Cuba accuses US of double standards

Cuban officials are crying double standards against the United States after the man accused of crimes against their country is treated as a hero, while five of their nationals languish in an American jail.{{more}}

Posada Carriles, the man who admitted to, and was convicted of a number of crimes, including the bombing of a flight from Barbados to Cuba which killed 73 people in 1976, was being hailed as a hero, on the anniversary of his 80th birthday one month ago.

Earlier this week, Cuban Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Olga Chamero Trias condemned the actions of the United States and Cubans residing there for lauding the alleged former CIA operative.

The ambassador said that there is strong evidence that indicates that Posada Carilles will be pardoned by the US Government.

“He will die happy in his bed. What we want is for him to pay for his crimes in all the countries where he has committed it.”

According to Chamero Trias, Carilles is responsible for dozens of crimes in the Latin American region, apart from the airplane bombing, bombings of hotels, embassies and executions as well as an assassination attempt on former Cuban president Fidel Castro.

The Cuban native was arrested, then escaped from Venezuela, arrested and pardoned in Panama, and arrested and released in Miami.

The Ambassador called the actions by the US government a huge double standard, when compared to the decision to sentence five Cuban nationals to life in prison in the United States.

The five: Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonsalez and Rene Gonsalez were arrested and convicted of espionage, conspiracy to commit murder and other activities committed in the United States.

“This is a politically motivated case, we are convinced that the legal system is being controlled by the United States Government.”

“It is only by constant solidarity, and the more we mobilize and appeal that these men will be set free.”

The fourth appeal of these men begins on June 24th, 2008.

Some 113 organizations worldwide have taken up the cause of the Cubans, appealing for the release of the men. (JJ)