Monja Jaona (1910–1994) was a
Malagasy politician and early nationalist who significantly drove political events on the island during his lifetime. He was a member of Jiny, a militant nationalist group formed in southern Madagascar in the 1940s that sided with
MDRM during the ultimately unsuccessful
Malagasy Uprising
The Malagasy Uprising (french: Insurrection malgache; mg, Tolom-bahoaka tamin' ny 1947) was a Malagasy nationalist rebellion against French colonial rule in Madagascar, lasting from March 1947 to February 1949. Starting in late 1945, Madagasca ...
of 1947 against French rule. The colonial government imprisoned him from 1946 to 1950 for his affiliation with Jiny. He formed the
Madagascar for the Malagasy
Madagascar for the Malagasy, political party in Madagascar, usually known as ''Madagasikara otronin'ny Malagasy'' (Monima), and as MONIMA (the abbreviation for the French name of the organization, Mouvement Nationaliste et Indépendant de Madagas ...
(MONIMA) party in 1958 and successfully campaigned for the seat of mayor in
Toliara
Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in Madagascar.
It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo.
The current spelling of the name was adopted ...
, a position he held from 1959 to 1961. He came to view president
Philibert Tsiranana
Philibert Tsiranana (18 October 1912 – 16 April 1978) was a Malagasy politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972.
During the twelve years of his administration, the Republic of Madagascar expe ...
and his
Social Democratic Party
The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology.
Active parties
For ...
(PSD) supporters as unduly favorable to continued French interests on the island after independence in 1960. Jaona instigated the 1971-72 ''
rotaka
The ''rotaka'' was a series of farmer and student protests in Madagascar between April 1971 and May 1972 that led to the collapse of the First Republic of Madagascar under President Philibert Tsiranana.
Background
Madagascar regained independence ...
'' farmer and student protests that successfully forced Tsiranana's resignation.
By the late 1970s he had become disillusioned with Tsiranana's socialist successor,
Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ignace Ratsiraka (; 4 November 1936 – 28 March 2021) was a Malagasy people, Malagasy politician and Madagascar Navy, naval officer who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002. At the time of his death, he was ...
, and transferred his political loyalties to the opposition. He ran in the presidential election against Ratsiraka in 1982 and lost by a large margin, but claimed the results were falsified and demanded a recount. He was placed under house arrest and then medical detention, while his lawyer was expelled to France. He unsuccessfully ran again in 1989. He was a leading figure in protests from 1989 to 1992 that forced Ratsiraka's resignation and the first free multiparty election in Madagascar, resulting in the election of
Albert Zafy
Albert Zafy (1 May 1927 – 13 October 2017) was a Malagasy politician and educator who served as President of Madagascar from 27 March 1993 to 5 September 1996. In 1988, he founded the National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD).
In ...
. Jaona died in 1994 at the age of 84.
Jaona's son,
Monja Roindefo
Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo (born 1965) is a Malagasy politician who was Prime Minister of Madagascar from March 2009 to October 2009. He was appointed on 7 February 2009 by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina at the head of Rajoelina's rival gove ...
, followed his father in politics and became leading opposition figure in the MONIMA party. He served as
Prime Minister of Madagascar
This is a list of prime ministers of Madagascar, since the establishment of the office of chief minister in 1828, during the Merina Kingdom.
List of officeholders
;Political parties
;Other factions
;Status
See also
* Politics o ...
from March to September 2009 immediately following the successful March 2009
coup d'état
A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...
led by
Andry Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina (Malagasy: ; born 30 May 1974) is a Malagasy politician and businessman who has been the president of Madagascar since 2019. He was previously president of a provisional government from 2009 to 2014 following a political ...
of the
Young Malagasies Determined
Young Malagasies Determined ( mg, Tanora malaGasy Vonona, or TGV) is a political movement in Madagascar. It is headed by the current President, Andry Rajoelina, who organized it prior to the Antananarivo mayoral election in 2007.
The term TGV ...
political party.
Early years
1910 - Monja Jaona, Malagasy politician and early nationalist, was born in September at
Amboasary
Amboasary Sud (Amboasary Atsimo) is a town in Anosy Region, Madagascar. It is the main town of Amboasary Sud District.
It has a population of 45,989 in 2018.
Geography
It is located at the Mandrare River, approximately 75 km from Fort Dauphin ...
.
uch of the below information is from
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
Manambaro is a rural municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Taolanaro, which is a part of Anosy Region.
It is situated at 21 kilometers on the Route nationale 13, Ihosy to Tolagnaro. Though, the bridge over the Manambaro rive ...
, where he worked for the Lutheran mission
Nationalist politician
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
Lake Alaotra ( mg, farihin' Alaotra, ; french: Lac Alaotra) is the largest lake in Madagascar, located in Alaotra-Mangoro, Alaotra-Mangoro Region and on the island's northern central plateau. Its basin is composed of shallow freshwater lakes and m ...
then
Manakara
Manakara is a city in Madagascar.
It is the capital Fitovinany Region and of the district of Manakara Atsimo.
The city is located at the east coast near the mouth of the Manakara River and has a small port.
The bridge over the Manakara River t ...
where, he founded the JINA in 1943.
1945 - Campaigned for Dr. Ravoahangy
1946 - Established contacts with the
Mouvement démocratique de la rénovation malgache
The ''Mouvement démocratique de la rénovation malgache'' ("Democratic Movement for Malagasy Rejuvenation") or MDRM was the first political party formed in French Madagascar, Madagascar, following the Brazzaville Conference of 1944, Brazzaville ...
(MDRM)
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
Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in Madagascar.
It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo.
The current spelling of the name was adopted ...
1958 - Formed the ''
Madagasikara Otronin'ny Malagasy'' (MONIMA)--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
Toliara
Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in Madagascar.
It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo.
The current spelling of the name was adopted ...
, a post he held till 1961
1960 - Madagascar became independent
Role in the 1971-72 ''rotaka''
Jaona played a leading role in a series of protest movements in 1971-72, collectively termed the ''
rotaka
The ''rotaka'' was a series of farmer and student protests in Madagascar between April 1971 and May 1972 that led to the collapse of the First Republic of Madagascar under President Philibert Tsiranana.
Background
Madagascar regained independence ...
'', that resulted in the forced resignation of President Tsiranana.
1971 - Claimed authorship of 1–2 April 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 MONIMA 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 MONIMA killed, 9 wounded and 847 held for questioning. Many MONIMA members were sent by cargo ship from
Fort Dauphin to Nosy Lava where they were imprisoned.
1972 - Monja Jaona and the MONIMA party, which had become a left-wing opposition movement, gained the support of university students and urban radicals who led demonstrations in Antananarivo, Antsirabe and elsewhere against President Tsiranana, leading to his resignation in May 1972.
Opposition leader
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 Ratsiraka is a Malagasy surname. You may be looking for:
* Céline Ratsiraka, Malagasy politician, wife of Didier
*Didier Ratsiraka (1936–2021), President of Madagascar 1975–1993 and 1997–2002
*Roland Ratsiraka
Iarovana Roland Ratsiraka (bo ...
, lost, denounced results as fraudulent and put under house arrest until 1983
Monja Jaona v. Madagascar
Communication No. 132/1982, UN Doc CCPR/C/OP/2 at 161 (1990).
1989 - Ran for Presidential Election again, but only received 4% of the vote
1992 - Wounded in March by police during a confrontation at Fiadanana
Death and legacy
1994 - Died September 3 at the age of 84
Notes
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaona, Monja
1910 births
1994 deaths
Malagasy socialists
Malagasy politicians
Mayors of places in Madagascar
Madagascar for the Malagasy politicians
People from Anosy