29 November 1998

Dear Sir,

17 people have now been in prison in Grenada for over 15 years for their alleged part in the murder of Maurice Bishop and others in October 1983.  Even had their guilt been established in a fair trial, they would by now, in most countries, have been considered for parole or release in view of their acknowledged good behaviour. But in this case:

1. They were convicted on the sole evidence of one extremely unreliable witness.



2. A witness who would have given contrary evidence was barred from testifying.



3. The jury was selected by improper means with a view to ensuring a panel who were hostile to the accused.



4. There are strong indications that confessions were obtained by means of torture.



5. The right of appeal to the Privy Council was deliberately not restored until after the completion of this case.



6. 3 judges were highly paid to hear the appeal; their rejection of it suggests that the upholding of the sentences in spite of the irregularities of the trial may put in question their impartiality.



7. This suspicion is strengthened by the refusal of the 2 surviving appeal judges to submit their written judgment, 8 years after the appeal took place: this suggests that the publication of such a judgment would surely betray the inadequacies of their position.



8. Their 8-year delay seems all the more irregular in view of the fact that one of these judges has criticized judges in his own country for 4-year delays in submitting such written judgements.

For these and many other reasons, the continued imprisonment of the Grenada 17 cannot be justified. They have apologized for their part in the breakdown of government that contributed to the tragic affray in which Maurice Bishop was killed. They have led exemplary lives while in prison, helping and educating other prisoners, and have agreed not to return to political activity. If the reputation of the English-speaking Caribbean for fair play and justice is to be maintained, the cruel anomaly of the continued imprisonment of these victims of injustice must be terminated.

We hope that you and your readers will bring pressure to bear on the government of Grenada to ensure the rapid publication of the appeal judgment, and its scrutiny by the Privy Council - processes likely to lead to the early release of the prisoners.

Yours faithfully,