Q: Why should President Clinton grant the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners a presidential pardon?

A: President Clinton has declared he wants his administration to be remembered as one that served to heal the nation. There are over 7 million Puerto Ricans who have not exercised their right to self-determination, and in 10 more months it will be 100 years since the U.S. usurped Puerto Rican sovereignty and imposed the yoke of colonialism on a people who have not given up wanting their freedom. During these years those Puerto Ricans who have fought for their freedom have been subjected to persecution, criminalization, imprisonment and even massacre. President Clinton has the wonderful opportunity to enjoin the vast majority of the Puerto Rican community who want colonialism to be eradicated, and in doing so he can further advance his lofty goal of healing the nation. He can start meeting the wishes of the Puerto Rican people by releasing all Puerto Rican Political Prisoners.

Q: Would President Clinton be taking risks making possible the excarceration of the PRPPs?

A: There is a precedent he can follow. President Jimmy Carter gave unconditional freedom to the Puerto Rican National heroes Oscar Collazo, Irvin Flores Rodriguez, Rafael Cancel Miranda and Lolita Lebron. The latter two have remained politically active in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence. Lolita Lebron was recently elected President of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. President Carter has lived not to regret his decision, (and he recently added his voice to those calling for amnesty for the current prisoners). Based on this precedent, President Clinton can live not to regret his decision of giving a presidential pardon and that excarceration of all Puerto Rican Political Prisoners.

Q: Should the PRPPs be asked to repent themselves as a pre-condition for their excarceration.

A: No, These are women and men who have served long prison sentences and who have paid the ultimate price for serving a just and noble cause. The majority of the Puerto Rican people have asked President Clinton to grant them unconditional release. President Clinton should follow the mandate of these people.

Q: What benefits are there for the Puerto Rican people if the prisoners are ex-carcerated?

A: These are women and men who spent years helping the Puerto Rican people before their imprisonment. They have skills and experiences in teaching, in cultural work, in the arts and in computers. These are principled people with the highest moral and ethical integrity. The U.S. government spends millions of dollars keeping the political prisoners incarcerated while denying their families and communities their presence and access to their much needed skills. The Puerto Rican people, also need healing. The hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans who have been the victims of political persecution need healing. To have the PRPPs among them will serve as part of that healing process.

Q: Why should the PRPPs be excarcerated now?

A: This is a historical moment and a crucial historical juncture. A decade ago Puerto Ricans were still being the victims of persecution and criminilization just for affirming that Puerto Rico was a colony of the U.S. Politicians in Washington would consider admitting that Pueto Rico was a colony a capital sin. And not a single major newspaper would have dared to admit that Puerto Rico was a colony, and that the Puerto Rican people were being denied their right to self-determination. But today the most conservative politicians in the U.S. and Puerto Rico are acknowledging that Puerto Rico is a colony. The U.S. government is claiming it wants to change this reality. If the U.S. is serious about finding a solution to the colonial status, then President Clinton should secure the release of the prisoners as soon as possible in order to give them the opportunity to be part of the process. They have already affirmed their desire to participate in all democratic processes instituted or implemented to deal with the issue of Puerto Rican political status and to eradicate colonialism. Hence, their excarceration should be now.