[NYTr] Aug 20 Hearing: New Milestone in the Cuban 5 Case

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Workers World - Aug 23, 2007 issue
http://www.workers.org/2007/world/cuban5-0823

August 20 Hearing: New milestone in Cuban 5 case

Published Aug 16, 2007 9:06 AM

By Yurién Portelles
Reprinted from Daily Granma, Aug. 9, 2007

Cuban law professor Julio Fernández Bulté says that the upcoming
hearing at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals of Atlanta on Aug. 20
marks a new milestone for the defense in the Cuban Five case.

Fernández Bulté told Prensa Latina that the hearing represents another
opportunity to present arguments showing the five men were in the
United States to thwart plots organized by Miami based groups to commit
terrorist acts against Cuba.

The attorney said he does not expect the hearing before the Appeals
Court to finally resolve the case of Gerardo Hernández, Antonio
Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González and Rene González,
imprisoned in the U.S. for nearly nine years.

Nonetheless, Bulté said that it represents a ray of hope for groups
around the world working for the freedom of the Cuban Five.

Among the charges the defense will focus on are those of conspiracy to
commit murder and espionage for which Hernández was sentenced to two
life sentences plus 15 years in prison.

Fernández said that the solidarity movement with the Cuban Five has
been successful in their campaign to expose the truth and that the
hearing in Atlanta is evidence that the United States feels the
international community is watching how they handle this case. However,
he emphasized that the moment has come to increase solidarity actions.

The Cuban law professor noted that the case is highly politicized with
powerful interests involved, especially those of the White House, and
that a major effort is needed to continue to expose the truth.

Articles copyright 1995-2007 Workers World. Verbatim copying and
distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without
royalty provided this notice is preserved.

Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww at workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe at workersworld.net