Dozens of people suspected of stealing cattle and other criminal offences have reportedly been killed by local farmers in southern Madagascar with the apparent approval of the local authorities. A testimony describing such a public extrajudicial killing is included in this document. It is alleged that innocent people have been killed in these operations. A failed coup attempt on 13 May 1990 resulted in dozens of arrests: 13 of those arrested were tried in December 1990, of whom 12 were sentenced to terms from six to eighteen months. The trial proceedings allegedly did not meet international standards of fairness. AI has continued to receive reports of harsh and overcrowded prison conditions which were allegedly responsible for many deaths in prison in 1990.
