FREEDOM
FORTHE

PUERTO RICAN
POLITICAL

PRISONERS
AND

PRISONERS
OF WAR

ProLIBERTAD c

Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Prisoners of War

Pago 4, Punitive Sentences, 2nd
Beragraph. Sentence Baginning ™ Fourteen of The.
Puerto Rican Polilcal Prisoners have already
served betwoen 10 and 14 years in prison.”

n Puerto Rican citzens for stricty politcal reasons in clear vioation of the
Puerto Rican Constitution; n September, 1994 an ex-member of the inteligence
Givision of the Puerto Rican Police was arrested and accused of along with
other members of his division) kidnapping, torturing, and the assassinating the
Iabor leader Juan Rafael Caballero, in 197,

International law denounces colonialism as a crime and recognizes a colo-
nized people’s right to end colonialism by any means at their disposal The
United Nations recognizes that these laws apply to the case of Puerto Rico. For
many years now, the United Nations' Decolonization Committee has approved
resolutions recognizing the inalienabe right of Puerto Rico's people to indepen-
dence and self-determination.

The actions of the Puerto Rican political prisoners are comparable to those of
‘George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Washington and Jefferson
denounced the tyranny of Bitsh control over their colonies They fought or the
principle of democracy, and gained independence. Similry,the US government
ecognized that Nelson Mandelas imprisonment by the South Afrcan apartheid
government was unjust. Mandela was jailed or 27 years on charges of attempt
ing to overthrow the apartheid government through violent means.Like
Washington, Jefferson and Mandela before
them, the Puerto Rican politcal prisoners are
conscientious activists for freedom and jus-
tice,not criminals

The Arrests

In a series of arests carried out between
1980 and 1985 around 30 people were
accused of acting or conspiring 1o overthiow
the authority of the US. government in
Puerto Rico thiough force, in other words act-
ing n favor of Puerto Ricas independence
and self-determination. At the beginning of
the 19805 fourteen peaple accused of being
members of the Armed Forces of National
Liberation (FALN, s acronym in Spanish)
were arrested. At the time of their arrest they
declared themselves to be combatants in an
anti-colonial war to liberate Puerto Rico from Antonio Comocho Negron
US.domination and invoked prisoner of war
status They argued that the US. courts and It political subdivisions did not have.
jurisdiction to try them as criminals and petitioned for their ases to be handed
over to an intermational, impartia court that would determine their satus. The
US. government did not recognize theirrequest. Today these individuas are
serving sentences of 35 10 90 years

On August 30,1985 hundreds of FBI agents descended on Puerto Rico and

searched the houses and offices of independence supporters, Thirteen peaple
were arrested that day and three others ater on. These people were immediate-
Iy removed from Puerto Rico in miltary transport and moved to the United
States where they were held in preventative detention, some for as long as three
years, without bail being set. They were accused of conspiring to rob $7.5 millon
from Wells Fargo, an action for which the clandestine group "Los Macheteros”
had taken responsibility.The charges included transporting the money outside
the United States and using the money to buy and distribute toys to poor
Puerto Rican children. Of the accused, one was found innocent and the govern-
ment dropped charges against another one The rest of the accused were sen-
tenced 1o between 5 to S5 years.Seven of them have already completed their
sentences or are about to complete them.

Punitive Sentences

The sentences received by these Puerto Rican patrots are excessive and
punitive. Their goal i to punish political activity, miltancy, and ffliation. Ten of
the fourteen arrested between 1980 and 1983 were sentenced to serve terms of
between 55 and 90 years The average sentence among this group is 716 years:
708 years for the men and 728 years for the women. These sentences are 19
times longer than the average sentence given out during the year that they
‘were sentenced The majority are serving the equivalent of a fe sentence.Of
those that were arrested as a result of the Wells Fargo case, two were sentenced
tomore than 50 years in prison.

Common prisoners, those who commit criminal offenses receive sentences
that are much shorter.For example, statisticsfrom the federal court system show
that between 1966 and 1985 the average sentence for all those people found
quity of murder was 22.7 years;of rape, 125 years; of viokation of arms laws, 12
years. Only 12.8% of all federal prisoners have sentences of more than 20 years.
Also the statistcs show that those people with previous crimina records receive
longer sentences. None of the Puerto Rican patriots in prison had a pror crim-

nal record at the time of their arrst.

In reaiy, the longest time served by any
prisoners in federal custody isfor kidnap-
ping: 5.3 years. A study shows that those
persons sentenced by state courts for serr
us violent crimes served between 2.5
and 4 years. Fourteen of The Puerto
Rican Politcal Prisoners have already
served between 10 and 4 years in prison.
‘The political nature of these sentences is
made evident by comparing them to the
preferential treatment given to people
finked to right-wing,anti-communist,or
anti-abortion groups accused of violent

4

Today while | write this leter | have been 36 hours without going out and
tomorrow if they do not take us out it will have three days without mov-
ing from this same space. n this e space | have to do everything. From
eating my meals to taking care of my needsSo it is my dining room and
latrne at the same time. My bed is a siab of cement And the whole cellis
painted the same dead yellow color.From an aesthetic point of view itis

as attractive as 3 jailfor 200 animals.

Intheir 1987 report, the organization Amnesty International condemned the
conditions at Marion saying:

In Marion, violations of the Minimum Standard Rules (of the United
Nations for the treatment o prisoners] are
common..There i almost no rule n the
Minimum Standard Rules that is not broken
in one form or another.

The 1990 report by the House of Represent
atives'Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual
Property and the Administration of Justice
expresses” conceml_ about the amount of
time that the prisoners spend in their cells in
relative isolation and the imited opportunties
for productive activity and recreation available
in a highly controlled environment* And the
necessity to continue developing a more
humane focus for the imprisonment of prison-
ers in 2 maximum secuity prison.”

From 1986 to 1988 Alejandrina Torres was
putin a Maximum Security Unit for women in
Lexington, KY. Acknowiedging the ideological
character of the assignment o this unit, feder-
aljudge stated in Baraldini v Meese:

One thing i to place persons under greater securlty because they have:
histories of escape attempts and pose special risks for our correctional
facilies But consigning anyone to a high security unit for past political
associations which they wil never shed unless forced to renounce them s
2 dangerous mission for this country’s prison system to continue.

Amnesty Intemational concluded in 1988 that the conditions and diet in this
unit were ‘deliberately and gratuitously oppressive.

The UNSMRTP states clearly that prisoners shouid be allowed to communi-
cate with their family and friends,including visits,and that ‘prison personnel
should be responsible for assuring and improving (the relations of] prisoners”
with ther familis. Federal regulations and the US, Pison Board Rules repeat the
same thing (28 CFR Sec.540.40). Nevertheless Oscar Lépez Rivera was not per-
mitted any viit that involved physical contact. Some of the prisoners have to
submit to a search before and after visits by their families even though they only.

b,

Carlos Alberto Torres

7
see them through glass window and speak o
them by telephone. Some of the prisoners are:
restrcted 10 visits by their immediate family
members While Alejandrina Torres was in
Lexington her son-in-aw and grandchidren were
notincluded in this definition of immediate fas
i used by the prison authorities Carios Alberto
Torres, Hayded Torres,Ida Luz Rodriguez and
Alejandrina Torres have suffered through periods
from months to years where communication with
anyone outside o their immediate family has
been prohibited. Many requests forvsits by difer-
entfriends have been denied and poiticl ltera-
ture has been censored.

In the United States common prisoners are

allowed 10 ist an immediate family member who i dying or to attend his or
her funeral Ths gesture of decency has been denied the Puerto Rican Political

Prisoners. When Carmen Valentis father died, she was not alowed to attend the.

funerai, even though her family was willng to pay all the expenses of the trip.

Ricardo Jiménez mother died without having seen him after having endured

‘cancer for two years which prevented her from visiting him in prison. Eizam

Escobar could not visi his father while he was sick nor was he allowed to

attend his funeral.

Why Should You Join the
Campaign for the Freedom of
the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners?

s responsible people, concerned with the situation in our community, in our
country and in other countris in the workd, we have lfted our voices to protest
many problems and injustices. We have protested the US. miltary interventions.
thioughout the workd;we have demanded a stop to the clear cutting of our
forestswe have demanded adequate health services for those who have AIDS;
we have fought against pollution in our communities; we have fought for a
sound education for our children; and we have protested against racism. Also we
have wiitten letters o sent telegrams to oreign govemmens n support of
people jailed unjustly, and protested human rights violations.

The president of the United States has the constitutional powe to uncondi-
tionally pardon the Puerto Rican poiitcal prisoners The power that the
Constituion gives him to pardon people who have acted or conspired against
the US. government has been used in the past to pardon, among others, con-
federate soldiers who were charged with treason uring the Cvil War, socidlists
charged with organizing armed resistance to the draft during the First Word War,
and the five Puerto Rican nationalists who were charged with shooting at the
cles on art and politcs have been published in magazines in Canada, England,
Italy,Latin America and the United States. He is considered to be one of the most
important Puerto Rican revolutionary painters and poets.His release date s 2014,

ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ

‘Alberto was born in 1953 in the Bronx, New York and
was raised in Chicago. While he was in high school he
became part of a new generation of Puerto Ricans in the
United States who demanded that their history and cuk-
ture be recognized and he joined the national iberation
struggle.He became part of a group of Latino students
who, using the tactics of st-ins and civi disobedience,
forced the Chicago 80ard of Education to be more
responsive to the needs of Latino students Alberto
entered the University ofllnois n 1972,and imme fately
became involved in studen struggles for Latin Ainerican Alberto Rodriguéz
studies program and for recruitment of Latino studznts
Upon graduation in 1976 he began to work for cormunity programs which pro-
vided opportunites for working adults to pursue educational goals.He also
‘worked i various community organizations such as the Workers Rights Center €1
Comité Pro-Orientacién Comunal,E Desfle del Pueblo,Latino Cultural Center and
various anti-repression committees. He has two chidren, Yazmin and icardo.

When arrested in 1983 Alberto was working as an academic counselor at
Northeastern llinois University and was completing his thesis requirements for a
‘graduate degree from Governor's State University. He was convicted of seditious
conspiracy and sentenced to 35 years His irst ten months in prison were in soli-
tary confinement, where, he says "1 had to search within myselfto find the spiri-
tual strength to persevere” His release date s 2004.

ALEJANDRINA TORRES

Alejandrina was born in Puerto Rico in 1939, Her family emigrated to the
United States when she was 11 years old. During the 19605 and 705, she was a
leader in her community.She was a founding member and laer a teacher a the
Puerto Rican High School in Chicago, She later helped found the Betances Health
inic and was active in boycotts of public schools which continued to mis-edu-
cate children and were hostile and racist o their parents. At the First Congrega-
tional Church,where she worked, she organized a variety of community programs.
She also participated in the Committee to Free the Five Nationalsts and later
became a member of the Committee to Free the Puerto Rican Prisoners of War.

Atthe time of her arrest in 1983 she was married to Reverend José A Torres
and had two daughters Liza and Catalina,who were 16 and 11 years old respec-
tively.She was accused of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 35 years in
prison. Her release date is 2004

Since her imprisonment, Alejandina Torres has been plagued by health prob-
lems which were aggravated by prison staff violent attacks and an indifference

n

0 her medical needs. I took the federal prison system six years to place herin a
regular women's prison. Two of those six years were spent in the underground
‘Women's High Security Unit at Lexington, KY. Amnesty International has con-
demned the conditions in tha: unit as deliberately and gratuitously oppressive”
and as causing physical and psychological deterioration.

Throughout her more than ten years of imprisonment she has maintained a
positive atitude and works with prisoners assising them in achieving educa-
tional,vocational, and religious goals. Her faith in God and in her people has
maintained her high spiits."I the darkest place they put me in,| always man-
age o see a glimmer of hope:Taking on the struggle for justice is a matter of
the heart and the conscience. she recently told the editor of he United Church
of Chist national newsletter

RICARDO JIMENEZ

Ricardo was born in Puerto Rico in 1956, His family moved to the US.when he
was til an infant. He attended Tuley High School in Chicago when the school
was in the midst of a crisis brought about by a racist principal and the lack of a
relevant curiculum for Puerto Rican students. As a member of Aspira and the
student councilhe was a leader n struggles which ultimatelyled to the creation
of the Roberto Clemente High School.Ricardo was also Vice President of the
Senior Class,a member of the national Honor Society and in 1974 was chosen by
the mayor as the city of Chicago's Senior High School Student of the Year,

In his community Ricardo worked s 2 volunteer at £l Rancor, drug rehabil
tation Center, and on a project on housing which led to the exposure of a plan
called the Chicago 21 plan, o tur the Puerto Rican community into an enclave
for the high income professional class. Upon graduation he attended Loyola
University and was a member of the Latin American Student Organization,
which developed the university’s fist Puerto Rican history class He lter attend-
edlinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and was selected 1o represent the
student body in 3 national conference on the need to force large US. corpora-
tions 10 open their doors to Litino engineers and other high tech professionals.

Ricardo was arrested in 1960, accused of seditious conspiracy and related
charges,and sentenced to 98 years In pison,he graviated to educational pro-
grams,both as a student and as a tutor for other students.He has volunteered
teaching iliterate and functionaly literate prisoners to read and wiite.

CARMEN VALENTIN

Carmen was born in Puerto Rico in 1946 and emigrated with her family to
the US. when she was 10 years old.She received a B4 from Northeastern llinois
University,a MA from Roosevelt University and at the time of her arrest was
completing her Doctorate from the University. Carmen became active in the
community as a young teacher at Tuley High School, where she struggled
against racism and an educational curriculum based on ignorance of the Puerto
Rican reality,outright lies and distortions.She took her role as educator seriously
and refused to compromise her principles with the Board of Education’s

12
awarded the Bronze StarWhen he returned from the war in 1967, he found that
drugs, unemployment, housing, health care and education in the Puerto Rican
community had reached dire levels and immediately set to work organizing to
improve the qualiy of lfe for his people. Oscar worked in the creation of both
the Puerto Rican High School and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.He was
involved in the struggle for biingual education in public schools and to force
universities to actively recrui Latino students,staff and faculty.He also worked
on ending discrimination in public utiites like linois Bel, People’s Gas, and
Commonwealth Edison. He was arrested in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years for
seditious conspiracy.In 1988 he was given an additional 15 years for conspiracy
10 escape.Oscar s n prison in the maximum security jail in Marion, linois under
oppressive conditions.His release date is 2021,

DYLCIA PAGAN

Dyicia was born in New York in 1946, At an early age she became involved in
the cvil rights movement, particpating in voter regstration drives. s a student
at Brookiyn College she helped organize the Puertc Rican Student Union which
resuled in the formulation of a student-controlled Puerto Rican Studes
Department By the early 19705 she began a career as a TV producer and wiiter
developing investigative documentaries and children's programs at NBC. ABC,
€85, and PS.She worked with the Puerto Rican Media and Education Council
which filed 2 seres of lawsuits againt the major elevision stations which facl-
tated the local public affirs programming that st exist todey.She also worked
as the English editor of the bilingual daily, El Tiempo.

Dylcia was arrested in 1980 and charged with seditious conspiracy and relat-
ed charges and sentenced 10 63 years. When she was arested in 1980, her
young child,whose safety she feared for,was hidden from the government In
the prison she has developed educational and cultural programs for the other
inmates, has taught aerobics, directed theatrical performances, and organized
carnivas fo Childrens Day.

ADOLFO MATOS

‘Adolfo was born in Puerto Rico in 1950. At the age of 15,he moved from his
native Lajas to New York City to ive with his grandparents. He has two daugh-
ters, Rosa Maria and Lydia. He was arrested in 1980 and i serving a 78 year sen-
tence for conspiracy and related charges. i famil ives in New York and Puerto
Rico and arely can afford the expenses of visiting him in Calfornia,where he
has been held over the last few years.He has become an artisan in prison, pro-
ducing copper etchings of Puerto Rican scenery and historical figures.

ALICIA RODRIGUEZ

Alicia was born in Chicago in 1953, the first in her family to be born in the
United States.On entering school, Alcia quickly discovered that being born in
the US.brought her no privileges, s her Puerto Rican parents,heritage, lan-
guage, and culture were regarded as foreign, different, and ugly by her teachers

15
and fellow students. Her fist trip to Puerto Rico, which came only after graduat-
ing high schoolwas a turning point n her ffe.On her third and last trp, as a
biology student at the University of llinois in Chicago, Alcia was heartbroken to
see the devastating effects of industrial pollution o the island and resolved to
combat the 100t of the problem -colonialism. She was arrested in 1980, convict-
ed of seditious conspiracy and related charges, and sentenced to 85 years in
prison. Her siste s da Luz Rodriguez Although she is one of the longest held
prisoners in the prison, with an immaculate record which includes the accumu-
Jation of 2 bachelors degree with honors,after 13 years she is not permitted to
walk unescorted across the grounds.

IDA LUZ RODRIGUEZ

Ida Luz was born in Puerto Rico in 1950.She studied
at the University of llinois in Chicago, majoring in psy-
chology and sociology. She participated in community
strugges for jobs, housing,and education,and worked
at a hospital in the Puerto Rican community that bla-
tantly discriminated against the very community it
served. She worked at the Puerto Rican High School
and with the Committee to Fice the Five Nationalists.
Her son Damidn is 22 years ol Her sister s Alicia
Rodriguez Ida was arrested in 1980 and sentenced to
83 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and related
charges.In prison she has finished her bachelor’s degree and contines studying
psychology, health and envirosmental questions. Her release date is 2014,

Alicia Rodriguez

Final Word

Puerto Rican Nationalists Oscar Collazo,Lolita Lebrdn, Iving Flores, Ancrés
Figueroa Cordero,and Rafael Cancel Miranda spent between 25 and 29 years in
US,jals for their actvites in support of Puerto Ricos independence and self-
determination untilthey were pardoned by president Jimmy Carter.It s urgent
that we join efforts 50 that the same thing will not happen o the potcal pris
oners and prisoners of war who today find themselves serving sentences in U,
jails.No one better to underline the importance of this campaign than Yazmin
Rodriguez and Noem Cortés, daughters of Alberto Rodriguez and Edwin Cortés;

We miss our fathers. And even though we have grown up without them, we.
love them very much. Nobody can take their place in our hearts,no matter what
is said about them. They have earned and will always have ou respect. W for-
gave them for leaving s and will wait with hope and admiration for their return.
Unfortunately,we are not the only children without parents There are many oth-
ers who have parents inJal for this cause. We hope that people will understand
our hardships and help us in ou struggle for their release.

They speak with the voices of al the children who awat the day of theit
mother or/and father’ elease.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1.Join ProLIBERTAD,

2.0rganize a ProLIBERTAD Committee in your cmmunity,church or work-
place.

3.Participate in activites in support of the prisoners;write to President and
Mrs.Clinton demanding their freedom;sign petitions demanding their
freedom; ask friends and family members to do the same.

4.Organize activities, conferences, o panel iscussions on the prisoners in
your community,church,school or workplace.

5:Wite aricles of letters to newspapers, magazines, ocal bulleins, et or if
You know somebody or have 2 relationship with 3 publication interested
in publishing an article on this theme, communicate with ProLibertad and
someone fiom our work group willwrite an artile

6.Support ProLIBERTAD with money. Wiite a check to USPRSN (ProLIBERTAD
Campaign). Mail o ProLIBERTAD, PO Box 477, New York NY 10159-0477

7.Wiite or call ProLIBERTAD:

New York: ProLIBERTAD PO Box 477, New York, Y 10159-0477
Telephone: (718) 601-4751 Fax (718) 601-3909.

Boston, MA: Latinos por el Cambio Social /o Central America Education
Fund, 1151 Massachusetis Ave. Cambridge, MA 92130 Telephone: (617) 492-
0699,

Amherst, MA: Max Dueias, 10 Hollister Apts. Hadley R, Amherst, MA 01002
Telephone: (413) 256-4578.

Washington, DC: Comité Independentista Puertorriaueiio del Area de
Washington. Contects: José Vargas: (703) 243-495 or Nitza Segu
(202) 2659678

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7
and in the anti-mining crusades and the land rescue movement in Puerto Rico
In 1985 he was arrested for conspifing tooverthrow the US. government in
Puerto Rico*and to obtain money fiom the Wells Fargo company, insured by the
United States government, o continue the independence struggle in Puerto
Rico.He is serving a 60 year sentence in Atlanta, GA.

ANTONIO CAMACHO NEGRON

‘Antonio was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico in 1945. Antonio, whose family has for
generations lived in the coffee-growing region of Yauco, was a farmet. He also
studied psychology at the Uriversity of Puerto Rico and two years of law at the,
Interamericana University. He worked as a therapist with the Department of
Services against Addiction, Mthadone Program. At the time of his arrest in 1986
he was working as a mechanic and was the sole source of income for his family
He was sentenced to 15 years for allegedly participating in a conspiracy in gen-
eral and interstate Wransportation of money in the robbery of the Wells Fargo
Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Antonio has four chidren, three boys and a
girlwho live in Puerto Rico.He is incarcerated in Pennsylvania, thousands of
miles away from his children and family.

LUIS ROSA

Luis was born in Chicago in 1960.At the time of
his arrest he was 19 years 0ld and was a young
father and a university student. He was also an excel-
fent baseball player,rectuited by professional teams
Atthe University of llinois he became involved in
the student movement and was president of the
Union for Puerto Rican Students.In the community
he was particularly involved in the struggle against
police brutalit. Luis was involved in the campaign
against police murders of unarmed Puerto Ricans
‘which arose in response to the killngs of Cruz and
Osorio in Humboldt Park in 1977 by the Chicago
police. e was an organizer for the Desfile del Pueblo- Luis Rosa
Puertorriqueno and at the Puerto Rican Cultural
Center.In 1980 he was arrested, charged with seditious conspiracy and related
charges,and sentenced to 105 years

I prison Luis has kept a youthful and enthusiastc spirt. He has continued to
be involved in sports,educational and cultural actviies. His spotiess record has
not prevented the state system from shuttling him mercilessly between maxi-
mum security prisons,or from one cell to another within 3 prison, or fiom limit-
ing his access to educational and other programs available to other prisoners.

OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA
‘Oscar was born in Puerto Rico in 1943.His family moved to the US. when he
was nine years old. He was drafted into the army and served in Viet Nam and

14

demands that she ignore the colonia plight of her people. Her educational pre-
sentations became controversial,and she was forcer to esign.

Carmen then began to work at the Central YMCA Community College.
Carmen sponsored both the lranian Student Association and the Organization
of Arab Students during an intense period of strugcle and controversy which
led to many physical confrontations with the local police as well s with the
Shahssecret police. In the communiy she worked to efeat the infamous Chic-
g0 21 Plan. She was 2 founding member and president of the José de Diego
Bilingual Center and was on the board of directors of Aspira ofllinois. Carmen
was also a founding member of the Ruiz-Belvis Educational Center and develop-
ed various educational and cultural programs for the maximum security prison
for men at Stateville ILIn 1980 she was arrested, charged with seditious conspir-
acy and related charges, and sentenced to 98 years.Her release date is 2043

Her son, Antonio, who was 10 years old at the time of Carmens arrest, has
graduated from college and works n the same school where his mother taught.
Carmen has a three year old grandchild

CARLOS ALBERTO TORRES

Carlos was born in Puerto Rico in 1952, His family soon thereater emigrated
to New York and then to Chicago Carlos grew up in his father’s house, a minister
with a passion for social justice. His step-mother i Alejandrina Tores. I his
junior year in high school he was able to participate in his first Pueto Rican his-
tory class,offered by Aspira He studied sociology at Southern llinois Universi
andater at the University of llinois at Chicago. At the Universty of linois he
became involved in the struggles against the racist teachings of Schockiey.
Ciitteneden and other sociologists,as wellas for Latino recruitment to the uni-
versity. Carlos was invoived in issues in the community related to police brutalit,
slum landiords, corrupt poliicians, and the colonial case of Puerto Rico.In 1980
he was arrested and charged with seditious conspiacy and related charges, and
sentences to 78 years in prison. His elease date is 2024

Upon his artes, hs three year old daughter was nidden for her safety for fear
that government agents would carry out threats 1o do her harm. In prison he has
worked for many years as 2 baker, atended colege
and taught Spanish to fellow prisoners.

JUAN SEGARRA PALMER

Juan was born in Puerto Rico in 1950, He comes
from a family with a long history of resistance to
both Spanish and US.colonialsm. He graduated
from Harvard University and continued studying in
Cuernavaca, Mexico. He is married to ex-poliical
prisoner Lucy Berios and has five children: Amilcar,
Ramon, Wendy, Luriza,and Zulena

During his youth Juan did cuitural workin the
poor barios of New Vork,in the prsons in Boston, Juan Segarra Palmer

3

About the Prisoners.

EDWIN CORTES
Edwin was born and raised in Chicago, one of 15 children.In 1973, after
a high school teacher told him that she did not teach Puerto Rican history
because Puerto Rico did not have a history, he became involved in Latinos
Unidos, a student group that called for the establishment of a Latin American
Studies curriculum and cultural programs. After graduating high school, Edwin
entered the University of lirois in Chicago where he joined a struggle that cul-
rminated in the establishment of programs for support services and recruitment
for Latinos. As a student leader he participated in struggles in support of the
Iranian, Paestinian, Ertrean, and Mexican people. He
also participated in the founding of the Puerto Rican
Student Union. In the community in which he lived
B he helped to set up programs for recreational and
employment opportunities or youth. He was 2 mem-
ber of the Committee 10 stop the Grand Jury and for
the freedom of the five Puerto Rican nationalit pris-
oners Edwin has two chiidren:Noemi and Carlos.His
chidren were two and four years old when he was.
arested in 1983 and condemned to 35 years in prison
for seditious conspiracy. His first ten months in cus-
tosy were spent in isoltion, imposed solely because
of the political nature of the charges against him, and
- ended only when the federal court ordered the prison
Edwin Cortéz to place him in the general population. In prison he has
been involved in the creation of cultural and social programs for prisoners. He
has also been active in vocational and arts programs. His release date is 2004.

ELIZAM ESCOBAR

Elizam was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1948, He comes from a family with a
long history of anti-colonial resistance. He has been activ in poliical struggles
and the pro-independence movement since the 1960’ He received 2 Bachelor's
Degree in Fine Arts from the Universiy of Puerto Rico and contined his gradu-
ate studies in New York In New York, he worked as a teacher at the Museum del
Barri,in public schools, and as 2 graphic arst with the Hispanic Artists
Association He was arrested in 1980, accused of seditious conspiracy, and sen-
tenced to 68 years in prison.

‘At the time of his arrest, his son Elizer was five years old. Eizer i studying to
become a musician and artist,and i taking college classes.Since the Prison
Board has kept Elizam in prisons in Wisconsin and Oklahoma hs family who
lives in New York and Puerto Rico can only visit him once 2 year

Elizam has continued writing and painting in prison. His paintings have been
exhibited in Puerto Rico, the United States, Latin America ,and Europe. His arti-
Blair House in Washington, DC.in 1950 and at the U5, Congress in 1954,

“The time has come for us to publicly denounce the human rights violations
committed against those Puerto Ricans who have struggled for the indepen-
dence of their country and to demand their unconditional amnesty. This cam-
paign is based in principles of justice that are important to all of us:

+ elfdetermination s 2 basi right of al people:

+The sentences imposed on the Puerto Rican politial prisoners are excessive.
and disproportionate;

+The Puerto Rican politcal prisoners
have been the objects of abusive prison
conditions which have viokated their human
rights;

~The Puerto Rican political prisoners
have served more time than is demanded
of most prisoners,including those who have:
been charged with murder

Now is the time to unite our efiorts to
‘demand their unconditional freedom!

Many voices have cried out for the
release of the Puerto Rican political prison-
ers and prisoners of war already. A few
‘examples of these voices include:

«Petitions and thousands of letters that 1da Luz Rodriguez.
have been sent to the president and the
attomey general of the United States.

+ New York's Gty Council and its former Mayor David Dinkins,

- Religious groups and individuals who have calied for freedom such as the
15th Synod of the United Church of Chist; General Conference of the United
Methodist Church; the Most Rev. Thomas J Gumbleton, Auxiiary Bishop,
Archdiocese of Detroit Right Reverend Paul Moore, Episcopal Diocese of New
York Esdras Rodriguez-Diaz, Associate General Secretary of the General
Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church; Cynthia
Nozomi lkuta,United Church Board of Homeland Ministies; the Ecumenical
Peace Institute/CALC of Berkeley, CA;and the Northern California Ecumenical
Conference of San Francisco,CA

+Legal and human rights organizations who have called for freedom such as
Puerto Rico's Bar Association; the president of the National Lawyers Guild; the
coordinators of the National Conference of Black Lawyers; and Roger Wareham,
Vice International General Secretary, Intemational Association against Torture

9
existence of a federal prison in Puerto Rico.
Adolfo Matos i assigned 10 a prison in Southem
Calforia even though there is a prison very
close 1o where his familylives in New York.
Elizam Escobar has requested a transfer toa
prison near to New York to be closer to his son
wholives in New York Cit. Although hundreds
of prisoners have been assigned o prisons in
the New York area,lizam has been denied 2
ransfer on the grounds of overcrowding
Further, the poiiical prisoners have been moved
around continually to different maximum secu-
ity prisons without prior warning to thei fami-
lies and/ of lawyers
Some of the prisoners have been attacked sexu-
ally For example, Alejandina Torres was
Alejandrina Torres an':(km by pzvscnn‘e\ in three different prisons.
The fist assault took place when she was locked in a men's unit, permitting the
men to exhibit themseives n front of her I a second incident 2 male ieutenant
forced her 1o put her head between his knees and observed while female
quards tore off her clothes and left her naked: The authorites responded to
complaints by putting Aleiandrina in soitary confinement, prohibiting from calk-
ing her family and lawyer to denounce the abuses. She was penalized for violat-
ing prison rules, and a secret letter was written 10 judge assigned to her case:
giving a false version of the events In another prison female guards held her
‘while a male guard inserted his fingers in her vagina and her anus during a
“search."The warden who ordered the search admitted later that he did not sus-
pect Alejandrina of having contraband, and that the search was in violation of
prison rules.
Even though Us.law stipulates that prisoners shouid receive medical service
equalto that of the standards avaiable to the gen
eral community,the Puerto Rican politcalprisoners
have been denied adequate medical attention.For
example, Haydeé Belrdn was left strile afte prison
offcals refused treatment for an inflammation of
the pelvisfor five years,ignoring episodes of drastic
weight loss and severe pains in her pelvis which
did not permit her 10 stand up.
Some of the prisoners have been locked in an
underground prison with the goal of destroying
them physically, psychologically.and poitically. For
example, Oscar Lépez who s in 2 maximum secur-
ty prison in Marion, L wrote in 1993:
1am enclosed n a cell that s 8 feet wide by 9
feetlong on an average of 22 hours each day. ~ Osear Lépex
6

crimes For example in 1976 Orlando Leteliera leade in the movement against
the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, and his assistant were assassinated by a
bomb that was placed in Letelier's car which was parked i front of his sk
dence in Washington, DC.The agent of the Chilean secret police who admitted
10 having placed the bomb was sentenced to 10 years in prison,of which he
served S years and two months. A major in the Chilean army received a sen-
tence of 7 yearsfor his role in the assassination and a Cuban exile who admitted
his role in the plot received a 12 year sentence.

A Ku Klux Klan Wizard, who was captured in a boat with an arsenal of arms
and explosives while attempting to invade a Caribbean island with the goal of
establishing a white supremacist state received a
three year sentence and was freed on parole after
two years? Another Klan leader received a sentence
of three years for possession of an arsenal and for
conspiracy.This same man was later sentenced to
three more years in prison for attempted murder
and racial harassment after shooting at two black
men.*

Two women anti-abortion activists sentenced for
conspiring in a series of Florida bombings including
a doctor’ office and a women's clinic, were put on
probation and received small fine. Their male co-
conspirators received ten years n prison and a fine
for three of the explosions,and were not tred for the Adolfo Matos
fourth explosion Michael Donald Bray who was.
found guilty of bombing ten clinics was sentenced to ten years and was set fiee
after serving 3.7 years*

The excessive sentences imposed on Puerto Rican women and men in prison
because of their political activites, make it lear that the goal i to punish them
for their political activity and not forthe acts that were alleged by the US. gov-
emment at the time of their arest.

Human Rights Violations

During their imprisonment, the Puerto Rican political prisoners have been
the objects of cruel treatment and degrading and inhumane condition, because:
of their poliical beliefs This is in direct violation of international norms which
prohibit discriminatory treatment of prisoners by prison personnel based on
their politcal beliefs or opinions.[United Nations’ Minimum Uniform Rules on
the Treatment of Prisoners (UNSMRTP), Rule A1 6 (1)]

Federal regulations stipulate that prisoners should be put in prisons as close
as possible 1o their homes and familes. Nevertheless the Puerto fican poliical
prisoners have been kept far from their families and communities in the United
States and/or Puerto Rico. For example, allthose arrested on August 30,1985 in
Puerto Rico have had to serve their sentences in the United States despite the.
Throughou thei ives they suffered the Puerto Rican colonial ealy and tht
consequences o their poliical and community involvement. They were fred
from their jobs, kicked out of schools and universities, denied scholarships,
threatened, spied on, attacked by the police and the FBL And when they rose u
and fought againt these injusices they were branded a terorists and placed
in some of the worst prisons in the US.

The Puerto Rico’s Colonial Case

Puerto Rico has been a colony for 500 years,fist of Spain and then of the
United States. I 1898, at the conclusion of what s called the Spanish-Americar
Wat Spain was forced 10 cede the island nation to the United States pursuant t
2 reaty between Spain,France and the United States No one consulted the
people of Puerto Rico, n violation of a Charter of Autonomy signed by Spain
and Puerto Aico which provided that the ilands status could not be altered
without consuling the Puerto Rican people The S, miltary deciared martial

Taw, installed a US. govenar, and began a program to
alter and destroy the fiber of Puerto Rico. Over the
years,the US.destroyed Puerto Ricas agrarian econo-
my. devalued its money. imposed citizenship on its
people to faciitate drafting ts men into the US,army
10 fight the U "wars; imposed the teaching of the
English language and U, history on its students; pol-
Iuted its ai land, and wate;steriized ts women;and
installed 21 US. miltary bases on some of the best
Tand. This would sound outrageous and unbelievable,
except that this is the very same U government tha
exposed unsuspecting citizens to radiation, as recent
eports have disclosed.
Puerto Ricass colonial realty cannot be overlooked.
George Bush admitted during his presidency that
Dylcia Pagén Puerto Rico's people had never been consulted on
their satus Even Pedro Rosselld, the colonial governor,called attention to Puer
Ricas colonial status n testimony before the United Nations in 1993,

As with any people of one nation dominated by another, there have always
been Puerto Ricans who resisted the U government’s control of their nationis
sovereigny. Ther resistance, whether the mere advocacy of independence or
the taking up arms against the colonize, has been censored and criminalized,
punished thioughout the years by harassment, surveillance, imprisonment. and
even summary execution The examples are numerous Some recent examples
include:in 1979 two pro-independence youth were assassinated at Cerro
Maravita by the police after an under cover agent set up a rap and the Puerto
Rican government partcipated in the cover up that ensued; in 1987 it was dis-
covered that the Puerto Rican police in collaboration with repressive US agen-
cies had maintained 3 ist of 50 called "subversives"along with over 135,000 fie:

2

What Is ProLIBERTAD?

ProLIBERTAD' goalis the unconditional freedom of al the Puerto Rican politi-
cal prisoners and prisoners of war.The work group is composed of individuals
and organizations who work together on a broad and unitary basis, accepting
difierences of ideological or poliical posiion, but sharing the responsiilty to
support these Puerto Ricans who have been imprisoned for their poltcal activi-
ties In the cause of Puerto Rico's independence and sef-detemination.

Its our aim to develop an educational campaign sponsoring activites,con-
ferences, publications, and use the press,radio and television to inform the pub-
lic about who the prisoners are, the circumstances of their imprisonment, and
the reasons why a person, whatever his or her political beliefs should demand
their amnesty.

We are aware of the work this entalls and see the need to collaborate and
coordinate as much as possible with other organizations and people working
for the unconditional freedom of al the Puerto Rican poliical prisoners and pris-
aners of war,as well with groups working fo the freedom of Afrcan-American,
Native American, Chicano and White poltical prisoners in the United States

Who Are the Puerto
and Prisoners of War?

‘They are workers and professionals,students
and teachers, community organizers,rtists, moth-
ers and fathers of families.And they are fighters for
Puerto Rico' independence and social justice.
These men and woren found Puerto Rico's colo-
nialreality intolerable and unacceptable. This situa-
tion led them to join the Puerto Rican indepen-
dence movement and to confront the United
States government directly. The majorty of the
political prisoners have spent more than a decade
i federal prisons for their politcal activities
During the 1970 and the beginning of the 80',
the prisoners were involved in community, union,
student and poiiical struggles in Puerto Ricoand Elizam Escobar
in the United States.They fought fo the people’s
fight to high quality,free education. They worked to create community intitu-
tions such as alternative education programs,child-care centers, health centers,
housing cooperatives,recreational facilties and politcal organizations. They par-
ticipated actively in churches,student groups,unions, professional associations,
committees against repression, campaigns against youth violence and drugs.In
summary they challenged the Us. poliical system in many ways.

lican Political Prisoners

WRITETO
THE POLITICAL PRISONERS
& PRISONERS OF WAR

Dylcia Pagsn
£88971-024
FCl Pleasanton, 5701 8th Street
Camp Parks, Dublin, CA 94568

1da Luz Rodriguez
#88973-024
FCl Pleasanton, 5701 8th Street
Camp Parks, Dublin, CA 94568

Carmen Valentin
88974-024
FCl Pleasanton, 5701 8th St eet
Camp Parks, Dublin, CA 94568

Antonio Camacho-Negrén
403587069
US Penitentiary Allenwood
White Dee,PA 17887

Edwin Cortés
#92153024
unit 33
PO Box 33,Terre Haute, IN 47808

Elizam Escobar
#88969-024
PO Box 1500, FC1 Colorado Two
€1Reno,OK 73036

Alejandrina Torres
92152024
FCI Danbury, Pembroke Station
Danbury, T 06811

Adolfo Matos Antongiorgi
#88968.024
3901 Klein Bivd (UnitJ)
Lompoc, CA 93436

Alicia Rodriguez
07157
PO Box 5007, Dwight, L 60420

Luis Rosa
02743
PO Box 711, Menard, L 62259

Juan Segarra-Palmer
#15357-077
USP Atanta,
601 McDonough Bivd SE
Atanta, GA 30315

Carlos Alberto Torres.
#88976:024
PO Box 1000, Oxford, Wi 53952

Ricardo Jiménez
#88967-024 (A-2)
PO Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Alberto Rodriguez
#92150-024 (8-3)
PO Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Oscar Lopez-Rivera
787651024
PO Box 1000, Marion, L 62959

Hilton Fernandez
403168069 (UW)

Jorge Farinacci
#00001-144
Both released 1o 2 half-way
house in Puerto Rico