Tensions between the FJKM church and colonel Richard Ravalomanana’s state police

The issue reached an unexpected extent. The Clerical Leaders’ Movement is basically civilian as well as religious, but still has a cloud of political inclination. It has, therefore, been entitled to retaliation from security forces  loyal to the HAT. Colonel Richard Ravalomanana would even have become the first public enemy of these Christian believers. The Emmo Reg Analamanga commander’s challenging statement following the aggression of policemen by inhabitants of Ambohimamory stirred tensions up. The man in charge of holding the political demonstrations under control declared by this time that the state policemen ought to have used their weapons in their situation, as he would had he been at their place.  

Colonel Richard Ravalomanana stated that these state police’s elements challenged by the crowd in Ambohimamory did not intend to arrest the pastor, but only addressed a biker running without helmet. Then he warned that a serious investigation would be conducted about it. And this investigating led to pastor Andriamisata Roger. A casual clash was turning into a political issue. Clergymen instantly erected battlements around one of their own against the colonel Ravalomanana threat. They require guarantees from the Emmo Reg’s commander before deciding to send their colleague to Ankadilalana. “Could there be any arrest, we are going to launch a action aiming at gathering the whole of the country’s forces “, threatened the clergymen.  

Pastor Andriamisata was not supposed to be arrested but heard by the investigators. It is now a done deal. He emerged from the state police’s facilities welcomed with relief by his peers. No long comments have been used to depict the intended reconciliation between church and state police. In front of the base’s gate in Ankadilalana, supporters gathered to support their pastor, and made guards a little nervous. One of the Movement’s clergymen even had to intervene to scatter the crowd.  

Although being already very sharply criticized for his management of the Emmo Reg and the repeated repression of the opposition’s political demonstrations, colonel Richard Ravalomanana has driven the state police in a cold war with the FJKM church. The movement of clergymen has got its symbolic adversary. The committed clergymen called upon the immediate halt to deterrents against the Movement as well as against citizens longing for freedom. They denounced the current pressure on the church. These religious leaders are claiming freedom of speech, and defending the respect for human rights. Their political fight is aiming at forcing the dictating authorities to concede concrete measures to end the crisis.