CubaMinrex. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Platform Cuba The Netherlands

Postbus 58042
1040 HA Amsterdam
Tel/Fax: 020 615 1122
Email: pcn@chello.nl

To the Dutch members of the European Parliament.
Amsterdam, May 10, 2007.
Dear Member,

On the 8th of May, 2007, the Cuban born Luis Posada Carriles was set free from jail and acquitted from prosecution after having been charged with illegal entry into the United States. This release has greatly disturbed many.
Posada Carriles is a notorious terrorist who boastfully prides himself in having downed a civilian Cuban aircraft in 1976. All passengers, not only Cubans, but also passengers from other countries demised in this barbaric act.

In addition to masterminding this heinous crime, Posada Carriles repeatedly admits to attacks committed in Cuba: countless attempts on the life of President Fidel Castro Ruz as well as to assaults on tourist locations, one of which in 1997 claimed the life of a young Italian tourist. It is also publicly documented that Posada Carriles, in close cooperation with the CIA, was intimately involved in the ‘Dirty War’ in Central America during the 1980’s.

The United States Government, portraying itself as being resolutely against terrorism, continues coercing the world in accepting so-called security procedures making travel for Europeans exasperatingly more complex as well as demanding even more and more information in flagrant violation of our privacy.

While the United States authorities impose ever more stringent rules and regulations, they actually cursory release with impunity a notorious, self-proclaimed terrorist allowing him to move about freely among us! What makes this action of the United States Government particularly reprehensible and hypocritical is the case of the Cuban Five.

These five Cubans were working in the United States within Cuban exile groups, with the sole intention of preventing terrorist attacks upon their homeland, which even unclassified United States documents have revealed to have been relentlessly taking place throughout the past 45 years.

As you undoubtedly know, the Republic of Cuba has been the victim of a criminal and uniquely cruel economic embargo, pathologically maintained by the United States Government who not only condones but actually actively aids these rabid militant Cuban groups in committing their terrorist activities and their threatening intimidation of the public at large.

Subsequent to the handing over of their report to the FBI, as was bilaterally agreed to, the Five were summarily incarcerated. In extraordinarily biased South Florida courtrooms they were given penalties varying from 18 years to life imprisonment.

For over 9 years now, these men have been imprisoned under disproportionately harsh and inhuman conditions in different penitentiaries spread throughout the United States. The original trial was a mockery of independent justice, a principle in which Americans usually take great pride.

In the United States Congress demands of a hearing into the case of Posada Carriles have already been initiated. Congressman Bill Delahunt called on President George W. Bush to act quickly to ensure that alleged Cuban exile terrorist Luis Posada Carriles be certified as a terrorist under the Patriot Act and detained.

We respectfully request that you, in your capacity as a Member of the European Parliament, scrutinize this case so that true justice may be arrived at: namely that those brazenly admitting to their terrorism be brought to justice and that those attempting to, in fact, prevent these atrocities, be set free forthwith.

The prevention of terrorism involves us all. It is absolutely essential that we strive for and maintain accountability, credibility and hence legitimacy.

For Platform Cuba Nederland,

Harriett Broekman
Ira Goldwasser M.D.
Dr. Constance E. van der Maesen
Nico Varkevisser
Arnold van Wezel

* ‘Platform Cuba The Netherlands’ is an association of organizations and individuals, committed to defending the independence and sovereignty of Cuba and to strengthen relations between Cuba and The Netherlands.