Gun-runner freed as Nicaragua’s Christmas gesture

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 6

Gun-runner freed as Nicaragua’s Christmas gesture

NZPA-Reuter Managua The convicted United States gun-runner, Eugene Hasenfus, left for home yesterday a free man after the Nicaraguan Government pardoned him as a Christmas gesture to the American people. "Today has been a day of great surprise, a day that I will surely remember in my heart forever," said Mr Hasenfus, who last month was sentenced to 30 years in prison for flying weapons to rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandinista Government “Thank you, President Ortega. Thank you to the people of Nicaragua,” he told a press conference. President Daniel Ortega handed the American over to a United States Senator, Christopher Dodd, saying: “This is a Christmas message and a New Year message to the American people on the part of the people of Nicaragua. “We trust and hope that this gesture of peace ... will contribute to achieving peace,” he said. Mr Dodd later left with Mr Hasenfus and his wife, Sally, on a private jet for Guatemala City, where the Hasenfuses were expected to stay overnight before flying to Miami today. Before leaving, Mr Dodd, a Democrat who is on a tour of Central America, said he had discussed a possible pardon with the Nicaraguan leader on Wednesday evening, and yesterday met Sam Hall, another American held in Managua on spying charges. Sally Hasenfus, who has

been in Nicaragua for the last week, said at an earlier news conference that her husband’s release would come in time for their son’s birthday today. “I couldn’t be more happy. There couldn’t be a better birthday present for Adam from President Ortega,” she said. "To the people of Nicaragua, you are beautiful people. Thanks for treating me kindly,” she said in an earlier broadcast on the official “Voice of Nicaragua” radio. The White House expressed approval at the pardon, saying, “We are glad he has been released and will be able to spend Christmas with his family. But the State Department, while saying it was pleased, said the incident had been orchestrated for maximum progaganda effect. “We are gratified that the Sandinistas have released Mr Hasenfus and that he will be reunited with his family during the Christmas season,” said a

State Department statement. "However, the handling of this entire incident was orchestrated by the Sandinistas for maximum propaganda effect” Mr Hasenfus, aged 45, a Vietnam War veteran, had served just over a month of a 30-year sentence handed down for terrorism and other crimes. He was captured on October 6 after his plane was shot down over southern Nicaragua while on an arms drop to United States-backed contra rebels fighting the Nicaraguan Government Mr Hasenfus, who looked happy but slightly bewildered by the speed of yesterday’s events, declined comment when asked if he felt any remorse about his actions. At the earlier news conference, Mr Ortega reminded Nicaraguans that the war was still going on. "We have got thousands of children who have been orphaned on account of the war, children who have been murdered, women murdered, elderly folk murdered, workers that have been murdered,” he said. “With this gesture we call on Mr Reagan’s conscience to reflect on the present course he is following.” Mr Dodd said no deal had been struck or conditions attached to Mr Hasenfus’ release. He also said he had visited Sam Hall, who was arrested on Friday outside the Punta Huente air base and accused of spying. “He is in good health and in good spirits. He said he hadn’t been manhandled,” Mr Dodd said.