I'm not a political person. I don't understand it, I'm not interested in it, I don't care much about it.But when politics affects my friends, I learn fast.
Nov 2010: I had just crossed into Panama. 2 weeks later, Pedro called to ask if I had been watching the local news. "Jason's been arrested, dude. They just all crashed into his house and took stuff. They're accusing him of some pretty rough stuff."
His mom had been visiting, fresh off a medical conference she had attended in Costa Rica. How crazy must that have been to see her son dragged out of the house by police with no explanation. When I came back to Nicaragua, I stayed with his wife and kid, so they wouldn't be alone in the house. I watched Jabu so she could visit him in prison several towns over to bring food and clean drinking water. We all thought that it would be quick, he would be released fairly soon, that it would be clear that there was real reason nor evidence against him.
Aug 2011: Jason is convicted of organized crime, international drug trafficking, and money laundering. He is sentenced to 22 years in Nicaraguan prison.
Aug 2012: 18 months later, he is finally being granted an appeals hearing. It concluded this afternoon. Jason gave his address to the court and AC360 correspondent, Miguel Marquez was at the courtroom to speak with his sisters Janis and Jaime:
"The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that he was not provided with a trial consistent with its obligations under international law. Subsequently, the Working Group called for the Nicaraguan government to order Jason's immediate release.
"We are gratified that the United Nations has found Jason is being held in violation of international law,” said Puracal’s international attorney, Jared Genser. “We call on the Nicaraguan government to release him immediately in accordance with this important ruling.”
More coverage can be found on such sites as Reuters, CNN, a Change.org petition, and of course, from FreeJasonP.com
For an overview of Jason's case:
Or watch a previous interview on AC360 with Anderson Cooper here