PARDON WEINBERGER? FREE PELTIER!
Rumor has it that Bush is planning to issue a pardon to protect
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger from getting prosecuted
for his role in the Iran-contra crimes. When President Gerald
Ford pardoned ex-President Richard Nixon in 1974, it was a
similar act of "gratitude." It's not always true that thieves
fall out. Sometimes they stick together.
As long as ruling-class politicians are thinking of releasing
prisoners, they should keep some other prisoners in mind. There
are political prisoners incarcerated by the U.S. government who
deserve to be set free more than any of the Reagan-Bush gang. One
particular prisoner who comes to mind as the big fall holiday
approaches is Leonard Peltier.
This American Indian Movement warrior has served almost 17 years
for an alleged role in the deaths of two FBI agents during an FBI
shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Reservation on June 26, 1975. Peltier
has always maintained his innocence, and his attorneys make a
strong case that his constitutional rights were violated in the
original trial and subsequent appeal. They charge the government
manufactured evidence, coerced witnesses to lie on the stand, and
allowed FBI agents to perjure themselves.
Even before they brought him to trial, U.S. officials had to lie
to bring Peltier back to the United States. Pelter was extradited
from Canada illegally. Some 55 members of Canada's Parliament
protested that the U.S. government presented false affidavits to
gain the extradition. These 55 are part of a world movement
calling for Peltier's freedom.
Bush has more than enough reason to grant a commutation of
sentence. While it may seem unlikely that a Republican president
would release a progressive prisoner, there is a precedent.
Republican President Warren Harding commuted the sentence given
to Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs in 1920. Debs was in jail for
his resolute opposition to imperialist World War I.
But if Bush doesn't come through, there's still another
possibility. The new president, as one of his first acts in
office, can commute Peltier's sentence. Clinton even said while
campaigning in Florida this fall that he would consider such a
move.
One thing is for certain, the only way to insure release for this
indigenous leader is to keep the pressure on.
Free Leonard Peltier!
(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted
if source is cited. For more info contact Workers World, 46 W. 21
St., New York, NY 10010; "workers" on PeaceNet; on Internet:
"workers@mcimail.com".)
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