APPEAL FROM ALBERTA, CANADA, IN BEHALF OF HUGO BLANCO
Edmonton
Joining the widening international campaign to save the life of Hugo Blanco, 32 prominent political, antiwar and academic figures in Alberta, Canada, have demanded ‘that Blanco and his companions be freed. The text of the petition, which was sent to Peru December 10, was as follows: ;
"President Fernando Belatinde Terry
"Lima, Peru
"Dear Mr. President:
"We would like to remind you of the recent petition sent by 400 scholars from New York City asking for clemency for Hugo Blanco. In addition we know that other messages were sent from the U.S., Europe and Asia all concerned about Hugo Blanco and his companions.
"Therefore when we hear that the Supreme Council of Military Justice is being asked to reinstate the death penalty we are shocked. Blanco was not a military man and should have been tried before a civil court. That is how things are done in most civilised countries. In addition it is plain that the death of Blanco will not stop social change in Peru. His death would however brand his executioners as bereft of humanity and sanity. Only fear would drive anyone to the insane conclusion that Blanco's death will halt social movement in Peru. Do not allow Peru to be disgraced by the wanton murder of a man who has desired only that justice be done the people of Peru.
"Free Hugo Blanco and his companions."
The signers of the petition included the top leadership of the Alberta Young New Democrats (the youth of Canada's Labor party the New Democratic party); P. Quinlan,
editor of Alberta Labor, organ of the Alberta Federation of Labor (CLC-AFL-CIO); the entire executive.of the University of Alberta Vietnam Action Committee; Professor R. Furcht, chairman of the Edmonton Committee to End the War in Vietnam; and University of Alberta professors Charles Nunn and Kenneth Mills.