Urgent NEW letter writing campaign for Carlos Alberto Torres

Hi all:

Below is the article on Carlos Alberto parole hearing today [19 January 2010]. We are ramping up the campaign with a revised letter to the Parole Commission and have set goal of 10,000 letters within 30 days! We need to put the pressure on the parole commission to release Carlos Alberto and this is a historic opportunity to help bring Carlos Alberto home to us.

Please distribute far and wide. This is a new letter, so even if your friends, families, supporters have signed one already, they need to sign another one, and if possible send us a copy. The new letter is also attached below.

Thanks,


Alejandro
for the National Boricua Human Rights Network


Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres: Parole Hearing

On January 19, 2010, Carlos Alberto Torres attended a video hearing presided over by a U.S. Parole Commission hearing examiner whose task was to consider the disciplinary charges stemming from last January, and to make a recommendation for what should happen with respect to his request to be released on parole. Carlos Alberto answered the questions posed, and his attorney Jan Susler asked that the Parole Commission release him on parole as previously recommended, regardless of the wrongful charges. She pointed out the vast, ongoing support for his release, and argued that there is absolutely no risk in releasing him, as evidenced by the impressive example of his compatriots who were released by presidential commutation in 1999. The hearing examiner then made a favorable recommendation. The Parole Commission will make the final decision, hopefully within the next 30 days. There is still time to write to the Parole Commission to urge them to release Carlos Alberto. A sample letter can be found at www.boricuahumanrights.org and below.

****************************
U.S. Parole Commission
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Re: Carlos Alberto Torres, 88976-024, FCI Pekin

Dear Commissioners:

We write to urge you to adopt the recommendation of your hearing examiner and order the release of Carlos Alberto Torres.

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.

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.

We urge you to order his release as recommended. We are anxious to welcome Carlos home after three long decades behind bars.

Signature: ______________________________________
Printed Name: ___________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
City, State, Zip Code: ______________________________