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.
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