CSC has donated £3000 towards the advert in the New York Times which was published on 3rd March following the release of the funds of the French and Spanish solidarity groups that had been confiscated by the US authorities. The aim was achieved of breaking the media blockade on the case of the Five in the run up to the appeal on 10th March. Subsequent adverts are to be placed in other US newspapers as the $50,000 target was surpassed and a publicist has been hired by the US campaign.
Geoff was present at the appeal hearing in the Miami court together with representatives of the US Free the Five Committee and lawyers from Los Angeles, Detroit, Puerto Rica, Argentina, Belgium, Italy and Germany. Roberto Gonzalez, who is a Cuban lawyer and brother of Rene Gonzalez, and Irmita the elder daughter of Rene, were also present on behalf of the families. The three judges that had been selected for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Atlanta, Georgia threw the prosecution on to the defensive while the defence team was given 5 minutes 40 seconds in addition to the 15 minutes allowed to present their arguments. The prosecution was given the same extra time which it squandered. For the first time it looked as though justice might at last be done although either side can appeal to the full Circuit Court if the decision is not in its favour.
Following the hearing the defence lawyers were upbeat about the proceedings which focused on the issue of venue and the murder conspiracy charge. Although a decision is not expected for another 2 – 3 months and no-one can predict the outcome the possibility remains that the more serious charge in relation to Gerardo Hernandez could be overturned. Re-sentencing for the espionage conspiracy charge could reduce the three life terms given to Hernandez, Labanino and Guerrero to a matter of years leaving the way open for a trade off with Cuba in the future. A press conference was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Miami immediately following the hearing.
While the Five were not present at the appeal Cuban consular officials in Washington were denied access to them prior to the hearing due to new restrictions on visiting which has been reduced from monthly to quarterly. Furthermore the families of the Five in Cuba can no longer be accompanied by consular staff when visiting the prisoners although Olga Salanueva, wife of Rene Gonzalez, and Adriana Perez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, are still denied visas. Other family members are also experiencing delay in obtaining visas which were applied for last September. Meanwhile the campaign continues to win visiting rights for the two women and a new one has been launched demanding the lifting of restrictions on consular visits by Secretary of State Colin Powell. A model letter has been produced.
Leonard Weinglass, attorney for Antonio Guerrero, has offered to visit the UK in the autumn for a speaking tour on the legal aspects of the case. The EC might consider arranging a public meeting in London such as the House of Commons before opening the tour to selected localities as in the case of Paul McKenna in 2002.
Amnesty International has been approached with regard to obtaining the legal documents required from the defence lawyers in order to take up the case of the Five as political prisoners. Geoff offered to bring the documents back from Miami but was told that the matter was in hand but that he would be contacted if necessary.
Antonio Guerrero is now back in USP Florence in Colorado following medical treatment in USP Springfield which is a prison hospital. Correspondence should now be sent to USP Florence in Colorado although replies will be delayed owing to the backlog of mail.
Geoff will be in Havana from 17 – 24 March meeting the families, government ministers and church leaders to discuss the way forward. Certainly we will need to build on the media openings created by the NY Times ad in the US which provide an opportunity to break the silence in the UK. One local letter to an evening paper in the UK has led to a full page story.
On 10th March Free the Five Committees held events around the world and several CSC groups marked the day with meetings etc.
Geoff Bottoms, Chair.