London-based TV and radio transmission company WRN has confirmed in its newsletter that it recently arranged a series of special, one-off shortwave broadcasts for Radio Mada Internationale, a clandestine station which supports the deposed Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana.
WRN was contacted on 17 March by followers of the deposed president who had aspirations to broadcast into Madagascar on shortwave. At the time, Radio Mada existed purely as an idea, however, under WRN’s guidance, the station was launched and broadcasting on shortwave within 24 hours. Transmissions are believed to have continued until 6 April, but possibly not daily.
The station was an initiative of Tiako I Madagasikara (I Love Madagascar, TIM), a political party in Madagascar founded by a group of individuals on July 3, 2002. It is now the largest party in the National Assembly of Madagascar with 106 of 127 seats, after the parliamentary election held on September 23, 2007.
(Source: WRN/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)