Puerto Rican Political Prisoners Reaffirm Commitment To Non-Violence Upon Release From Prison

FBI Continues Disinformation Campaign to Interfere with Presidential Power of Clemency

In ongoing conversations with their attorney Jan Susler, including yesterday, and in individual interviews with the press since the President's order, all of the 15 imprisoned Puerto Rican independentists have unconditionally reaffirmed their commitment to nonviolence upon their release from prison.

Each has stated that s/he has no intent to engage in any illegal or violent activity and will dedicate her/himself to participating in the legal, democratic political process to resolve the colonial status of their country.

In an unprecedented show of unity among all sectors of the Puerto Rican population, on August 29, tens of thousands of Puerto Rican people marched in support of unconditional release of all 15, universally expressing concern that the conditions imposed in the offer of clemency including restricting their travel and association would prevent them from being part of this democratic political process. In addition, the leaders of the campaign for the prisoners' release stated that the "parole" nature of their release would allow for harassment and return to prison even in the absence of conviction of a criminal offense.

This concern has been underscored by recent activity of the FBI to disrupt and interfere with the exercise of President Clinton's clemency power. Using sympathetic sources in the media, the FBI and its allies have put out false and slanderous information, including a claim that the Bureau of Prisons had secret tapes of the prisoners talking about returning to violence upon their release from prison, although the acting chief of the Bureau of Prisons and the White House know nothing of any such tapes. Issuing unsigned press releases, reiterating information two decades old charges, the FBI has been secretly coordinating a "COINTELPRO" (CounterIntelligence) type program to undermine the President's decision to commute the harsh, excessive sentences.

Exposing itself as a political police force, working with the police chief of New York and the New York police union, who are also acting as political operatives, these law enforcement officials have stepped outside their appropriate role as neutral officials limited to enforcing the law. These actions of the FBI are a continuation of a long, sordid history, dating back to the 1950s, 60s and 70s, of acts intended to disrupt the Puerto Rican independence movement, in the last few years targeting political efforts to free the political prisoners.

Contact:
Jan Susler/Michael Deutsch, Peoples Law Office
773/235-0070

Back to index page. Last updated 4 September 1999.