ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, Mar. 5 — Presidential election results that returned President Didier Ratsikara to power on December 16th continue to be disputed in this island nation off the southeast coast of Africa.
Marc Ravalomanana the main rival claims to have won an absolute majority. His supporters have accused the government of falsifying the results and have staged a series of mass demonstrations. A general strike has also been going on since late January.
100,000 people marched in the streets of Antananarivo in support of Mr Ravalomanana. Many of the country's public services have ground to a halt and the main roads into the capital have been closed.
Tensions rose when Mr Ravalomanana declared himself President on February 22. Martial law was declared by President Ratsikara on February 28th in an attempt to maintain order and retain power.
"Our distribution program is seriously disrupted and many committee meetings have been canceled because of the lack of communication and public transport," said Mr Rakoto, General Secretary of Malagasy Bible Society. "Only a few activities related to Bible work can be undertaken. It is very difficult for our staff to work in this unstable situation." He added, however, that churches had gone ahead and celebrated Bible Sunday earlier this month.
"Some groups of people are taking advantage of this situation and ethnic conflicts have started in several regions of Madagascar," Mr. Rakoto said. "Please pray that God protects our country from civil war, that he helps the Bible Society face this crisis and that the Church will show people the way to God."
Last Saturday thousands of people flocked to the capital's central May 13 square to watch Jacques Sylla, the prime minister newly appointed by Ravalomanana, introduce his new cabinet to the people.
Clergymen in white and red robes and nuns paraded down the street to the voices of an evangelical choir while residents clutched bibles and bowed their heads in prayer. Throughout his campaign Ravalomanana, a Christian, has said that he believes God is behind him.
The new military governor of the city, General Leon Claude Raveloarison, said on Saturday martial law had not been enforced because few people were aware of it. Opposition members had shut down the transmitters of both Madagascar National Radio and Madagascar Television earlier in the week.
Loyalists Issue Statement
Five of Madagascar's six provincial governors have remained loyal to Ratsiraka. In a joint statement issued March 5th, they proposed moving the capital to Toamasina. It is unofficially reported that the President and most of his cabinet have already relocated there.
A delegation from the Organization of African Unity is scheduled to arrive in Madagascar on Wednesday to negotiate an end to the crisis. Previous mediation efforts by officials have failed.
Source: United Bible Societies, Bible Network News
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