MALAGASY NATIONAL POLICE

in dire need of replacement. Although they are able to communicate
between provincial stations and GHQ at -Tananarive, it is almost impos­
sible to read their signals in the afternoon due to lack of range and
bad atmospheric conditions. In response to Mr. Thurston t s query as to
whether Mr. Ramanitra intended to repair these sets or to replace them
outright, Mr. Ramanitra advised that he believed all the present equip­
,ment is obsolete and should be completely replaced. He further stated
'that the Malagasy Government did.not have any funds allocated for this
purpo se.
7. The Minister interjected that, like any police force in the
world, the Malagasy need a modern and efficient communications network.
Admiral Strauss then asked if this proposed new system would be used by
other civil police and para-military forces in the country and specif­
ically the Gendarmerie. The Minister replied that the system under dis­
cussion would be for the specific use of the National Police. He further
stated that the National Police are under the Ministry of Interior and
that the gathering of information on both crime and subversion was within
the primary jurisdiction of the National Police. Howeirer, in the event
the National Police at any time were unable to cope with internal secu­
rity problems, the Gendarmerie, the Malagasy Army and the French Army
could be called on for assistance in the order enumerated.
8. At this point of the conference, Admiral Strauss suggested the
Minister might indicate a proper time for the Public Safety Team to meet
with the National Police officials on a technical level. It was decided
that an agenda would be prepared and a workshop organized in the Ministry
of the Interior,
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