President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
fax: 202-647-2283

The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
fax: 202-456-2461

Dear President Bush and Secretary Powell:

This is an urgent message regarding a crisis that is unfolding in Madagascar. It requires the immediate attention of your office and the Department of State, lest what has been thus far an essentially peaceful protest of the "official" results of their December 16, 2001, presidential election turn into violent clashes in Antananarivo and around the country.

There are numerous alleged discrepancies in the electoral process that unfolded on December 16, 2001; moreover, there is wide disagreement as to the percentages of the vote received by the two candidates who received the highest number of votes, current president Didier Ratsiraka and Antananarivo Mayor Marc Ravalomanana.

Several groups, including the nation's ecumenical church council representing some 6 million citizens (roughly 1/3 of the population), insist that independent reviews of the votes reveal a majority of up to 52% for challenger Marc Ravalomanana, enough to constitute his election as the new President. On the other hand, President Ratsiraka's government count attributes to Ravalomanana only 46.4%, which would require a run-off between him and the President.

The High Constitutional Court (HCC) has accepted the government's count and set a run-off election for February 24, 2002. At the heart of the petition to us from our church partners is the insistence that there be a comparative analysis done by the High Court of the voting records presented by the government and those presented by other parties. The High Court has refused. Given the widespread allegations of irregularities in the first election, and the growing conflict over the failure of the HCC to provide such a step before calling for another election, it is both urgent and prudent for the U.S. to urge a comparative analysis of the various voting records prior to a new election.

While the statement from our U.S. Embassy appropriately calls for transparency in the process leading up to February 24, 2002, if the electoral process has already been manipulated, as is alleged, it is unlikely that there will be enough public confidence in the second electoral process to insure full participation of all the people.

We urge you to advocate a delay of a run-off election until the High Court has compared the voting records involved, as called for by our partners.

Cordially yours,

Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

cc: Senator Bill Frist (R-Tenn) Africa Sub-Committee (fax: 202-228-1264)
Ms. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor (fax: 202-456-2883)