Monja Jaona

Monja Jaona

Monja Jaona (September 1910 - September 3, 1994) was a Malagasy politician and early nationalist. Jaona founded the Madagascar for the Malagasy party and agitated for the downfall of the Tsiranana regime in 1972. He was also the mayor of Tulear. His son Monja Roindefo is former Prime Minister of Madagascar.

Timeline

1910 - Monja Jaona, Malagasy politician and early nationalist, was born in September at Amboasary. [much of the below information is from [1]]

1929 - At the age of 19, moved north to work on one of the large plantations there. Met Pastor Jean Vernier and became a Christian.

- Moved back south to Manambaro, where he worked for the Lutheran mission

1935 - Began his political career, fighting for the rights of peasants

1939 - Joined French Forces and while sent to France, did not arrive there, but was rather sent back to Madagascar after the Franco-German Armistice of 1940 and demobilized several months later

- Placed under house arrest first at Lake Alaotra then Manakara where, he founded the JINA in 1943.

1945 - Campaigned for Dr. Ravoahangy

1946 - Established contacts with the Mouvement Democratique de la Renovation Malgache (MDRM) [see Malagasy_Uprising#The_MDRM_uprising]

1946 - Imprisoned in September by French Colonial government due to the "Decree Cayla"

1950 - Released from prison, though still harassed by colonial administration

1955 - Settled in Tulear

1958 - Formed the Madagasikara Otronin'ny Malagasy MO.NI.MA.--Madagascar for the Malagasy--party in Tulear which he led till his death. This became a significant regional party which represented radical intellectuals and peasants from the south.

1959 - Became Mayor of Tulear, a post he held till 1961

1960 - Madagascar became independent

1971 - Claimed authorship of April 1-2 armed insurrection by impoverished peasants in Androy who were upset by corruption of government tax collectors at a time when their cattle herds were being ravaged by diseases. There were also frustrations due to the failure of the government to provide disaster relief in response to a serious drought which was followed by floods. More than 1,000 armed members of the MO.NI.MA. attacked 5 military posts in the Tulear province, resulting in 1 of the security forces killed and 11 wounded. This was quickly and harshly suppressed by the government, with 45 of the MO.NI.MA. killed, 9 wounded and 847 held for questioning.[2] Many MO.NI.MA. members were sent by cargo ship from Fort Dauphin to Nosy Lava where they were imprisoned.

1972 - Monja Jaona and the MO.NI.MA. party, which had become a left-wing opposition movement, gained the support of Tananarive's university students and urban radicals who, though MO.NI.MA. was banned by the government, led demonstrations against President Tsiranana until his fall May 1972.[3]

1977 - MO.NI.MA. left the Front National pour la Defense de la Révolution (FNDR), rejoining it in 1981, leaving it again in 1987

1982 - Monja Jaona ran against President Ratsiraka, lost, denounced results as fraudulent and put under house arrest until 1983[4]

1989 - Ran for Presidential Election again, but only received 4% of the vote

1992 - Wounded in March by police during a confrontation at Fiadanana

1994 - Died September 3 at the age of 84

References

  1. ^ Monja Jaona.
  2. ^ Madagascar Security Concerns.
  3. ^ Madagascar - Political parties.
  4. ^ Monja Jaona v. Madagascar, Communication No. 132/1982, UN Doc CCPR/C/OP/2 at 161 (1990).



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