Self-defense or summary execution? The fate of four young men accused of murdering two girls in Ambohimanga continues to fuel debate. Between those defending the rule of law and the necessity of a proper trial, and those supporting vigilante justice in such crimes, positions are diametrically opposed. The crime is abominable and the murderers deserve no leniency. The parents of the two girls, their loved ones, and part of public opinion appear satisfied with the "verdict."
What really happened in Ambohimanga on Saturday morning during the crime reconstruction when the four youths were shot for allegedly attempting to seize a police weapon and flee? There is no evidence on this matter, as the scene likely occurred away from prying eyes and without witnesses. We are therefore forced to accept the police version for lack of alternatives.
The matter is settled. It is unclear if the parents of the four youths have any recourse. The damage is collateral. In the end, nobody won. Not the parents of the girls, not the parents of the young criminals, nor the law that advocates for a trial regardless of crime severity. The law completely lost its rights with the social media publication of the suspects' interrogations with faces exposed. We are accustomed to hearing that hearings are not public because investigative secrecy must be respected.
A trial would have sentenced the young murderers to life imprisonment and differentiated each person's responsibility in the killing. Even the direct perpetrators of Colonel Ratsimandrava's death, the Head of State assassinated on February 11, 1975, received only 5 years in prison after a lengthy trial and were later amnestied by Didier Ratsiraka, elected president in December 1975.
Ultimately, there is little difference between "summary executions" and popular justice. The result is the same.
Recent events show that baseless denunciation is enough for a mob to attack an unfortunate victim who ends up burned. Accused of witchcraft, a couple's romance ended when the crowd forced them to cross a large river. The woman drowned after a few meters of swimming amid public applause. This form of sentence occurred in a region where law had no authority, as police and authorities took no measures to prevent the tragedy. The spectacle is nothing to laugh about, but the spectators demanded an encore. No comment.
Sylvain Ranjalahy