Political leaders' rhetoric on the security situation is hardening. After speaking of a "climate of psychosis," the Head of State now compares current events to "terrorism." Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, head of state, used the term "terrorism" to describe the wave of disappearances and gruesome discoveries making headlines in recent days. "This is truly unfortunate. We can no longer call this politics. It is no longer politics. This is what we call terrorism. The current situation amounts to terrorism," said the occupant of Iavoloha yesterday, while presenting condolences from himself and the government to families of one of the missing persons found dead. "Are these acts intended to show the international community, or whoever, that Madagascar is unstable?" he questioned. In recent days, disappearances and crimes sometimes targeting children and adolescents have created fear among the public. The senior officer maintains the thesis that the current surge in insecurity is caused by destabilization tactics. After speaking of a strategy to create "psychosis" on Saturday, the head of state has hardened political leaders' rhetoric by qualifying these acts as "terrorism." By linking these crimes to destabilization attempts, the government gives them political dimensions. In a Tuesday statement, Prime Minister Mamitiana Rajaonarison described the situation as a "war" against those seeking to destabilize the Refoundation. This semantic escalation in political leaders' discourse to requalify criminal acts as a major national threat could be a way to indirectly justify strengthening security measures. This hardline approach is reflected on the ground through deployment of several battalions of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS). An operational command center has also been established to develop and coordinate actions. Citizen vigilance committees are being revived. Yesterday, Colonel Randrianirina indicated that the Presidency of the Republic's Refoundation is ready to cover necessary expenses. Slippery Slope. The Executive also wants to wage battle on the digital front. "It was decided during the Council of Ministers to take measures to block websites disseminating and spreading obscene images and videos likely to disturb public order and contrary to public morality in daily life," reported the statement published by the presidential institution Tuesday. Yesterday, Colonel Randrianirina went so far as to point fingers at "certain media outlets" that allegedly had first access to information on current security cases. "Certain media outlets also raise questions by publishing reports prematurely. There are even media outlets that seem to await such events, without going so far as to say they are complicit, since they are the first to broadcast this information. One gets the impression they rejoice when a child disappears or is killed, being the first to relay these facts," he declared. The coincidence of the head of state's remarks with a wave of attacks against certain press outlets on social networks is intriguing. Seeking to have first access to information, having "scoops" in journalistic jargon, is nonetheless one of every journalist's objectives. "Our private messaging is flooded with requests to publish disappearance cases. We filter through cross-checking before any publication," explained one journalist. In the current sensitive context, reflection on the balance between the duty to inform and editorial responsibility is necessary. By blaming the press or seeking to block websites, the state touches on questions of law and freedom. The press's right to inform and citizens' right to information are at stake. There is also the question of freedom of expression, press freedom, and digital freedom. To a certain extent, this is a slippery slope. In debates, some observers fear authorities may be seeking scapegoats to validate the conspiracy thesis. In a statement published yesterday, the Antananarivo branch of the Union of Teacher-Researchers and Researcher-Teachers (Seces) asked authorities "not to settle for declarations about the supposed objectives of those allegedly behind these acts." According to Seces Antananarivo, "the population expects from the current authorities, a military authority no less, that it eradicate these facts."