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<font size=3>Dear Friends, <br><br>
This Easter Day and Passover Week coincide with the 30th anniversary of
Carlos' Alberto Torres' arrest. Please join IPOC both in observing and
inviting other organizations and communities of faith and conscience to
observe this significant moment in the quest for freedom for him and for
and his imprisoned compatriots, Oscar López Rivera and Avelino González
Claudio.<br>
<br>
Thank you for your support and solidarity!<br>
<br>
In struggle and hope,<br>
<br>
Nozomi Ikuta<br><br>
Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project<br>
PO Box 770608 <br>
Lakewood, OH 44107<br>
<br>
216 624-6781 <br>
<a href="mailto:ipoc@sbcglobal.net">ipoc@sbcglobal.net</a><br>
<br>
<i>Steering </i> <i>Committee: <br>
</i> <br>
<i>Rev. Dr. C. Nozomi Ikuta, Rev. Sala Nolan Gonzales, Toby Emmer, Dr.
Diane Fujino, Alejandro <br>
Molina, Irma Romero<br>
</i> <br>
March 1, 2010<br>
<br>
This year, on Sunday, April 4, as Christians celebrate Easter and Jews
celebrate Passover, Carlos Alberto Torres will complete 30 years in
prison for acts and beliefs in favor of Puerto Rican independence. Carlos
has served more time in prison than Nelson Mandela had in South
Africa; he is also the longest-held political prisoner in Puerto
Rican history and among the longest-held political prisoners in the
world.<br>
<br>
When Carlos sought release on parole in 1994, the Parole Commission
denied his request and said they would consider his case after he served
an additional 15 years. That hearing was set for January of 2009. The
week before his scheduled hearing, prison officials claimed to find
home-made knives in a light fixture in the ten man cell they assigned him
to. The hearing was postponed.<br>
<br>
One of the cell occupants took sole responsibility for the knives,
swearing that he hid them from Carlos and the others cell occupants, and
that they knew nothing about them. Yet, deviating from routine
disciplinary practice, Carlos and the others were all found guilty of
possessing the knives. Fortunately, Carlos’ administrative appeal
resulted in the dismissal of the charges.<br>
<br>
Carlos finally had his parole hearing on May 26, 2009, and was
recommended for release.<br>
<br>
Inexplicably, the false charges were reinstated a month later.<br>
<br>
In a subsequent parole hearing, in January of 2010, another hearing
examiner again recommended his release. <br>
<br>
We support the hearing examiners' recommendations to release Carlos from
prison and look forward to welcoming him home. <br>
<br>
In 1999, President Clinton heeded the call of people in the US and Puerto
Rico who had united in calling for the release of Carlos and the other
Puerto Rican political prisoners. Now, more than ten years later, we are
renewing our call for Carlos to rejoin his friends, families, and
communities, and our society as a whole.<br>
<br>
As we approach the Easter and Passover holidays, we encourage all people
of conscience to sign the call for his release, to take part in the April
3 observances of the 30th anniversary of his arrest, and to raise
additional prayers for him throughout Passover, on Easter, April 4, and
on other significant moments appropriate to their faith tradition. Our
prayers are also with Carlos’ imprisoned compatriots, Oscar López Rivera
and Avelino González Claudio.<br>
<br>
In this season of reconciliation and new beginnings, it is time for
Carlos to begin his new life with us. It is time for him to come
home.<br>
<br>
United States Parole Commission<br>
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420<br>
<br>
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7286 <br>
<br>
Re: Carlos Alberto Torres, <br>
88976-024, FCI Pekin<br>
<br>
Dear Commissioners: <br>
<br>
We write to urge you to adopt the recommendation of your hearing examiner
and order the release of Carlos Alberto Torres. <br>
<br>
We believe that there is no reason for the intervening disciplinary
charges to adversely affect your decision. Not only has Carlos maintained
an impeccable disciplinary record for 29 years; but the person
responsible for possessing the hidden weapons confessed, telling the
prison disciplinary committee that Carlos knew nothing about the weapons.
<br>
<br>
There is no risk in ordering his release. He enjoys wide support from the
whole of civil society in Puerto Rico, and his co-defendants have
accumulated an impressive record of support and respect in the ten years
since their release.<br>
<br>
We urge you to order his release as recommended. We are anxious to
welcome Carlos home after three long decades behind bars. <br>
<br>
Signature: <br>
______________________________________<br>
<br>
Printed Name: <br>
___________________________________<br>
<br>
Address: <br>
_______________________________________<br>
<br>
City, State, Zip Code: <br>
______________________________<u> <br>
</u> <br><br>
<br><br>
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San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
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