Amnesty International accuses US Government of ‘stacking the case’ against the Cuban Five

Amnesty International (AI), the worldwide Human Rights organisation, has accused the US Government of ‘stacking’ the case against the Cuban Five. The Cuban Five are five Cuban men arrested in Miami in 1998 while attempting to stop terrorist attacks against the Cuban people.

The AI report spotlights US Government intervention in the build up and during the trial of the Five thus ensuring a successful prosecution, but at the same time making a fair trial impossible.


http://www.voicesforthefive.com/downloads/AI-Cuban-5-Presentation-International-Commission-April-2014.pdf

The systematic payment of journalists to write stories affecting the case, the obstructions on the Five to obtain legal counsel and the fact that procedural and other rights were not afforded to both the defence and prosecution in equal measure, mean that in the view of Amnesty International the Five could not receive a ‘fair trial’.

The right to a fair trial is a fundamental principle under international law which makes clear that a trial must not only be fair but must be seen to be fair. It is guaranteed under Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the ICCPR, a key human rights treaty to which the United States itself is a signatory. In the same statement AI calls the double life sentence for one of the Five, Gerardo Hernández, a ‘manifest injustice’.

We would encourage all those interested in this case to contact their local national Amnesty Sections to bring this report to their attention and urging them to coordinate campaigning initiatives for the immediate release of the remaining prisoners, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramón Labañino and Antonio Guerrero.

Amnesty International gave the formal presentation to the London International Commission of Inquiry into the case of the Cuban Five in March alongside presentations from almost 20 witnesses including lawyers, academics and Cuban Five family members. Over 2000 people attended the Commission events including the Voices for Cuba concert at the Barbican theatre, and over 300 people from 27 countries participated in the International Commission at the Law Society in the heart of London’s legal district.

Over 6000 people and organisations have already added their messages of support to Voices for the Five. You can add your voice too.

Please help us spread the message.

Thank you.

The Voices for the Five and Cuba Solidarity Campaign UK team
Voices for the Five Cuba Solidarity Campaign, c/o Unite
33-37 Moreland Street
London EC1V 8BB, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7490 5715
Email

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