aho hany ka tsy maintsy nisintaka kely ny radio mada tamin'ny tapaky ny volana avrily. |
34 | I heard that the new government was looking for me because I allegedly taught people how to make Cocktail Molotovs and throw them at armed forces on the radio. | Naheno aho fa nikaroka ahy ny mpitondra vaovao satria nampianatra ny olona hanao Cocktail Molotov sy hitoraka azy ireny amin'ny mpitandro ny filaminana hoe aho tao amin'ny radio. |
35 | That is just a blatant lie. | Lainga marivo tototra io. |
36 | I was not working anymore at the time of the alleged accusation as I was in Antsirabe, getting treatment. | Tsy niasa intsony aho tamin'ny fotoana nilazana ho nisian'izany fa efa tany Antsirabe nitsabo tena. |
37 | As a matter of fact, after they arrested me, the judge found that there was not enough evidence to those charges and I was released. | Rehefa nosamborina aho dia hitsan'ny mpitsara fa tsy ampy ny porofo hitanana ahy dia noafahana aho. |
38 | I thought of hiding for my family's sake when I heard the rumors. | Nieritreritra ny hiafina aho hiarovako ny ankohonako rehefa nahare ny tsahotsaho. |
39 | However, I figure I had nothing to hide and I am too darn old to keep running away so I decided against it. | Saingy nihevitra aho fa tsy misy antony hanaovako izany sady efa antitra koa ny tena hahafahana mandositra. |
40 | The part that saddens me is that many of my colleagues wrote about my arrest without even asking for my point of view. | Ny tena nampalahelo ahy dia ny nosoratan'ny mpanao gazety namana momba ny nisamborana ahy tsy nakany ny fomba fijeriko akory. |
41 | I was treated well in prison but I cannot say more about my imprisonment because there are more people still in prison. | Nokarakaraina tsara aho tany am-pigadrana saingy tsy afa-miteny ny mihoatra izay satria mbola maro ny any am-ponja. |
42 | One day I will write about all of this but not now, the time is not right yet. | Mbola hanoratra ny momba izany rehetra izany aho fa tsy mbola fotoanany aloha izao. |
43 | I am grateful that some of my colleagues started a strike when they heard of my arrest and that bloggers wrote about it. | Ankasitrahako indrindra ny nataon'ny mpanao gazety namana sasantsasany nanao fitokonana rehefa nahare ny nisamborana ahy sy ireo mpamaham-bolongana nanoratra momba iny raharaha iny. |
44 | After Malagasy people, truth has been the second most offended victim during the crisis. | Aorian'ny vahoaka malagasy dia ny marina no tena voa mafy indrindra nandritra ny krizy. |
45 | People would just write anything as long as it serves their interests.” | Nisy manko ny nanoratsora-poana rehefa izay hahazoany tombotsoa.” |
46 | Not everyone agrees on the reason for information retention and the seemingly lack of punch of a few members of the media. | Tsy mitovy ny hevitry ny besinimaro amin'ny antony hitazonana ny vaovao tsy hivoaka sy ny mahatonga ny sasantsasany ao amin'ny media ho tsy dia taitra loatra. |
47 | MMR, chief editor of a daily newspaper and a weekly magazine, has been in the journalism business for 25 years. | Talen'ny gazety mivoaka isan'andro iray sy mivoaka isan-kerinandro iray sady efa niasa tamin'ny fanaovan-gazety nandritra ny 25 taona i MMR. |
48 | He remembers the golden age of journalism in Madagascar, right after independence. | Nahatsiaro ny fotoana nampamirapiratra ny fanaovan-gazety teto Madagasikara, fony vao naverina ny fahaleovantena, izy. |
49 | He asks: | Manontany izy hoe: |
50 | “ Do those people you interviewed still consider themselves the 4th power ? | “ Mbola mihevitra ny tenany ho hery fahaefatra ihany ve ry zalahy ireo ? |
51 | What a travesty. | Mampihomehy. |
52 | The independence of journalists has been an issue for a long while now. | Efa ela no notandindonin- doza ny fahaleovantenan'ny fanaovan-gazety. |
53 | It has just been exposed in greater details during the crisis. | Vao niboraka hatramin'ny antsipiriany izany nandritra ny krizy. |
54 | Can anyone say that they are fully confident about the news they hear or read anymore in Madagascar ? | Misy afa-miteny ve fa matoky tanteraka ny vaovao vakiany amin'izay mitranga eto Madagasikara ? |
55 | There are many reasons for such a decline but no one wants to discuss it. | Maro ny antony nahavery izany fitokisana izany saingy tsy nisy ny te-hiresaka momba azy io. |
56 | There was a time when journalists played their roles of safeguard for democracy in Madagascar in the 60's. | Nisy ny fotoana nanatontosa ny andraikitra maha-mpiaro ny demaokrasia azy ny mpanao gazety nandritra ny taompolo 60. |
57 | That epoch is way past us now. | Efa dify tanteraka izany fotoana izany ankehitriny. |
58 | Consider this, I am the chief editor of two gazettes and I recieve 1.2 millions ariary (about $618/month). A new journalist receives about $320/month, that is quite limiting considering the increased cost of living. | Saino izao, talen'ny famoahan'ny gazety roa aho ary mandray 1.200.000 ariary isam-bolana (tokony ho $618 isam-bolana). mandray eo ho eo amin'ny $320 isam-bolana io ny mpanao gazety vaovao, ary antonony tsara izany raha jerena ny fiakaran'ny vidim-piainana. |
59 | Additionally, a journalist is hard press to have what we know here as a vady asa ( a 2nd job) because being a reporter is too time consuming. | Ankoatra izany, sarotra ho an'ny mpanao gazety ny hanana vadin'asa satria maka fotoana be dia be ny fanangonam-baovao. |
60 | Given those conditions, one can understand if not only they don't want to put their jobs in jeopardy but that a few journalists may consider sitting on a few critical information for under-the-table deals. | Noho izay toerana misy azy izay dia tsy te-hampidi-doza ny asany ry zareo fa misy aza mpanao gazety vitsivitsy no mitaky vola ho sandan'ny fanginany rehefa mahita vaovao mety hanohintohina ka dia mandeha amin'izay ny resaka ambany latabatra. |
61 | Still, journalism is supposed to be about more than just a mean for living, and that notion got lost in the reality of politics in Madagascar for some times now”. | Nefa, tokony hitoetra ho mihoatra ny maha-foto-pivelomana azy ny fanaovan-gazety saingy very tsy hita intsony moa izany eo amin'ny sehatryny tontolo politika eto Madagasikara ankehitriny”. |
62 | Still, stories of direct repression of freedom of press abound during the crisis from both sides of the political spectrum. | Na izany aza dia maro ny trangam-panohintohinana ny fahalalahan'ny gazety ary samy manao izany ny roa tonta mpifanandrina politika. |
63 | RL, reporter at MaTV, a national tv station who already tragically lost reporter Ando on February 7th, recalls the day armed forces stormed their news room without a mandate to look for incriminating footage of excessive use of firearms by soldiers. | Nahatsiaro ny andro nidiran'ny miaramila ny birao fiasan'ny MaTV tsy misy taratasy fahazoan-dalana ny mpanao gazety RL miasa ao hikaroka sary mampivandravandra ny fampiasan'ny miaramila basy tafahoatra. |
64 | Commander Charles Andrianasoavina, notorious for threatening to shoot foreign diplomats, among others US Ambassador Niels Marquardt on March 17th, asked the MaTV team to quit reporting or posting photos of soldiers or they would close the tv station: LR: | Nilaza tamin'ny ekipan'i MaTV ny Komandà Charles Andrianasoavina, ilay nalaza tamin'ny fandrahonana ny diplaomaty vahiny tamin'ny 17 marsa ka anisan'izany ny masoivoho amerikana Niels Marquardt, tsy hamoaboaka sary miaramila intsony fa raha tsy izany dia akatony ny televiziona: LR: |
65 | “ this story is neither new or secret. | “ Sady tsy sambany no tsy tsiambaratelo io tantara io. |
66 | Everyone knows soldiers stormed the building and took some of our materials under the pretense of an investigation. | Fantatry ny rehetra fa nanemitra ny trano ny miaramila ary nandray ny antotan-taratasy sy fitaovana sasantsasany nolazainy fa hanaovana fanadihadiana. |
67 | Beside the TV channel, we also publish a print only gazette called “Ma Laza” and since the soldiers' visit, no one here signs articles with their real names.” | Ankoatra ny fantsona TV manko dia mamoaka gazety an-tsoratra antsoina hoe “Ma Laza” ihany koa izahay ary hatramin'ny nandalovan'ny miaramila dia tsy nisy intsony ny nanasonia tamin'ny tena anarany.” |
68 | However, the issue of military repression is not limited to journalists. | Tsy amin'ny mpanao gazety ihany no mihatra ny faneriterena ataon'ny miaramila. |
69 | The following journalists have had specific stories about abuse of power, witch hunt and arbitrary arrest that they just cannot publish themselves. | Ireto mpanao gazety manaraka ireto dia manana tantara manokana momba ny fihoaram-pahefana, fanenjehana sy fisamborana noho ny tondro-molotra, nefa tsy azon'izy ireo navoaka izany. |
70 | DN, a veteran of journalism in Madagascar, was following the arrest of Heriniaina Razafimahefa, executive director of ALMA, Asa Lalana Malagasy, a business unit belonging to former president Ravalomanana. . | Nanaraka ny fisamborana an'i Heriniaina Razafimahefa, tale mpandrindra ny ALMA, Asa Lalana Malagasy, orinasan'ny filoha teo aloha Ravalomanana ny mpanao gazety zokiolona DN. |
71 | He was arrested on June 16 on charges of embezzlement and improper use of public funds. | Nosamborina tamin'ny 16 joonamanko io tale io satria nolazaina ho nanodikodim-bola sy nirobaroba tamin'ny volam-bahoaka. |
72 | He learned that Mr Razafimahefa was denied familial visitation rights three weeks ago and that he has not been heard of since then. | Ren'i DN fa tsy nahazo alalana ny hitsidika azy ny fianakavian'Atoa Razafimahefa telo herinandro lasa izay ary tsy nandrenesam-baovao intsony ny momba io rangahy io hatramin'izao. |
73 | Similar stories about former staff members of Marc Ravalomanana being harassed and racketed by soldiers are legions. | Maro ny tantara mitovitovy amn'izany amin'ireo niara-niasa tamin'ny filoha (teo aloha) Marc Ravalomanana rahodrahonan'ny miaramila sy angalany vola. |
74 | TA, a free lance journalist, learned that homes of close relatives of former head of MAP, a Ravalomanana supported project, were raided and that his brother was chased down by soldiers in the vicinity of Antananarivo before he could escape the country. | TA, mpanao gazety free lance koa dia nahare fa misy manafika ny tranon'ny mpiandraikitra voalohan'ny MAP, tetikasan-d Ravalomanana ary nenjehin'ny miaramila nanodidina an'Antananarivo ny rahalahiny mialoha ny nilefany ivelan'ny tanindrazana. |
75 | Much of the information was withheld from the public eye by different means whether by threats, bribes or intimidation. | Maro tamin'ireo vaovao ireo no tsy fantatry ny olona fa nafenina tamin'ny fomba isan-karazany, toy ny tamin'ny alalan'ny fandrahonana, kolikoly na fampitahorana. |
76 | Not only a culture of transparency is yet to be implemented in Madagascar but dubious information are also being thrown out in public by the administration with dubious evidence. | Tsy vitan'ny hoe tsy mbola tafajoro eto Madagasikara ny kolontsaina tia mangarahara fa mbola atosaky ny fitondrana amin'ny olona ihany koa ny vaovao mampiahiahy ny fahamarinany. |
77 | For instance, on July 21st , five names were published publicly as instigators of potential bombings in Antananarivo a few hours after the bombs were allegedly discovered. | Ohatra iray amin'izany ny famoahana ampahibemaso tamin'ny 21 jolay ny anaran'olona dimy, nambara ho atidohan'ny fametrahana baomba ao Antananarivo raha ao nolazaina fa nisy baomba hita ora vitsy mialoha io. |
78 | A lot of effort still needs to be invested in support of the independence of journalism as a safeguard for democracy in Madagascar. | Mbola maro ny ezaka tsy maintsy atao eto Madagasikara hahafahan'ny mpanao gazety hijoro, hiantohana ny demaokrasia. |
79 | There was a time when media deserved the title of 4th power. | Nisy ny fotoana mendrika nilazana izany hoe hery fahaefatra izany ny media. |
80 | One wonders if there is still time for media to recover from the ashes of the current political crisis. | Mampanontany tena ihany raha fotoanany izao hitsanganan-ko velona indray avy amin'ny lavenon'ny krizy politika misy ankehitriny. |
81 | [ Most identities have been replaced by intials for safety reasons] | [ Nosoloina Fanombohan'anarana ny ankamaroan'ny famantarana ny olona ho fiarovana ny ain'izy ireo] |