More than 50 people had gathered here August 15 at the San Romero Church in Washington Heights to welcome Camacho on his way back to Puerto Rico. The meeting turned into a lively protest of prison officials’ refusal to release him two days earlier, as originally scheduled.

Camacho is one of four Puerto Rican freedom fighters remaining in U.S. jails for years-long sentences stemming from their activities for Puerto Rican independence. Still imprisoned are Haydée Beltrán, Carlos Alberto Torres, and Oscar López Rivera. Camacho had served his full 15-year sentence and was to be released with no parole conditions, but when his family showed up at the prison for him, they were told that he was not being released that day. When they pressed for more information, they were dismissed without further explanation as to why Camacho was being held past the completion of his sentence. Prison authorities continued to hold Camacho for nonpayment of the fine levied at the time of his sentencing. At an August 16 hearing it was determined that Camacho was unable to pay the fine, clearing the way for his release.  
 
The ‘Hartford 15’
Camacho was one of 15 Puerto Rican activists convicted on frame-up charges in connection with the 1982 robbery of $7 million from Wells Fargo in Hartford, Connecticut. Most of the Hartford 15, as the framed up independentistas came to be known, were arrested during massive FBI sweeps in Puerto Rico in August 1985. Camacho was arrested in March 1986, and sentenced to 15 years for his alleged role in the robbery.

Camacho has been released on parole twice before, only to be rearrested. In 1998 he was put back in prison for allegedly violating the draconian conditions of his parole, which included reporting every 72 hours to U.S. authorities in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and not associating with other independence fighters who had served time in prison. In 2002, he was rearrested after a year out on parole, again for allegedly violating his parole conditions. He had publicly announced at the time that he would not abide by the rules set by U.S. authorities because he did not recognize their right to set such conditions.

At the August 15 meeting in New York, Esperanza Martel, a leader of the pro-independence group ProLibertad, said that Camacho wasn’t present “because Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States and he is a freedom fighter.” She added that because of the colonial reality, Puerto Rican pro-independence fighters in prison are treated as “terrorists.”

Benjamin Ramos and Frank Velgara, of ProLibertad one of the groups that have organized the campaign in the United States to free all imprisoned Puerto Rican freedom fighters, also addressed the meeting. Father Luis Barrios, pastor of the San Romero Church, urged those gathered to continue to press for Camacho’s release, and that of other Puerto Rican activists behind bars.

ProLibertad issued a press statement August 19 announcing that following his release Camacho was informed that he now has to serve two more jail sentences: one for 180 days and the other for 90 days. No explanation for the added time was given. He was told that he had to report by 9 a.m. the next day to the federal prison at Guaynabo in Puerto Rico. ProLibertad has called for protests against this injustice, which is aimed at perpetuating Camacho’s time behind bars.  
 
Vieques prisoners
ProLibertad has also called for letters to protest the treatment of José Pérez González by the authorities at the Elmore County jail in Wetumpka, Alabama. Pérez González, one of five Puerto Ricans jailed on charges stemming from activities to force the U.S. Navy out of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, was moved to this contract jail for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Pérez González was placed in solitary confinement for 23 hours out of the day for two weeks, with no explanation for this punishment. He has since been moved in with the general prison population.

ProLibertad is asking that letters demanding an explanation for his transfer to Wetumpka, and that he be moved to a minimum security prison, be sent to: R.E. Holt, Director, Southeast Regional Office, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 3800 Camp Creek Parkway, S.W., Building 2000, Atlanta, GA 30331-6226.  
 
 
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