Four month Amnesty for all prisoners.

Big surprise for everyone when President Marc Ravalomanana announced the 4 month cut in prison terms on the 29th March in Moramanga. The Nouvelles writes, ?Against all expectation, the president of the Republic Marc Ravalomanana announced his decision to reduce by 4 months the prison terms of all prisoners, but it will remain open the discretion of the Minister of Justice to actually carry it out. It was during his speech to the nation at Moramanga, as part of the anniversary celebrations of 29th March 1949, that he made this reduction across the board. This has never been done before under such circumstances. To choose the date of the national uprising against colonial rule is an historical decision. Such presidential grace is usually given on the day of independence celebrations or even the New Year. Not to say that the decision is badly received by those who stand to benefit from it, but the question remains as to why Marc Ravalomanana felt it incumbent to choose this particular occasion to make it.?