Self-defense or summary execution? The death of the four boys suspected of murdering two young girls in Ambohimanga continues to fuel debate. Between those who defend the rule of law and the necessity of a proper trial, and those who support the law of retaliation for such crimes, positions are diametrically opposed.
The crime is abominable, and the murderers deserve no mitigating circumstances. The parents of the two young girls, their relatives, and a segment of public opinion are visibly satisfied with this ‘verdict’.
What really happened in Ambohimanga on Saturday morning during the crime scene reconstruction, where the four youths were shot for allegedly attempting to seize a weapon from law enforcement and escape? There is no clue, as the scene likely took place away from prying eyes and without witnesses. We are forced to accept the police version for lack of alternatives.
The matter is settled. It is unclear if the parents of the four youths have any legal recourse. The damage is collateral. In the end, no one won: not the parents of the girls, not the parents of the young bandits, and not the law, which mandates a trial regardless of the crime’s severity. The rule of law has been undermined by the circulation on social media of the suspects’ interrogations with their faces exposed, despite the principle of judicial secrecy.
A trial would have sentenced the young assassins to life imprisonment and differentiated their individual responsibilities. Even those directly involved in the death of Colonel Ratsimandrava, the Head of State assassinated on February 11, 1975, only received 5-year prison sentences after a long trial and were later amnestied by President Didier Ratsiraka.
Ultimately, there is little difference between ‘summary executions’ and mob justice. The result is the same.
Recent events show that a baseless accusation is enough for a mob to attack an unfortunate victim. Accused of witchcraft, a couple’s life ended when a crowd forced them to cross a large river. The woman drowned after a few meters of swimming, to the applause of the public. This form of sentencing occurred in a region where the law had no authority, as authorities failed to prevent the tragedy. The spectacle was far from funny, yet the spectators cheered. No comment.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-01 05:38:50 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/la-loi-du-talion.html