CRB firm against the 15 Puerto Rican prisoners
Translated from the original Spanish
Thursday, April 29, 1999
by Leonor Mulero, El Nuevo Día

Información enviada al Director de Tlahui. Puerto Rico 30 Apr 1999.

Washington: Resident commissioner Carlos Romero Barceló yesterday told presidential counsel Charles Ruff that he does not oppose the release of the 15 independentist prisoners in the United States, but that he wants each petition for pardon reviewed individually.

Romero Barceló met yesterday in his office with Ruff, as well as with the co-chair of the White House's Working Group on Puerto Rico, Jeffrey Farrow. Also present at the meeting was Ivonne Benner, the Commissioner's legislative director.

The Commissioner told Ruff that "he is not against the release of the politician prisoners, but that each case must be dealt with individually. Those who now reject violence to achieve their political ends, who commit to using peaceful methods and accept that they committed a crime qualify to be considered, along with the other requirements for clemency," said Romero Barceló through his press secretary, Iris Edén Santiago.

The spokesperson indicated that Ruff wanted to know Romero Barceló's position on the clemency petition of the 14 independentists. The Commissioner also told Ruff that he opposed writing letters in favor of the prisoners, added Santiago.

"Almost all of them deny what is attributed to them and didn't want to defend themselves. Sedition is not peaceful, in that they had bombs, which were to be exploded," said Romero Barceló through Santiago. She added that Romero Barceló told Ruff that two of the prisoners committed an armed robbery on Wells Fargo, and others were arrested in possession of bombs "that were to explode with the intention of injuring people."

Farrow indicated that "the meeting was good," and that Ruff met at the request of the representative of Puerto Rico, who has a voice in the matter. Farrow added that he expects the Department of Justice will soon make its recommendation to the White House, but he commented that it would depend on Justice.

The meeting took place a week after Ruff met with the Puerto Rican congressional representatives Luis Gutiérrez, Nydia Velázquez and José Serrano. They made a detailed presentation to Ruff of the reasons they advocate the release of the 15 Puerto Ricans who have spent 19 years in United States federal prisons.

Romero Barceló is the only statehood leader who opposes the release of the independentists. The commissioner opposed the release of the Nationalist prisoners who were freed in 1979, in spite of the efforts he made while governor at the time.

The governor and president of the PNP, Pedro Rosselló, does not oppose pardon and considers that each pardon case should be addressed individually. Ex-governor and founding president of the PNP, Luis A. Ferré, supports the release of the 15 prisoners.

The pardon petition, which was alleged to be near a ruling at the end of 1998, also enjoys the support of renowned international, religious and civic figures.

From: National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners prpowpp@aol.com
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