16 May 2007
We, Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS - SA) have received with great concern the news issued by international news agencies on the release on bail of the notorious international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles by decision of a United States Court and the recent decision by a US judge to effectively pave the way for his release.
The Friends of Cuba Society, in South Africa, adds its voice to condemn the Judge Kathleen Cardone (US) recent ruling in the Luis Posada Carriles case, which effectively dismisses all charges against him on 11th January 2007 for fraud and for lying in interviews with US Immigration and Customs enforcement authorities in order to obtain his naturalization in the US.
Luis Posada Carriles, it must be remembered has been a fugitive of the law, where in Venezuela he was convicted for his role in the planning and bombing of a Cuban airline in 1976, which killed 73 people off the coast of Barbados. Since his escape from jails a few years after that, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which has requested his extradition was met with muteness by the US authorities, casting doubt on their self-proclaimed commitment to fighting international terrorism.
We join millions of people across the world to condemn these irresponsible acts by the US authorities, which makes the stated commitment of the US administrations fight against terror a mockery. Luis Posada Carriles - a convicted and self-confessed terrorist is treated favourably by the US administration and charged with minor immigration charges, where upon Judge Cardone rules effectively for the release of Carriles, and not only violates the International Convention for the Repression of terrorist Bombings of 2001, and the Illegal Actions Against Civil Aviation Security of 1973, but blurred by the interests of a distorted policy towards Cuba as espoused by the strong exiled Cuban Miami-Mafia lobby.
With its decision not to classify Luis Posada Carriles a terrorist, the US government has not only violated its own laws and its alleged commitment to its self-proclaimed `war on terror`; it has also violated its international obligations.
We demand that the US refrain from extending, political, diplomatic, moral or material support for terrorism, and in this context, urges the US, consistent with the UN Charter and in fulfilling its obligations under international law, to ensure that refugee status or any other legal status is not abused by the perpetrators, organizers or facilitators of terrorist acts, and that claims of political motivation by them are not recognized as grounds for refusing requests for their extradition.
FOCUS calls on all democrats and progressive peace-loving peoples of South Africa, the continent and indeed the world to rally behind Cuba and its peoples at this time and call for the US government to honour and obey all international and other protocols relating to this matter and demand for appropriate actions. We reiterate our full support for the extradition request that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela interposed to the Government of the United States to bring Mr. Luis Posada Carriles to justice.
Released: Che Matlhako
General-Secretary of FOCUS-SA
Private Bag X5016
Kimberley, 8301
Republic of South Africa
Tel. +27 (0) 832550084
Fax +27 (0) 53 8320861
chrismatlhako@hotmail.com