Madagascar Gems and Rough
Bulletin

February 21, 2007

Madagascar Gangsters

Hello all,

Here is the latest edition of the Madagascar Gems and Rough Bulletin. We hope you find it informative and entertaining.

We are working hard to bring you the best of the many varieties of gem rough mined in Madagascar.

Do you have need of a large emerald? We have it! This very clean 23 gram emerald should produce three fine pieces of rough weighing 12, 7, and 4 grams. The price is $150,000.

Thanks, 

Fred Doyle

Gilbert believes his first expedition into the bush after returning to Madagascar from Tucson was relatively successful for the rainy season. The rains continue, the mines are still flooded, and the miners are not able to work.

Gilbert lives in a village just outside the capital city of Antananarivo. He is now attempting to get to the city of Marolambo by motorbike. This area produces some fine rhodolite and other rough.

After getting close, Gilbert finds that he cannot get to the city itself, due to roads being cut by the rains. He was able to locate a hotel with an internet connection, but will be able to safely stay there only one night because the "gangsters" who often rob gem dealers may learn that he is there.

The gangsters work in groups (hence the name "gangsters") and will attack travelers in their hotel in the night. Hotels are usually a collection of a few huts around a main house.

A Typical Hotel In Madagascar

Gilbert tells me often of the gangsters activities in all parts of Madagascar. "It is dangerous for gem miners and dealers because they often have large amounts of cash money."

To reinforce his statements he recently sent along this translation of a French language news account. You may find it interesting and insightful...

~~~~

Banditism with Sakaraha
Two suspects in the murder of a brother-in-law of Bin Laden

The body of a brother-in-law of the Bin Laden terrorist, killed by dahalo on January 30 in Sakaraha was repatriated in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

The gendarmerie affirms to have identified two suspects, two days after the murder of the mining operator Saoudi Jamal Khalifa, brother-in-law of Bin Laden, in Sakaraha. The suspects were already stopped for investigation.
Jamal Kalifa was among the large mining owners in the district of Sakaraha. He used heavy material and employed several people.
The mining operator was killed in an armed attack perpetrated by a score with gangsters in his residence of Sakaraha, on January 30 in the night. Another person was wounded. She received a ball with ankle. The latter is currently with the Ratsimandrava camp for reasons of safety.
The body of the victim was repatriated, yesterday at the end of the afternoon, by a Boeing 777 of the airline company Saudi Arabian. The apparatus was rented by its family. The 19 persones on board were accomodated by the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, the director general of public safety and the secretary general of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the airport of Ivato. These personalities presented the condolences of the government to them.
Autopsy
Arrived in the capital yesterday worms 14 hours, the body of the victim was taken along to the hospital Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona for an autopsy. The operation lasted two hours of time. The man received two balls in the body. The dahalo also asséné to him of the costs of axe. The ball penetrated in its back to leave by its abdomen.
This autopsy was assisted by three members of the family who came with the Boeing 777 from the company Saudi Arabian.
From Sakaraha to Ivato, the car which transported the body was escorted by police force. In Antananarivo, the procession was preceded by a car usherette of the police force.
Various personalities and members of the Moslem community were present at the airport of Ivato.

No impact on the Malagasy diplomacy
The information received from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs specifies that this murder should not attack the diplomatic relation between Saudi Arabia and Madagascar. It is about a simple crime.
In this direction, the government helped the family to be directed in the essential administrative procedures for the repatriation of the body. It also promised to provide all the information relating to advanced investigation.
On the other hand, the Moslem community of the country criticized the way in which certain newspapers reported this tragedy. They were declared scandalized by the fact that the name of the victim was associated that of Bin Laden.
For the Moslem community of Madagascar, the late one has nothing to do with the terrorist movement. “The presence of this operator in Madagascar obtained the certification of the Saoudi government”, indicates its representative. “It came in 2000. In 2001, agents of the CIA had come to the country to question it on the business of September 11. They had set out again, pérsuadés that the man was innoncent”, it added.