|
THIS GENERATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IS GETTING CLOSER TO WALK THE STREETS, CORNERS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND SQUARES OF OUR PEOPLE Last July 5 the Human Rights Commission of the Senate approved our proposal for a law that will give us freedom now. Today, July 6, this will go through the Constitution, Legislation and Justice Commission closing the process of commissions review. The next step will be a final vote by the Senate in full on July 12. The prospects of freedom has been advanced due to our decision to exercise our right to hunger strike as a last resort, which became a useful instrument to get there. We always understood that this was our moment of freedom, and it is because of this realization that we went undertook this beautiful, just and dignified means of mobilization. The senators that support our ply for freedom have asked us that as a gesture of good will to solve our demands that we end our hunger strike. In view of this situation we declare: 1. We are happy with the advances made and can see in the near future the moment of our freedom. 2. We greet and value in all its magnitude all the support and active solidarity given us by our circle of supporters. This is also a reflection of years of struggle. From our supporters we hope to have the approval and trust about the decision we have made. We also greet all the expressions of solidarity with us in Chile and abroad. 3. To all the comrades that have played a key role in negotiating with Congress and the government goes our thanks and our respect. 4. We have decided to stop our hunger strike as an expression of our will that all will be resolved in the direction that we demanded, that is, giving us immediate freedom. 5. We trust the statements made public by Congress people and the government. However, we will remain alert and in case that the process is stalled we are willing to restart our mobilization. We are reaching the last leg of this long struggle. Our project is moving forward. Our comrade Julio Peña can now be pardoned by President Lagos. René Salfate awaits for his prison benefits. This generation of political prisoners is getting closer to the moment when they can walk the streets, corners, neighborhoods and squares of our people. Alert and with our desires and dreams firmly rooted, we will wait for the final vote in the Senate. We advice our relatives and supporters to remain alert like us and we ask you to go ahead with the march for our freedom next Thursday, July 7 at 7 pm in Plaza Brazil, and to make of this a moment of gathering and of expression of our reasons for liberty. End the antiterrorist law! Freedom now for all political prisoners! Claudio Melgarejo, Hardy Peña, Pablo Vargas Political Prisoners Collective Convergence for Freedom July 6, 2005 |