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24 March 2002
Dear Friends in Christ,
Since we last sent in a prayer request, much has happened here.
Violence is now gaining the upper hand in many parts of the country.
Perhaps most alarming are the reports coming out of Sambava and
other parts of northern Madagascar. In Sambava, reports indicate
that 30 soldiers from Diego-Suarez are under the direction of
a deputy in the national assembly, Mrs. Soalina. These soldiers
have been terrorizing the people of Sambava, looking for people
associated with President Marc Ravalomanana’s political party.
On 16 March, a private radio was destroyed by these soldiers.
We have reliable reports that people have been arrested and taken
away by plane. Three people have been shot for wearing Ravalomanana
T-shirts.
On Tuesday 19 March, Mr. Manitra Rakoto, the Church of Jesus
Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) head of personnel, received a call
from Pastor Daudet Rabemananjara in Sambava who told him that
he was being chased by soldiers. He, his wife, 4-year old child,
and 2-year old child, were fleeing in the forest. They had been
hiding at the home of a parishioner, when the soldiers came. They
fled, but the parishioner, a women, was taken away and beaten.
As Mr. Manitra heard the pastor’s wife crying on the portable
phone, he heard Pastor Daudet say in the background "quick,
pick up the child, they’re coming…" As of March
23rd, they were still hiding in the forest (according to church
officials).
On 22 March, at 1:00 p.m. local time, Manitra called a contact
at the Sambava airport to ask about Pastor Daudet and his family.
The contact did not have information about them but said that
a Mr. Jacquelin had been arrested by the soldiers. Manitra’s
letter says: "I asked him where this Jacquelin was and he
replied that the soldiers were in the process of torturing him
at a room in the airport."
On 10 March, two members of one of the Committee of Supporters
of Marc Ravalomanana (KMMR) had their throats slit in Diego-Suarez.
These murders followed the murder on 2 March of the head of a
bank at Nosy Be and the attempted murder of two other leaders
of the KMMR there. Because of these murders and the incitement
of racial hatred by Senator Ampy Portos on the radio, many of
the Merina and Betsileo people living in northern Madagascar have
fled to the capital while many more would like to flee but have
not done so because the main road south is impassible at this
time of year and plane tickets are very expensive.
On 15 March, soldiers threw tear gas and grenades on an unarmed
crowd in Antananarivo. One person was killed and about 40 wounded.
Although the special provisions accorded the military under (the
unconstitutional) martial law were invoked, the procedures for
warning the crowd before firing were not observed.
On 8 March, an Algerian plane unloaded arms for Ratsiraka. The
United States knows this. At the time that we write this there
has been no public condemnation by the United States of any of
the acts of violence or human rights violations committed by the
Ratsiraka regime since the 16 December election.
On Thursday, 21 March, Ratsiraka and ministers met and called
for the arrest of President Ravalomanana and those in his government.
There is also a serious threat to President Ravalomanana’s
life as well as those within the new government. Ravalomanana’s
government is to present its plan before the National Assembly
on 26 and 27 March. There is concern that Ratsiraka may try to
block this meeting with military troops and/or arrests.
Please pray:
- for Pastor Daudet and his family
- for the safety and release of the people arrested in Sambava
- for President Ravalomanana (as he is being pressed by the international
community to negociate), that he will not have to concede anything
that is important for the safety and best interest of the country
- that the Prime Minister will be able to meet with the National
Assembly (26 and 27 March) without any violence
- for President Ravalomanana and his government officials, as they
have been threatened with arrest and physical harm
- for all those who live in fear in Madagascar
- for all those who would commit acts of violence here, that they
might change their ways
- that the economic blockade of Antananarivo be lifted
At this time we do not feel threatened in any way but we pray
that Amos 5:24 be quickly fulfilled for the Malagasy people—that
justice will indeed roll down like waters and righteousness like
an everlasting stream.
We urge you to become more informed about the situation, and
especially to read the joint letter written by Cliff Kirkpatrick,
the State Clerk of the PC(USA) and his counterparts in the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal Church, USA.
Please pray and, guided by your prayer, write to elected representatives
to request fair and justice action.
Peace in Christ,
Dan & Elizabeth Turk
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 41
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