That’s not Granma referring to one of “Los Cinco Heroes” serving time here for espionage – it’s from a Net for Cuba story referring to Eduardo Arocena, who is in jail after being convicted in 1984 for murder of a Cuban diplomat, conspiracy, and other charges. The story (with video) reports that Arocena’s wife asked Senator Joe Lieberman to carry letters to the President and First Lady asking for a pardon for her husband. In the video, Senator Lieberman said, “I’ll do my best,” and he told Mrs. Arocena, “I think of you like you were my family.”
Hard-liners on Radio Mambi have in the past also referred to Luis Posada Carriles as a Cuban political prisoner, when in federal prison.
ReplyDeleteThe category also applies to Santiago Alvarez, and any other "patriot" currently being held in US jails.
I still ask: Has any US president in the past given a presidential pardon to any person with a similar criminal record like that of Eduardo Arocena?
Wow, I didn't think I could dislike Lieberman any more. What a peice of work. He presents himself as this bulwark against terrorism but then offers to do his best to circumvent justice for this renown terrorist leader.
ReplyDeletePast Miami Herald articles on Eduardo Arocena and his eventual arrest here:
ReplyDeletehttp://eduardoarocena.blogspot.com/
Having read up on the matter of Presidential Pardons, Eduardo Arocena is currently only eligible for reprieve or commutation of his sentence.
ReplyDeleteThis past Monday, 34 Cuban exile organizations drafted the official letter to be sent to the US Office of the Pardon Attorney, and they are filing a petition for commutation, not a pardon.
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/
web/article.asp?artID=16330
Miriam Arocena's calls for a "Presidential Pardon" are specifically referring to a commutation of sentence, and not a petition for an official pardon.
Strangely, the recently drafted letter to the Pardon Attorney states that Eduardo Arocena has "shown remorse and contrition" for his crimes.
I've never seen any statements by Arocena that show regret for what he did. On the contrary, the entire campaign for Arocena's release continuously makes justifications for his past actions, similar to those stated by Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch: noble actions for a free Cuba.