wfn.org | ELCA Presiding Bishop Urges U.S. to Help in Madagascar Crisis

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 26, 2002

ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP URGES U.S. TO HELP IN MADAGASCAR CRISIS
02-032-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), appealed to U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell to insist that the government of
Madagascar "take verifiable steps to ensure a free and fair election
process."
     Hanson made the request of the Bush Administration in a Feb. 22
letter to Powell as a political crisis in Madagascar continued.  Since a
Dec. 16 presidential election in Madagascar there has been uncertainty
over the outcome.  Last week Marc Ravalomanana declared himself the
victor, claiming government unfairness denied him a victory.  His
declaration drew criticism from the United States, France and the
Organization of African Unity, Reuters reported.
     The Malagasy government said neither Ravalomanana nor longtime
President Didier Ratsiraka won a majority.  It set elections on March 24
to decide the outcome, Reuters said.
     In the past few days, thousands of protestors have gathered in
Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, as the crisis continued, Reuters
reported.
     The Rev. Rabenorolahy Benjamin, president of the Malagasy Lutheran
Church, asked Hanson to seek the U.S. government's support "for a just
resolution of the present political crisis."  Two million of Madgascar's
14.5 million people are Lutherans, Hanson noted.
     "As the situation has evolved since the disputed first round of
presidential elections in mid-December, the leadership of (the Malagasy
Lutheran Church) has grown increasingly anxious about its effects on the
Malagasy people," Hanson said in his letter to Powell.  With each day of
strikes, church leaders are concerned for the country's economic health
and for the potential of violence and instability, Hanson said.
     In addition to concerns about voting irregularities, Hanson said
there are questions about the credibility of the High Constitutional
Court, which has "sided with the current government on many occasions
since the first round of elections."
     "As a result, significant concerns have been raised about how fair
the second round of voting may be," Hanson wrote.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html