Ricardo Alarcon: "Washington Opposes Review of Cuban 5 Case by US Supreme Court"

[magbana]

Washington Opposes Review of Cuban Five Case by US Supreme Court

HAVANA, Cuba, May 26 (acn) The president of the Cuban Parliament,
Ricardo Alarcon, said on Monday that the US Government announced this
weekend that it is against the review by the US Supreme Court of the
case of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who remain unjustly
imprisoned in the United States.

Gerardo Hernndez, Ramn Labanino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez,
and Rene Gonzalez - internationally known as the Cuban Five - were
arrested in South Florida where they were monitoring anti-Cuba extremist
groups that were planning and carrying out terrorist actions against the
Caribbean nation. They were arrested in Miami in September 1998 and
later convicted to very long and unjust sentences in a biased and
political frame-up trial that was full of violations.

Alarcon explained that the defense team of the Cuban Five now has 10
days to present their reply to the Supreme Court before the judges of
this judicial body meet to decide whether they accept the case or not.

The Cuban top legislator added that if the Supreme Court takes the
case, it should have a verdict ready before the end of the current
year, "although we should not forget that there is a period of summer
break."

An unprecedented number of amicus curiae - friend of the court - briefs
have been filed with the Supreme Court by national and international
personalities, jurists and human rights organizations requesting review
of lower court rulings.

Alarcon reiterated his admiration for the resistance of the Cuban Five
and particularly of Gerardo Hernandez, who is serving two life terms
plus 15 years.

He revealed that in recent days, the authorities of the maximum security
prison where Hernandez is being held, punished all the inmates,
including the Cuban anti-terrorist fighter.

The president of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament) was speaking
on Monday to personalities and ambassadors from Arab nations and Russia,
invited to the 14th International Festival of Poetry that began
yesterday in Havana.

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2009/0526casoloscinco.htm

[EFerrari]

1. I wonder who Washington is. The Justice Department? State?