Political prisoners released

A small crowd has been waiting outside. Journalists and relatives of the four legalistic parliamentarians were impatiently waiting for the judge’s verdict. On August 18th, the court condemned the Vakinankaratra region’s four parliamentarians to a suspended sentence of one year in jail . Such verdict is setting them free. 

These parliamentarians have been arrested, in mid-April, during the street demonstrations of Marc Ravalomanana’s supporters. Ever since, they have been kept in custody at the penitentiary of Antanimora. The signature of the Maputo Agreements, based on the principle of reconciliation, was for them, and for the other political convicts, the opportunity to hope for an imminent release. 

As far as she is concerned, the legalistic women’s main coordinator, Ihanta Randriamandranto, under house arrest since the end of April, got temporary liberty, while the four others close collaborators with Marc Ravalomanana, suspected to be involved in the bomb attempts in the capital city – Raharinaivo Andrianantoandro, Henri Rabesahala, Mejamirado Razafimihary and Razakariasy Henri – received a conditional liberty, after some weeks of custody.  

Manandafy Rakotonirina, the Prime minister appointed by Marc Ravalomanana, should be released very soon, according to the legalistic leaders. The details of his release are causing even some problems, because the High Authority of Transition is enforcing a certain number of conditions, namely the commitment not to get involved in political activities no more.