Word: ortega
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...prison commander, American Mercenary Eugene Hasenfus learned that he was a free man. A few hours later, the baggy-eyed gunrunner savored his first taste of liberty since his plane was downed over Nicaragua on Oct. 5 while delivering weapons to contra rebels. Standing beside Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, he said, "Today has been a day of great surprises, a day I'll surely remember in my heart forever." By nightfall, Hasenfus was tucked away safely at the U.S. embassy in Guatemala City, and 24 hours after that he and his wife Sally were jetting home to Marinette...
There is also the potential for further political surprises. Last week an appeals court in Managua upheld the 30-year sentence of downed U.S. Gunrunner Eugene Hasenfus, thus paving the way for a pardon by Christmas, as President Ortega once hinted might be possible. Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd was expected to ask for Hasenfus' release during a visit to Managua this week. If the Wisconsin gunrunner returns home, various congressional committees are certain to want to question him extensively about the private U.S. supply network...
...this be a reminder to President Reagan that there are children here that must have birthdays without the threat of death and mutilation," Ortega said...
...Ortega's request, the Nicaraguan National Assembly voted to pardon Hasenfus, a process that took only a few hours from the time it was first announced by the Nicaraguan government radio station...
...that he be pardoned, and there was no quid pro quo for his release," he said. "Mr. Hasenfus' situation was a small part of my conversation with Ortega, perhaps 15 minutes of a 4-and-a-half-hour conversation...