More than 100 UK parliamentarians call for Miami 5 retrial
Campaign News | Friday, 20 February 2009
The case of the Miami 5 reaches a critical point this month, as they submit their appeal for a new trial to the US Supreme Court.
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Unite the Union, UNISON, the TUC and the Trade Union Labour Organisation (TULO) launched an urgent the appeal for parliamentarians to support the appeal.
In response, more than 100 UK parliamentarians including, MPs, MEPs, and MSPs have backed this call by adding their names to a ‘Friends of the Court’ brief which will be a vital part of the supporting documents to the case when it is submitted in the US next week.
The US Supreme Court hears just 1 per cent of the thousands of appeals to rehear cases which are put before it each year. Under the US legal system, support from parliamentarians and legal professionals from around the world is crucial as it can be used to give added international weight to their cause, and call for a retrial.
The appeal for a new trial by the Miami Five argues that the Five Cubans did not receive a fair hearing in Miami because the virulently hostile atmosphere of the Cuban émigré community meant a fair trial was impossible. The five, René González, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Gerardo Hernández, were arrested more than 10 years ago while gathering information on Miami-based groups responsible for terrorist attacks against the Cuban people.
All supporting names on the Supreme Court Appeal need to be added by 24 February. So far 75 MPs, plus MEPs and MSPs have signed.
Ian Gibson MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba said:
"The fact that over 100 parliamentarians from the House of Commons and other parliamentary assemblies have signed the legal brief for the Miami 5 demonstrates clearly the strength of international opinion on this case.
As Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba I am more than happy to add my name to the international appeal for a new trial for the Miami 5"
The parliamentarians who have signed are:
Dave Anderson , MP, Labour, Blaydon
John Austin, MP, Labour, Erith and Thamesmead
Celia Barlow, MP, Labour, Hove and Portslade
Colin Burgon, MP , Labour, Elmet
Ronnie Campbell, MP, Labour, Blyth Valley
Martin Caton, MP, Labour, Gower
David Chaytor, MP, Labour, Bury North
Michael Clapham , MP, Labour, Barnsley West & Penistone
Katy Clark, MP, Labour, North Ayrshire & Arran
David Clelland, MP, Labour, Tyne Bridge
Harry Cohen, MP, Labour, Leyton & Wanstead
Michael Connarty, MP, Labour, Linlithgow & Falkirk East
Frank Cook, MP, Labour, Stockton North
Jeremy Corbyn, MP, Labour, Islington North
Jim Cousins, MP, Labour, Newcastle Central
Jon Cruddas, MP, Labour, Dagenham
Ann Cryer, MP, Labour, Keighley
Dai Davies, MP, Independent, Blaenau Gwent
Janet Dean, MP, Labour, Burton
Jim Devine, MP, Labour, Livingston
Andrew Dismore, MP, Labour, Hendon
Jim, Dobbin MP, Labour, Heywood & Middleton
David Drew, MP, Labour, Stroud
Bill Etherington, MP, Labour, Sunderland North
Neil Gerrard, MP, Labour, Walthamstow
Ian Gibson, MP, Labour, Norwich North
Michelle Gildernew, MP/MLA, Sinn Fein, Fermanagh & South Tyrone
Andrew Gwynne, MP, Labour, Denton & Reddish
Peter Hain, MP, Labour, Neath
Dai Harvard, MP, Labour, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney
David Heyes, MP, Labour, Ashton-under-Lyne
Kate Hoey, MP, Labour, Vauxhall
Paul Holmes, MP, Liberal Democrat, Chesterfield
Kelvin Hopkins, MP, Labour, Luton North
Jim Hood, MP, Labour, Lanark & Hamilton East
George Howarth, MP, Labour, Knowsley & Sefton East
Lynne Jones, MP, Labour, Birmingham Selly Oak
Rt Hon Gerald Kaufman, MP, Labour, Manchester Gorton
David Kidney, MP, Labour, Stafford
Peter Kilfoyle, MP, Labour, Liverpool Walton
Mark Lazarowicz, MP, Labour, Edinburgh North & Leith
John Leech, MP, Liberal Democrat, Manchester Withington
David Lepper, Labour, Brighton Pavillion
Tony Lloyd, MP, Labour, Manchester Central
Andy, Love, MP, Labour, Edmonton
Rob Marris, MP, Labour, Wolverhampton South West
Bob Marshall-Andrews QC, MP, Labour, Medway
John McDonnell, MP, Labour, Hayes & Harlington
Jim McGovern, MP, Labour, Dundee West
Anne Moffat, MP, Labour, East Lothian
Julie Morgan, MP, Labour, Cardiff North
Conor Murphy, MP/MLA, Sinn Fein, Newry & Armagh
Sandra Osborne, MP, Labour, Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock
Nick Palmer, MP, Labour, Broxtowe
Adam Price, MP, Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East & Dinefwr
Gwyn Prosser, MP, Labour, Dover
Ken Purchase, MP, Labour, Wolverhampton North East
Linda Riordan, MP, Labour, Halifax
Virendra Sharma, MP, Labour, Ealing Southall
Jim Sheridan, MP, Labour, Paisley & Renfrewshire North
Alan, Simpson, MP, Labour, Nottingham South
Dennis Skinner, MP, Labour, Bolsover
Angela E. Smith, MP, Labour, Basildon
Ian Stewart, MP, Labour, Eccles
Gavin Strang, MP, Labour, Edinburgh East
David Taylor, MP, Labour, North West Leicestershire
Emily Thornberry, MP, Labour, Islington South & Finsbury
Mark Todd, MP, Labour, South Derbyshire
Jon Trickett, MP, Labour, Hemsworth
Des Turner, MP , Labour, Brighton Kemptown
Keith Vaz MP, Labour, Leicester East
Bob Wareing, MP, Independent, Liverpool West Derby
Jenny Willott, MP, Liberal Democrat, Cardiff Central
Mike, Wood, MP, Labour, Batley & Spen
Derek Wyatt, MP, Labour, Sittingbourne & Sheppey
CSC Director Rob Miller said: “The UK parliamentarians who have added their names to the Supreme Court appeal, join with thousands of other parliamentarians and legal professionals around the world who have added their names. CSC is grateful to the support of the trade union movement who have been lobbying hard on behalf of the Five on this issue.
“We have reached a critical moment in the case, and any MP who has not signed now has until Tuesday 24 February to add their names to the legal appeal, which could prove vital in getting it heard before the Supreme Court. I urge anyone whose MP has not signed yet, to contact them today and ask them to indicate their support by emailing their name to campaigns@cuba-solidarity.org.uk by 24 February.”
For model emails and more information go to www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk
