Mexico: General Gallardo
On 7 February 2002 General Gallardo, a prisoner of conscience detained for over eight years, was released after President Fox ordered that his sentence be reduced to time served. He was detained in 1993 after criticizing human rights violations by the Mexican armed forces and for proposing the creation of a military human rights ombudsman to investigate such abuses.
In 1994 Amnesty International adopted General Gallardo as a prisoner of conscience.Amnesty members have campaigned for his release over many years and it is this on going pressure on the authorities that has contributed to secure his release. General Gallardo 's family have expressed their gratitude for all our help:
"We are all very happy that our father has been released and we are profoundly grateful to Amnesty International. Without your support my father's release would not have been possible."
-Information taken from the central Amnesty International website.