Issue and Opponent: Madagascar was only freed from French rule 12 years before this action. The president, Philibert Tsiranana, was put into power by the Senate, where his pro-French party held the majority of power. Although Madagascar was free from French rule, a minority of European foreigners controlled industry, agriculture, and exports. In the late 1960s, the economy took a downturn, falling into recession and affecting daily life. The student protests followed the farmer protests in 1971, which the opposition leader Jaona encouraged. This action was brought on by the arrest of Jaona after he attempted to oust the sitting president. The President’s reaction to the farmer protests was brutal, and the action was quickly and violently put down.
Dilemma Action: Medical students began a protest action to show their distaste for Tsiranana’s rule. They objected to his repressive tactics and his ties to their former colonizer. The demonstration included 5,000 students from the University of Antananarivo. The President closed the school and barred student organizations from meeting, except for the student group of his party, the PSD. In 1972, the demonstrations grew to an estimated 100,000 students in Antananarivo. Workers of all kinds joined in due to the economic downturn. The government was now facing a crisis because of the support the strike had gained from various groups.
Outcomes: Security forces responded to the demonstrations by throwing tear gas. Students responded by throwing rocks, and police opened fire on them. Twenty were killed, and 400 were wounded. An estimated 400 were arrested. Media attention was brought to the protest and due to this, workers organized to call for information for prisoners in Nosy Lava, which resulted in their release. After this, a state of emergency was announced, and the President dissolved his government, turning over power to the National Army. Although it was also pro-French, the army had remained neutral in the crisis and was welcomed by the people. This was part of a larger anti-Tsrianana campaign and a larger movement in post-colonial countries.