Three House Democrats are asking President Clinton to pardon 15imprisoned Puerto Rican members of a terrorist group that killed fivepeople and injured dozens in the late 1970s in order to claim PuertoRico's independence.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Rep. Jose Serrano (D-New York)and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-New York), all of Puerto Rican descent,signed the letter and requested a meeting with Charles Ruff, counselto President Clinton. The prisoners were members of the Armed Forcesof National Liberation, known by its Spanish acronym FALN.
"Most of these prisoners have served more than 18 years inprison," the three wrote in a March 11 letter to Ruff. "Studies showthat this time is excessive given the crimes they were convicted ofcommitting."The issue is uniting political leaders who can't agree on otherissues, like the status of Puerto Rico, said Billy Weinberg, presssecretary for Gutierrez.Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for Ruff in the White House, said hereceived the letter but no meeting has been scheduled.Former President Jimmy Carter supports the release of theprisoners because they have served long sentences, said Harry Barnes,chair of the human rights commission at the Carter Center in Atlanta."My impression is the matter is being treated very seriously in theJustice Department," Barnes said.The Justice Department will submit its recommendation on thepresidential pardon to the White House. No deadline has been set.
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