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A Plea for Prayer from the Turks
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Dear Friends,
Please pray for Madagascar as a new crisis may be starting.
Yesterday (Saturday 21 April), there were demonstrations downtown at the 13 Mai plaza in Antananarivo led by opposition parliamentarians who were upset at the corruption in the recent passing of electoral laws. Yesterday the US Embassy stated 10,000 people demonstrated. This number has not been confirmed. Military fired tear gas on the crowd. It is our understanding that the troops also fired live bullets after they retreated into City Hall as they feared for their lives. The number of dead appears to be at least 2 (hospital source in the media) and possibly as high as 6 (local radio); yesterday the US embassy reported 4 dead. Reports that 2 children died at the children’s hospital (very close to the 13 Mai) due to tear gas may not be true.
The situation remains very fragile. Yesterday there were calls to hold a wake at City Hall today for yesterday’s dead. Today, many more military were present downtown. We understand that the wake at city hall was called off for today and that families of the dead have collected (or will collect) the bodies at the morgue at HJRA hospital presumably after autopsies have been performed.
We understand that the parliamentarians have called for a return to the 13 Mai (downtown) tomorrow at 10:00 am local time. They are calling for the president of Madagascar to resign.
All of this is happening while the National Council of the FJKM church (MF) is having a week-long meeting which ends Wednesday April 25th. A worship service to be attended by the MF members was scheduled for this afternoon at the FJKM church downtown in Analakely but we do not know if this happened. The MF was already planning on putting out a statement concerning the life of the nation so recent events will undoubtedly be taken into account in the statement that should be coming out within a few days.
We are safe at home here at Ivato. We have been in communication with Jan Heckler and know that she too will be staying at home without plans to go to the center of town.
Background
Our understanding is that the opposition parliamentarians are very upset at the way the vote on the new electoral laws took place. There has been widespread talk of corruption within the National Assembly (equivalent of US Congress).It appears that over the Easter weekend pro-government members of the National Assembly got together at the Paon d’Or hotel near Ivato for several days and then were bused directly to the National Assembly to vote on the 3 new electoral laws.There have been accusations that some parliamentarians were paid to pass the electoral laws. These laws have many provisions that have raised alarms for civil society organizations, opposition politicians, and the international community. Among them is the barring of Marc Ravalomananafrom the presidential election based on his in-absentia conviction for the shooting of civilians who tried to take over the presidential palace on 7 February 2009. Others include the way the election will be carried out and the time frame between the initial and run-off elections. The US government and other international groups have been calling for inclusive elections (allowing both Marc Ravalomanana and AndryRajoelina to run).
Elizabeth and I are very concerned for the country. We understand the frustration of the parliamentarians. Corruption is a huge problem here. There is also great distrust of the courts. The parliamentarians have made complaints to BIANCO (the body that examines corruption) and to the High Constitutional Court (HCC). The whole country is waiting to see whether or not the HCC will throw out the new electoral laws or require them to be modified in some ways. There is a fear that the HCC may bend to government pressure. However, by calling for further protests and the resignation of the president, the opposition parliamentarians could be accused of fomenting a coup d’état. It would not be good for the country to go through another coup d’état.
Some other issues: there is some evidence from yesterday that the security forces are somewhat split, not all in favor of using force to counter protesters. There is also some information about limited looting going on yesterday. It would be bad if this were to spread.
There are several articles on the web about the demonstrations.
Prayer Request
Please pray for all concerned (FJKM leadership, MF members, opposition parliamentarians, civil society, opposition politicians, military, the High Constitutional Court, BIANCO, the current government leaders, and the Malagasy people) that solutions will be found that allow the country to move forward toward peaceful, free, and fair elections. May the Church be a light and anchor in this time.
Peace,
Dan & Elizabeth
Please pray for Madagascar as a new crisis may be starting.
Yesterday (Saturday 21 April), there were demonstrations downtown at the 13 Mai plaza in Antananarivo led by opposition parliamentarians who were upset at the corruption in the recent passing of electoral laws. Yesterday the US Embassy stated 10,000 people demonstrated. This number has not been confirmed. Military fired tear gas on the crowd. It is our understanding that the troops also fired live bullets after they retreated into City Hall as they feared for their lives. The number of dead appears to be at least 2 (hospital source in the media) and possibly as high as 6 (local radio); yesterday the US embassy reported 4 dead. Reports that 2 children died at the children’s hospital (very close to the 13 Mai) due to tear gas may not be true.
The situation remains very fragile. Yesterday there were calls to hold a wake at City Hall today for yesterday’s dead. Today, many more military were present downtown. We understand that the wake at city hall was called off for today and that families of the dead have collected (or will collect) the bodies at the morgue at HJRA hospital presumably after autopsies have been performed.
We understand that the parliamentarians have called for a return to the 13 Mai (downtown) tomorrow at 10:00 am local time. They are calling for the president of Madagascar to resign.
All of this is happening while the National Council of the FJKM church (MF) is having a week-long meeting which ends Wednesday April 25th. A worship service to be attended by the MF members was scheduled for this afternoon at the FJKM church downtown in Analakely but we do not know if this happened. The MF was already planning on putting out a statement concerning the life of the nation so recent events will undoubtedly be taken into account in the statement that should be coming out within a few days.
We are safe at home here at Ivato. We have been in communication with Jan Heckler and know that she too will be staying at home without plans to go to the center of town.
Background
Our understanding is that the opposition parliamentarians are very upset at the way the vote on the new electoral laws took place. There has been widespread talk of corruption within the National Assembly (equivalent of US Congress).It appears that over the Easter weekend pro-government members of the National Assembly got together at the Paon d’Or hotel near Ivato for several days and then were bused directly to the National Assembly to vote on the 3 new electoral laws.There have been accusations that some parliamentarians were paid to pass the electoral laws. These laws have many provisions that have raised alarms for civil society organizations, opposition politicians, and the international community. Among them is the barring of Marc Ravalomananafrom the presidential election based on his in-absentia conviction for the shooting of civilians who tried to take over the presidential palace on 7 February 2009. Others include the way the election will be carried out and the time frame between the initial and run-off elections. The US government and other international groups have been calling for inclusive elections (allowing both Marc Ravalomanana and AndryRajoelina to run).
Elizabeth and I are very concerned for the country. We understand the frustration of the parliamentarians. Corruption is a huge problem here. There is also great distrust of the courts. The parliamentarians have made complaints to BIANCO (the body that examines corruption) and to the High Constitutional Court (HCC). The whole country is waiting to see whether or not the HCC will throw out the new electoral laws or require them to be modified in some ways. There is a fear that the HCC may bend to government pressure. However, by calling for further protests and the resignation of the president, the opposition parliamentarians could be accused of fomenting a coup d’état. It would not be good for the country to go through another coup d’état.
Some other issues: there is some evidence from yesterday that the security forces are somewhat split, not all in favor of using force to counter protesters. There is also some information about limited looting going on yesterday. It would be bad if this were to spread.
There are several articles on the web about the demonstrations.
Prayer Request
Please pray for all concerned (FJKM leadership, MF members, opposition parliamentarians, civil society, opposition politicians, military, the High Constitutional Court, BIANCO, the current government leaders, and the Malagasy people) that solutions will be found that allow the country to move forward toward peaceful, free, and fair elections. May the Church be a light and anchor in this time.
Peace,
Dan & Elizabeth