Re: [Gecko] Madagascar & Geckos

[Robert Gundy]

That explains why they are not able to ship the animals to us. They have to worry about illegal gun and petroleum based products. I hope this blows over soon. It's a lot worse than the original two articles made it sound. Are there any contacts on the listserve in Madagascar? Can anyone here get some non news site info and/or opinions from anyone there? --- ATATBOY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Well this makes me thank GOD i am an American. > Burke > > Leann Christenson wrote: > > > I though an update on Madagascar state of affairs > was in order as it > > has effect geckos on shipments, quotas, and > smuggling, and those > > traveling there in search of geckos. Certainly > the below article > > demonstrates that travel there would not be easy. > Leann > > > > MARCH 19, 19:37 ET > > Strike Ends in Madagascar > > By MIKE COHEN > Associated Press Writer > > ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) � Workers striking > to force > Madagascar's president to step down after a > disputed election > returned to work Tuesday as the opposition said > the two-month strike > was no longer needed. > > The island nation, off the southeast coast of > Africa, has been in > political chaos and economic limbo since the Dec. > 16 elections ended > without a winner. > > The official results showed neither President > Didier Ratsiraka nor > opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana won an > outright majority and that > there should be a runoff. > > But Ravalomanana claimed the government rigged the > vote and that he > won more than 50 percent. He declared himself > president and has led > mass protests and the general strike in a bid to > force Ratsiraka to > step down. > > The opposition on Tuesday said the strike action > was no longer > necessary because they had full control over the > capital. > > Ravalomanana has seized control of the capital > Antananarivo and > installed his alternative ministers in almost all > government offices > while Ratsiraka has set up an alternative capital > in the eastern port > city of Toamasina. > > There is widespread uncertainty over who is really > in control of the > country and where the military's loyalty lies. > > Gas stations have run dry and fuel is only > available on the black > market at quadruple the normal price. > > Many factories have also ground to a standstill. > > On the outskirts of the city, local council > officials loyal to > Ravalomanana erected barricades, dragging oil > drums and planks > embedded with rusty nails across the road. They > are only letting > vehicles pass once they have been searched. > > ``We are looking for guns and gasoline,'' said > Rasolo Mananama, 40, > who oversaw a group of six youths manning the > checkpoint. > > >

Robert
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