On January 11, 2014, government troops reportedly opened fire on protesting students at the University of Mahajenga, killing one student and seriously injuring 11 more. The incident occurred during a student march, protesting an alleged delay in allocation of rooms on campus and non-payment of grants by the state.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of disproportionate force by police against students engaged in the non-violent exercise of protected human rights, including free speech and association. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermine democratic society generally. That harm is compounded when such attacks occur on campus, thus undermining institutional autonomy.
Sources:
– http://etudiant.lefigaro.fr/les-news/actu/detail/article/madagascar-un-etudiant-tue-dans-une-manifestation-4070/
– http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Officiellement-un-mort-parmi-les,19523.html
– http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Dilemme,19652.html
– http://www.digischool.fr/actualites/madagascar-un-etudiant-tue-au-cours-d-une-manifestation-19256.php
– http://www.newsmada.com/index.php/actualites/34343-universite-de-mahajanga–les-etudiants-campent-sur-leurs-positions#.U5C3wy99QmU
– http://mydago.com/2014/01/mahajanga-lemmo-reg-tire-des-balles-reelles-sur-les-etudiants/
SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.