February 20 update from Todd and Pasty McGregor
on the political situation in Madagascar:

Dear Friends,

This is another update on the political situation here in Madagascar. Please use it not only as information, but also to keep this country in your prayers.

After a week of intense meetings, mediated by the President of the African Organization for Unity, the representatives of the opposition leader and the representatives of the President broke off negotiations today. Just two hours ago the opposition leader, Marc Ravalomanana, announced that he would take over power unilaterally as President of Madagascar. He still claims that he won the Dec. 16th election outright by a majority vote.

Last night there was an attempted assassination on the life of the opposition leader and he has urged the protesters to surround his house and the mayor's palace because the military has called back all his personal security guards. We have finished the fourth week of the second round of strikes and these have virtually brought the country to a standstill. The post office and government offices have been closed for the last month. Banks and the airport have been open sporadically. We have had a fuel shortage in the last week due to government (it is alleged) blocking the road coming from the coast where the refinery is located. It is estimated that the textile/clothing companies (Gap, Eddie Bauer) businesses are loosing between 12-14 million dollars a day. The American School, where Patsy is working and Corby is attending (and the opposition leader’s son goes to school) has been open and life is somewhat "normal". The missionary school where Charese attends is also in session. However, it is on the other side of town and may need to become a boarding school if fuel continues to be a shortage. Our lives continue to go on....we avoid the peaceful demonstrations held downtown and have stored up a bit on fuel (we learned from the strikes in 1991)....but we do wonder what will happen next. President Ratsiraka had stated previously that he would not use force unless the opposition leader took power. It is amazing to note that for the past four weeks all demonstrations by the opposition leader have been peaceful. But we are all very concerned about how Ratsiraka will handle the opposition's unilateral move to take power. We fear it may be by force and are reminded of the words the Archbishop said three weeks ago, "There will be bloodshed for sure."

Thank you for keeping our family, this country and the Malagasy people in your prayers.

Todd and Patsy McGregor

Update from Madagascar, 2-23-02

 Full Text of Fr. McGregor's Letter

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