I was in Cuba on holiday
a few years ago. I have to say that Havana
is one of the most fascinating cities I have ever seen. It is as if it is stuck
in a 1950s time warp. The cars and the architecture are from another age. That is
the age before the Castro Government won power in 1959 and the US blockade
began.
It was
during this trip that I became aware of the injustice suffered by the Miami 5.
They are Gerardo
Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René
González. Cuba had been
subjected to a series of terrorists attacks from extremists based in Miami. It is suspected
that they were behind several thousand killings including the blowing up of a Cuban
Airplane in the 1970s.
The Miami 5 were sent to the USA
by Cuba
in an attempt to infiltrate and frustrate the plans of the terrorist group. They
were subsequently arrested and accused of espionage against the USA. They were tried
in Miami despite
Defence pleas for a different venue. This was because of the anti Cuban lobby
in Miami which effectively
meant that a fair trial was not possible.
Despite the
absence of any evidence that they had obtained any improper information they
were convicted and given extremely severe prison sentences.
This is one
of the great unsung injustices of recent years.
There is
more about their story here –
In 2010,
one of my Partners in EAD solicitors, Tom Doherty, visited CUBA and saw
the work being done on their behalf.
This week
sees the opening of an art exhibition in London
to highlight the cause and to raise funds.
EAD
solicitors is proud to be a co-sponsor of this event. If you are in the area
please visit the exhibition. Please also find out about and support them.
Fighting
against injustice wherever it is found.
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