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On August 23, 2020, a mutiny broke out in Farafangana Prison on the southeast coast of Madagascar. Of the 336 incarcerated prisoners, 88 managed to escape after bringing down a dilapidated fencing wall. It was impossible for the prison staff to prevent escape: that day only three of the seven planned guards were present, and a hunt was organized at short notice in the city. During the catch, police bullets melt. In the evening, 23 killed prisoners report.
Investigations will be opened. But four months have passed and the authorities are very silent about the case. Impossible, for example, to know the identity of all the deceased prisoners. It is also difficult to access the results of the survey. A lead wipe hangs over the file.
They were called Razakaboana, Razafimahaleo or Ralista. Like 70% of Farafangana prisoners, they were still only accused, imprisoned for long months, sometimes years, and awaiting trial. On Sunday, August 23, they were shot after their escape. Sir. Charles, uncle of one of the deceased, said: “In December 2019, a month after the phone was stolen from the teacher’s cabin in the village, just like us villagers, we had not managed to raise 3 million ariary – 650 euros – in request about compensation, the teacher went to the gendarmes and accused my nephew. Such. And they came to fetch him and put him in prison. Without question marks or investigation. Ralista, he died for nothing without trial due to a violent termination. “
► To read too: Madagascar: 20 dead and fleeing a mutiny in Farafangana prison
Three days after the incident, two investigations were opened. One carried out by the criminal brigade of Fianarantsoa. The other of the Justice Department teams. Both were closed in December without the reports being published. The Minister of Justice, Johnny Andriamahefarivo, however, agreed to reveal the conclusions: “So what happened was that there was the pandemic, there was a total ban on communication with the outside world. The trials were also suspended for nine months and there was also a shortage of food. It caused stress in these prisoners, therefore the mutiny evoked. “
But contrary to the backed claims of human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, which called for an independent inquiry into the deaths of these prisoners, no inquiry has focused on the use of lethal force: “Our investigative report is limited to administrative inquiries. There have been deaths, there have been abuses, but at present the ministry has not received any complaint that could justify an investigation into the deaths. “
A senior prison official from Farafangana, who requested anonymity, justified himself: “We were surprised … We did not have time to organize because they were already on the run. There was no order or command to kill, but everyone made their own decision. Therefore, there were many deaths that day. ”
On the spot, a member of civil society is categorical: “We know very well that there was a mistake. But every institution covers its parts and no one will ever admit it. It’s omerta. ”
Despite still huge gray areas hanging over the case, improvements need to be noted. The experiments are accelerated. The 48 refugees have all been tried. The prison was cleared thanks to transfers of prisoners to the concentration camps. To date, 16 prisoners are still on the run.
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