Free the five events -summer 2005

Free the five events

Posted: 7-19-2005

The New York Free the Five Committee is excited to report that we have set up a web site for the New York Committee. This web site will be devoted to local events so you can visit to check on local events as well as developments on the case. The web site is: www.freethefiveny.org

On Tuesday, July 19 at 7pm the NY Free the Five Committee, Sunnyside Woodside Peace, West Queens Groups and the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle are sponsoring the Queens premier of MISSION AGAINST TERROR. If you missed the NY premier and you live in Queens, you don’t want to miss this. Special Guest Speakers from the Cuban and Venezuelan missions.

DETAILS: Tuesday, July 19 700 p.m.
All Saints Episcopal Church
43-12 46th St. at 43rd Ave.
Sunnyside, NY #7 local train to 46th St.-Bliss St. and walk one block

On Saturday, July 30 at 7pm various organizations will sponsor AN EVENING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF CUBA. 310 W. 43rd St. For info call 212.926.5757

Can you help do outreach for the Cuban Five? If you are available Sunday July 31 not only will you be helping the Cuban 5 you can hear Latino Jazz!! Help do outreach at the summer fest Latino Jazz session anytime 12noon to 930p.m. Queens College Campus. Call Priscilla for more details at 516.233.8655 or 516.352.6899.

The next protest to demand the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles will take place Monday, August 29. Actions are being planned for around the U.S. including El Paso, Texas. For New York information check website for details as they are made. August 29 is when the hearing in which the U.S. immigration court will decide his immigration status will be held in El Paso.

On May 27, 2005, the Working Group on Arbitration Detentions of the UN Human Rights Commission adopted a resolution of its investigation into the case of the Cuban Five in the U.S. The Working Group resolution concluded that the imprisonment and treatment of the Five is arbitrary and made recommendations to the U.S. government to rectify the situation. This is an important development that can be very useful for work on the Five. This is the first time that a UN special commission has issued an opinion on the uban Five. See the national committee web site for full resolution.

Here is an excerpt:

The Working Group notes that it arises from the facts and circumstances in which the trial took place and from the nature of the charges and the harsh sentences given to the accused, that the trial did not take place in the climate of objectivity and impartiality which is required in order to conclude on the observance of the standards of a fair trial, as defined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the United States of America is a party.

This imbalance, taking into account the severe sentences received by the persons under consideration in this case, is incompatible with the standards contained in Article 14 of the International Covenant en Civil and Political Rights that guarantee that each person accused of a crime has the right to exercise, in full equality, all the adequate facilities to prepare his defense.

The Working Group concludes that the three elements that were enunciated above, combined together, are of such gravity that they confer the deprivation of liberty of these five persons an arbitrary character.

The next meeting of the Free the Five will be THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 AT 7PM at the offices of the IAC, 39 WEST 14TH STREET, ROOM 206, between 5TH AND 6TH aves.

Come learn about fall plans for the Cuban 5, reportbacks on several trips to Cuba and Venezuela this summer, upcoming plans on the case of Posada Carriles and more.

For further information, call 212.633.6646 or visit www.freethefiveny.org