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Cuba’s
Permanent Representative before the UN in Geneva, Rodolfo
Reyes,
sent Pillay a letter containing detailed information on the
unjust and
biased process against Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez,
Gerardo
Hernandez, Ramon Labañino and Rene Gonzalez —internationally
known as the
Cuban Five—, who were arrested and given harsh sentences for
monitoring
anti-Cuba extremist groups in South Florida that were
planning and
carrying out terrorist actions against the Caribbean nation.
In particular, Reyes included thorough information on the
appeal presented
by Gerardo Hernandez, who was sentenced to two life terms
plus 15 years.
According to Prensa Latina news agency, the letter also
includes elements
recently unveiled such as the fact that the U.S. Government
paid
journalists in Miami to launch and develop —as the trial was
taking place—
a smear campaign against the Cuban Five.
The Cuban diplomat also mentioned Opinion 19/2005 adopted by
the UN
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which stated that the
trial was not
impartial and that sentences were excessively severe.
The letter also denounces Washington’s repeated refusal to
grant visas to
Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez, the respective wives of
Rene and
Gerardo, to visit their husbands in prison.
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