Gregorio Apaza meets with his family outside Castro Castro prison

Gregorio Apaza reunites with his family outside the Castro Castro prison after being pardoned by the Ad Hoc Commission composed by priest Hubert Lanssier on October 21, 1996. Apaza had been held for one year and eight months on charges of terrorism until he was included in the first group pardoned by that commission, created by Legislative Decree on August 17, 1996, with the aim of evaluating, qualifying, and proposing, on an exceptional basis, the granting of pardon or presidential clemency for persons prosecuted or convicted of terrorism and treason offenses. The working group was composed of a representative of the President of the Republic, priest Hubert Lanssier, the Ombudsman, and the Minister of Justice. Between 1996 and December 1999, during the commission's mandate, 452 persons were pardoned and 50 were granted clemency.