Concern in Cuba over Likely Probation for One of the Cuban Five

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René’s wife Olga, daughter Yvette and René (insert)

The mother of the Cuban antiterrorist fighter imprisoned in the US Rene Gonzalez, Irma Sehwerert, expressed on Thursday her concern over a likely enforcement of a probation ruling for her son to be served in Miami, once he has totally served his sentence in the United States.

Rene would be at a higher peril in the streets of Miami than in jail, said his mother during a meeting with members of the 22th US-Cuba Friendship Caravan who are in Cuba until July 31.

"Imagine, Rene living in Miami for three years. We would not be at ease for one minute," said Sehwerert when referring to the legal situation of one of the five Cuban anti terrorist fighters imprisoned in the US since September 1998.

Due to this, his release after 15 years in prison is a cause of concern for all Cubans.

Irma Sehwerert mentioned the efforts of defense lawyers for returning her son to Cuba once he is released from prison.

"If not, we will keep you informed (Caravan members) to see what you can do to protect him," said Rene Gonzalez' mother in presence of other relatives of the Cuban Five, as the antiterrorist fighters are known in the international campaigns for their release. The leaders of the Caravan met with Sehwerert and another three relatives of Ramon Labañino and Fernando Gonzalez, who along with Gerardo Hernandez and Antonio Guerrero are serving up to double life imprisonment sentences in the US.

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Pastors for Peace’s Friendshipment Caravan Crosses U.S.-Canada Border

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The U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, organized by the Pastors for Peace religious group, managed to cross the U.S.-Canada border carrying humanitarian aid destined to Cuba in spite of the intimidation of the American authorities there.

 “The crossing was a success,” announced in a communiqué the organization Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC), according to Prensa Latina news agency.

Last Sunday, the United States refused to allow a pickup truck carrying humanitarian assistance to Cuba to enter Canadian territory alleging that it was a commercial load that should comply with certain requirements.

The VCSC communiqué adds that the border guards threatened to fine the activists for the alleged violation but, shortly afterwards, thanks to the efforts of a lawyer of Pastors for Peace, they reversed their decision.

During the crossing, the activists carried banners and Cuban flags, and demanded the elimination of the almost 50-year-old U.S. economic blockade against the Caribbean nation.

Organized by the U.S. religious group Pastors for Peace, the Friendshipment Caravan tours several U.S. and Canadian cities collecting humanitarian aid. This year, they began on July 2 and will finish on July 21 with the crossing of the U.S.-Mexico border.

This caravan was founded in 1992 by Rev. Lucius Walker, a friend of Cuba who passed away in September 2010.
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