Mai McConnell's List: MUN

• the U.S.
• Japan and Singapore.

• Madagascar ratified the Optional Protocol on 22 September 2004, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on 30 March 2005.3

• Malagasy francs per US dollar - 7,150 (2004)

• Refusal to enlist and to perform national service was an offence under the  Enlistment Act, punishable by a fine, imprisonment of not more than three years,  or both.7 At least 14 conscientious  objectors were imprisoned between 2004 and 2006, and others continued to serve  prison sentences; all were members of the banned Jehovah’s Witness religious  group. No alternatives to military service were offered.8

• All three branches of the Self-Defence Forces (ground, maritime and air)  operated youth cadet programs for lower-secondary-school graduates.8 Cadets from the age of 15 received  secondary-school education, basic military training and training to become  technical specialists in the armed forces. According to the government they were  not deployed on front lines and not expected to engage in hostilities, even in  the event of an emergency.9 They were,  however, considered to be adopted as members of the Self-Defence Forces.10

• 25 were children and that too below 15 years of age
• At least four of them are just 11 or so. It seems younger and younger children in Somalia are being pushed into piracy, which is proving immensely lucrative in the lawless country...the established pirates, who have got rich, are no longer sailing out on raids."

• Years compulsory--5

  • low education! These people aren't required to go farther than 5th grade.
• Republic.
• Executive--president, prime minister, cabinet. Judicial--Supreme Court, High Court of Justice, Constitutional High Court. Legislative--National Assembly and Senate.
• The United States characterized the transfer of power as tantamount to a military coup d’etat and does not recognize the HAT. References to de facto government officials in this text are factual only and do not reflect U.S. recognition of the HAT regime.
• military coup d'etat

  • So is it now a dictatorship?
• There is currently no legitimate sitting president in Madagascar.
• Following the 2009 coup d'etat, the Malagasy National Assembly and Senate were dissolved by the de facto authorities. Thus, there is currently no legitimate legislative body in Madagascar.
• Decentralization is an ongoing process, and has been a key element of Madagascar's development plans.
  
• Ambassador to the U.S.--vacant
• Ambassador to the UN--Zina Andrianarivelo-Razafy
• Madagascar maintains an embassy in the United States at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-265-5525).
• ith a deteriorating economy, mass demonstrations, and crippling general strikes, the limited economic and political reforms Ratsiraka enacted were insufficient to placate a growing opposition movement known as Hery Velona or "Active Forces.
• The resulting "Panorama Convention" of October 31, 1991, stripped Ratsiraka of nearly all of his powers, created interim institutions, and set an 18-month timetable for completing a transition to a new form of constitutional government
• despite efforts by pro-Ratsiraka "federalists" to disrupt balloting in several coastal areas.
• President Ravalomanana signed power over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, the elected mayor of Antananarivo and leader of the demonstrations. Rajoelina declared himself “President of the High Transitional Authority” and pledged to hold presidential elections by October 2010 (a pledge that he did not fulfill), following a constitutional referendum and revision of the electoral code.
• The United States has condemned the unconstitutional and undemocratic change of power in Madagascar and considers the series of events of early 2009 that led to the installation of the de facto leadership to be a military coup d’etat.
• agerly rejoined the African Union (AU) in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus triggered by the 2002 political crisis, and joined the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2006
• tarting in 1997, globalization encouraged the government and President Ratsiraka to adhere to market-oriented policies and to engage world markets
• Following the 2009 coup d’etat, Madagascar was suspended from participating in AU and SADC activities until constitutional order is restored.
• have suspended assistance programs to the Government of Madagascar.
• Additionally, the AU and others have enacted certain targeted sanctions or travel restrictions on members of the HAT regime who are impeding a return to free, fair, and durable democracy in Madagascar.
• The United States considers the series of events in Madagascar in early 2009 to be a military coup d’etat and, as a result, has suspended all assistance programs that directly benefit the government as well as all non-humanitarian assistance to Madagascar. The United States’ intent is to support international efforts led by SADC and the AU to ensure that a credible electoral process takes place as soon as possible, organized by an independent entity.
• Ambassador--vacant

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