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28 June 2002
Dear Friends,
June 26th was Madagascar's independence day. Following the parade,
the U.S. ambassador to Madagascar, Wanda Nesbitt, gave President
Ravalomanana a letter from President Bush saying that the United
States acknowledges that Ravalomanana is president of Madagascar,
announcing the normalization of relations with the Ravalomanana
government, and indicating that the U.S. will turn over to the
Ravalomanana government the money belonging to Madagascar that
had been frozen in the U.S. Thus ended a sorry chapter in U.S.
diplomatic history. Praise God!
Robert and Frances enjoyed the wonderful Malagasy Independence
Day tradition of walking around the neighborhood carrying paper
lanterns (made from recycled computer paper, lit with a candle)
with their parents the evening before. We understand the international
airport here was closed for several days as a security precaution.
There was a general sigh of relief that the Independence Day celebration
went off without a hitch. The respite from terrorism did not last
long. Electricity was off all day yesterday 27 June in most of
the capital city due to another power line tower having been blown
up east of here. Although the electricity came on at about 9:00
at night, it has just gone off again as I write this (at 5:00
in the morning).
You may have heard that on 24 June over 70 hostages were tied
to the fence of the governor's mansion in Diego-Suarez in the
far north, apparently as a human shield. We understand that most
have now been ransomed by their family members. Once again, sources
indicate that Lt. Cols. Coutiti and Rahitso were responsible.
The rumor is going around that seven university students have
been killed by Coutiti and company and others held hostage in
Diego. On the good news side, Ali Sarety, who was the subject
of an Amnesty International appeal following his arbitrary detention
on April 10, arrived in Antananarivo yesterday, his health much
improved.
The new U.S. position leaves France and the Organization of African
Unity as the only backers of the outgoing Ratsiraka regime. Prior
to the U.S., Switzerland had previously recognized Ravalomanana's
government. Senegal's president Wade has broken with the OAU to
support Ravalomanana. For the first time in Madagascar's 42 years
of post-colonial independence, France did not send an official
representative to the Independence Day festivities.
What lies ahead
The northern tip of Antsirananana province and the eastern side
of Toamasina province are still in the hands of Ratsiraka. Ravalomanana's
forces are closing in on Diego-Suarez, the capital of Antsiranana
province. How hard it will be for the Ravalomanana forces to take
the city remains to be seen. It sounds as if Toamasina, the capital
of Toamasina province, where Ratsiraka is holed up, is heavily
fortified. Hopefully it will be taken more by desertion than by
actual fighting.
In the near-midterm, things should start to get back to normal
here in Antananarivo, assuming the terrorism can be stopped. On
June 25 fuel was available at the pumps for the first time in
about 4 months. Lines at the gas stations stretched for miles
and many vehicles spent the night in line. We are very concerned
for the upcoming school year, when many more children than usual
will not go to school for lack of money needed to purchase school
supplies. The normally difficult period in October-November prior
to the harvest in December promises to be especially hard on people
this year.
On Monday 1 July a delegation of church-related development NGOs
from France arrives to visit the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
(FJKM) to assess the situation here. There is now a debate going
on as to the meaning of reconciliation. Many fear, ourselves included,
that there will be a rush to pardon the perpetrators of crimes
against the people. Our hope is that the perpetrators of crimes
can be brought to justice and that the justice system will be
up to the task of dealing with their cases. Our fear is that if
perpetrators of terrorism, arbitrary detention, and torture are
not prosecuted that the country will be asking for trouble at
every presidential election in the future. The FJKM is holding
a day-long meeting today to discuss the role of the church in
national reconciliation.
Please pray:
- for a quick end to the military campaign and a cessation
of terrorist activities;
- for the Malagasy people struggling to get through the tough months
ahead;
- for justice;
- for Madagascar's rookie leaders, that they might quickly learn
to govern wisely and effectively;
- for the church to clearly define its role in the national reconciliation
and for that role to reflect God's will.
In Christ,
Dan & Elizabeth Turk
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 41
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