A high level delegation representing millions of people from across the globe recently met with US Government officials to hand over the final report of the International Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the case of the Cuban Five, according to President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement, Haleem Khan.
The delegation was made up of parliamentary representatives, Trade Unions, lawyers and NGOs and included two members of the British Parliament. Rob Miller, Director Cuba Solidarity Campaign, represented the thousands of supporters and organisations who made up the international coalition ‘Voices for the Five’ which had organised the Commission of Inquiry in March 2014.
Khan explained that the delegation met with United States’ diplomats Kevan Higgins, First Secretary Political Affairs, and Daniel Madar, Second Secretary, and lead for both human rights and Latin American issues.
He said the delegation described the standing of the International Commission of Inquiry and the rigour of its investigations into the case held over two days of intense scrutiny in March 2014 in London. The Commission had been presided over by three eminent international judges from France, India and South Africa.
“Out the three key findings from the Commission report it was disclosed: Firstly, that none of the conduct of any of the Five was aimed at the United States of America or its Government. Secondly, the Commissioner’s report urged President Barack Obama to grant humanitarian pardons and immediately release the remaining three prisoners. Thirdly, that the granting of such Presidential pardons has the potential to contribute substantially to the normalisation of relations between the United States and Cuba.” Len McCluskey, who led the delegation, said. “We are here representing millions of people from across the world who are now asking President Obama to grant humanitarian pardons for the three remaining Cubans held now for 16 years in US jails. At the same time we would like to see the release of the US contractor Alan Gross who has been held in Cuba for the past five years. It is time for all four of these men to be freed and returned to their families”
You must be logged in to post a comment.