Guardian publishes letter critical of denial of visa for Rene Gonzalez
Campaign News | Saturday, 8 March 2014
MPs and trade union leaders sign letter criticising denial of visa to Rene Gonzalez
Cuban spy case
We strongly criticise the government's decision to refuse a visa to René González. René was to be the principal witness for the International Commission of Inquiry into the case of the Miami Five, taking place at the Law Society this weekend. René served 15 years' imprisonment in the US before being released last year. Along with four others, known as the Miami Five, the fairness of the trial which convicted them has been strongly criticised, including by Amnesty International and eight Nobel prize winners. One of the aims of the commission is to investigate this, with 20 international witnesses and commissioners. The decision to deny René the chance to participate can only be interpreted as a political one. Surely it is in the public interest to lay bare the circumstances surrounding the arrest and imprisonment of the Miami Five. For the sake of openness and transparency we urge the government to think again and allow René González to attend the commission.
Diane Abbott MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Billy Hayes General secretary, Communication Workers Union
Len McCluskey General secretary, Unite
Christine Blower General secretary, National Union of Teachers
Angus MacNeil MP
Kelvin Hopkins MP
Ian Lavery MP
Conor Murphy MP
Jeremy Hardy Broadcaster
Aaron Kiely NUS black students officer
Diana Holland Chair, Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Rob Miller Director, Cuba Solidarity Campaign
