Amnesty International launch worldwide campaign for the Miami Five
2 October 2008
Amnesty International have launched the first
stage in their public campaign for visiting rights for Olga
Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, two Cuban nationals whose husbands are
serving prison sentences in the USA. The appeal is being sent out
in the October edition of Wire magazine that reaches up to 2.2
million Amnesty members worldwide via more than 100 national
chapters.
The women’s husbands, René González and
Gerardo Hernández, are two of five men known as the ‘Miami Five’,
who have been imprisoned in the USA since
1998. In an unfair trial they were found
guilty of “acting as unregistered agents of a foreign government”
and related charges. They were monitoring extreme right wing
paramilitary groups operating out of Florida who are responsible
for launching terrorist attacks against Cuba.
The US government has repeatedly refused to
grant visas to Olga and Adriana stating that both women were
involved with terrorism, espionage and a threat to US national
security. However, Amnesty make it clear that “neither has faced
charges in connection with such claims”.
The Amnesty campaign states: “Amnesty
International believes that denying prisoners visits from their
family is, unnecessarily punitive and contrary to standards for
humane treatment of prisoners and states’ obligations to protect
family life.”
It goes on to say: “by denying temporary visas
for visitation purposes, the USA is imposing unnecessary punishment
on the prisoners beyond the constraints of their imprisonment, in
contravention of international human rights standards.”
Rob Miller, Director Cuba Solidarity Campaign
said: “We are absolutely delighted that Amnesty International have
taken this action. Both Olga and Adriana will be in the UK next
week to attend a major London conference and protest vigil outside
the US Embassy. Now that millions of people across the world are
finding out about this injustice, we hope that the US
administration will start to see reason and grant these women the
chance to see their husbands as soon as possible”
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite
the Union said: “This case represents a travesty of justice by the
US government who are using the Miami Five to make a political
point against Cuba. To deny the families the right to visit their
loved ones is totally inhumane.”
Action points
1. Amnesty urge people to write urgently to
the US government to promptly grant visas to Olga Salanueva and
Adriana Pérez so that they may visit their husbands.
Write to:
Stephen McFarland
Head, Office of Cuban Affairs
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington DC 20520
USA
Fax: +1 202-736-4476
2. Olga Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, will be
in the UK next week to join with celebrities and members of the
public at a candlelit vigil outside the US Embassy on Tuesday 7
October, 6-7.30pm to appeal to the US Government for the right to
visit their husbands.
Ends
For interviews or more information
contact:
Rob Miller, Director, Cuba Solidarity Campaign on: director@cuba-solidarity.org.uk
or 07930 693 900 or
Natasha Hickman, Communications Manager, Cuba Solidarity Campaign
on: communications@cuba-solidarity.org.uk
or 07813 689777
Notes to editors:
- The Miami Five are Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Ramón Labañino,
Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González. They were
sentenced to prison terms of between 15 to 25 years in the USA
after being convicted of conspiracy to act as agents of the Cuban
government and related charges.
- National Press advert,
including full list of signatories, is attached.
- Amnesty International on the case:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e%26id=ENGAMR510132007
- The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, part
of the UN Commission on Human Rights, has ruled that the detention
of the five men was arbitrary and in violation of international
law.
- Further information about the Miami Five can be found at:
http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/miami5
- The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is a UK NGO that campaigns against
the illegal US blockade of Cuba and for respect for Cuba's
sovereignty.
- Unite has made a short campaigning which will be sent to 100s
of thousands of union members and is posted on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KIKBq1d84w
