University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository NotiSur Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) 10-25-1988 Chile: Socialist Leader Almeyda Released From Prison John Neagle Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/notisur Recommended Citation Neagle, John. "Chile: Socialist Leader Almeyda Released From Prison." (1988). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/notisur/2408 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NotiSur by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. LADB Article Id: 074095 ISSN: 1060-4189 Chile: Socialist Leader Almeyda Released From Prison by John Neagle Category/Department: General Published: Tuesday, October 25, 1988 On Oct. 19, Chilean socialist leader, Clodomiro Almeyda, was released from prison in Santiago, after serving 390 days for reportedly acting as an "apologist for terrorism." At the prison door, he was surrounded by photographers, reporters and hundreds of singing and chanting supporters. Almeyda has served as a rallying point for the opposition since he returned to Chile home from enforced exile by crossing the mountains on a mule. During his stay in prison he directed a faction of the Chilean Socialist Party. Almeyda was released as a result of a decision of the Supreme Court reducing his sentence from 541 days to 390 days. The court decision did not alter the ruling of the constitutional court that deprived him of political rights last year. Based on Article 8 of the constitution, which outlaws activities that advocate violence, a totalitarian state or the class struggle, the ruling prohibited him of the rights to vote, run as a candidate for office, teach in or direct any educational institution, or express his ideas in the news media.