On behalf of my Ohio-7/UFF comrades, and I'm sure all anti-imperialist North American political prisoners would share similar views, we send our undying solidarity and support to all the Puerto Rican Independentistas still languishing in U.S. prisons.

A few short days ago (Aug. 13), people in Puerto Rico, the U.S. and around the world were thrilled and relieved to hear the news reports that President Clinton was releasing the long held Puerto Rican political prisoners.  But then further reports spoke of conditions of release, rights that had to be signed away and comrades that had to be left behind.  In fact the prison gates have not swung open yet for any of these long held (most have spent about 18-19 years in captivity) Puerto Rican patriots.

President Clinton:s Executive Grant of Clemency, contains 10 pages of stipulations, conditions, restrictions, warnings and threats.  It basically comes down to two issues: these political prisoners must sign away I.) some of their fundamental Human Rights afforded by International Law and, 2.) some of their basic Constitutional Rights afforded by U.S. Law.  Finally, only 11 of the 15 political prisoners are being offered immediate release.  The others will have at least 5 or 10 years more prison time to do.

Under International Law every nation in the world, including the Nation and People of Puerto Rico, have the right to self determination up to and including independence.  This right is obtainable by all necessary means, including the use of forceful struggle for independence and liberty.  One point of Clinton's clemency demands that these Puerto Rican political prisoners renounce and sign away this basic right and their own authority to speak about this right.

Clinton’s clemency also requires that these women and men accept the status of convicted felons on parole.  Further that any violation of any parole regulations could lead not only to a return to prison, but the reinstatement of the seditious conspiracy charge and the original sentence.  These parole regulations include the prohibition that none of these people can associate with any other Independence Leaders.  Thus men and women who have spent 18 years in prison for upholding their Nation's right to freedom, who have been the living heart and conscience of an entire People striving for independence, will now be prohibited from even being in the same room or meeting hall with each other or any other Nationalist leaders.

This is a cruel dilemma, a hoax really, that the U.S. government has thrown at these political prisoners.  These are people who have not been with their families for 18 and more years.  These are parents and grandparents yearning to be with their children and grandchildren, and with their own aging parents.  They need to be released, they deserve to be released, and the millions of people in Puerto Rico and the United States who marched, rallied, petitioned, prayed and in other ways supported their release, have all been let down by this so called clemency.

We call on all people to do whatever can be done right away to get the U.S. government to alter it's clemency, so ALL the Puerto Rican political prisoners can walk out of their years long prison nightmare and rejoin their families and Nation as full human beings, with full Human Rights and Constitutional Rights.

VENCEREMOS!

Jaan Karl Laaman 0hio7-UFF political prisoner
Aug. 16, 1999 --Leavenworth federal prison

Jaan K. Laaman (10372-016)
P.O. Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048