MEXICO: JOAQUIN HERNANDEZ GALICIA FREED FROM PRISON

Описание: (18 Dec 1997) Spanish/Nat

Joaquin Hernandez Galicia, the once-feared boss of Mexico's powerful oil workers union, was freed from prison on Thursday.

His release came nearly nine years after troops stormed his home and arrested him on manslaughter and weapons charges.

Crowds gathered early outside Mexico City's Eastern prison ahead of the release of the man known as "La Quina."

Joaquin Hernandez Galicia was an old-style Mexican labour leader who became one of the country's most powerful and wealthiest men through patronage, corruption and strong-arm tactics.

Last week, a judge cited good behaviour in ordering his release four years earlier than scheduled.

Hernandez had been sentenced to 13 years.

The Interior Ministry initially rejected the decision, but relented Tuesday without explanation.

Hernandez was housed in the prison's medical wing for the last seven of his nine years in prison.

Speaking through the window of the car that carried him through the crowds, he said that he was now retired and plans to spend time with his family.

He added that he would no longer be involved with the union.

These sentiments were echoed by his son.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"It is his own decision to not get involved in absolutely anything. All I can tell you that since he has obtained his freedom he said he wanted to stay out of the public eye."
SUPER CAPTION: Joaquin Hernandez Junior, "La Quina"'s son

A former welder, Hernandez led more than 150,000 oil workers at the apex of his 30-year climb to power.

His union was a bedrock of support for the ruling party, filling campaign rallies and organizing voter turnout.

He controlled oil jobs and lucrative drilling contracts, construction companies, funeral parlors and ranches.

In 1988, he criticized Carlos Salinas' presidential candidacy and threatened an oil workers' strike if Salinas privatized any part of the government oil monopoly, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.

On January 10, 1989 - about a month after Salinas took office - soldiers allegedly found hundreds of weapons illegally stockpiled in the house.

Oil workers staged protests and wildcat walkouts in the days following his arrest.

But he was convicted on manslaughter charges related to the death of a federal agent killed in the raid.

His conviction for illegal possession of weapons later was reversed.

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