Action Alert #7

March 12, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Cuban 5 have been placed in solidarity confinement & need your help!

The five Cuban political prisoners in the U.S. were suddenly and without justification thrown into solitary confinement on March 3 in their separate prisons. It is not clear how long the punishment will last.

Prison authorities have not given the official reason for their illegal confinement in "the hole," but apparently it is a decision from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, and has the markings of directed political repression against the Five.

As Leonard Weinglass, appeals attorney for Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban Five in Florence Colorado prison, said, "None of them belongs in solitary confinement. It is completely unjustified and unnecessary as all of them are model prisoners."

Weinglass has urged supporters of the Cuban Five to write immediately to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington. Do not write to the individual prisons, as they are not responsible for the confinement order.

Here is the address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons, Director, Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, 320 First St., N.W., Washington DC 20534; phone: (202) 307-3198. Send a copy to: John Ashcroft, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001.

Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, René González, and Fernando González have been imprisoned since September 1998 when they were arrested by the FBI on trumped-up charges of espionage on the United States. In reality they were prosecuted by the U.S. for defending their country of Cuba from U.S.-sponsored and supported terrorism that emanates from Miami.

The Five lived in Miami since the early 1990s where they were on a vital mission of monitoring anti-Cuba terrorist groups there to prevent violence against their country of Cuba. More than 3,400 Cubans have been killed by the anti-Cuba violence.

At two of the prisons on Friday, Cuba 5 supporters were ready to visit them when they were turned away. Rev. Geoff Bottoms flew in from Blackpool, England to see Ramón Labañino in Beaumont federal prison in Texas. He was told without explanation
that Ramón was not permitted visitors.

We ask all supporters to write to the Bureau of Prisons, expressing your concern for their safety, and that you protest the unjust and unnecessary solitary confinement. Their exemplary behavior does not warrant this kind of treatment. There is reason to believe
they are singled out because they are political prisoners.

It is also essential that their attorneys have full and unrestricted access to their clients, especially at this critical time while they're preparing for the April 7 appeals court date in Atlanta. Weinglass was unable to speak with Antonio for two days although he had authorized collect calls from him.

Sample Letter:

To Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer,
Prison conditions of five Cuban prisoners

Dear Ms Sawyer,

I have just returned from an unsuccessful attempt to visit Luis Medina in USP Beaumont and am writing to express my grave concern about the situation of all five Cuban prisoners who, in separate prisons, have been put into solitary confinement on March 3
without any explanation.

The five Cuban prisoners are: Gerardo Hernandez Reg. #58739-004, USP Lompoc, California; Antonio Guerrero Reg. #58741-004, USP Florence, Colorado; Ruben Campa Reg. #58733-004 (aka Fernando Gonzalez) FCI Oxford, Wisconsin; Luis Medina Reg. #58734-004 (aka Ramon Labanino) USP Beaumont federal prison, Texas; and Rene Gonzalez Reg. #58738-004 FCI Edgefield, South Carolina.

They were arrested on September 12, 1998 by the FBI and charged with conspiracy to commit espionage when in reality they were defending their country from acts of terrorism originating in Miami where they could not hope to receive a fair trial.

As the five Cubans are known to be model prisoners I suspect that their present period of solitary confinement is mere political repression. Their exemplary behavior does not warrant this kind of treatment and I fear for their safety in the present international climate.

I ask that you immediately allow their attorneys full and unrestricted access to their clients in order to safeguard their rights as prisoners and their dignity as human beings and expedite their return to normal prison conditions with corresponding privileges.

Hoping for a positive reply and thanking you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,
Fr. Geoffrey Bottoms.

*** END OF ACTION ALERT ***