THE only freed member of the Miami 5 will travel to London in March to give evidence to an international committee of inquiry into the anti-terrorism agents’ imprisonment, campaigners announced yesterday.

Rene Gonzalez, who recently completed his 15-year prison term in the US, will be joined by his still jailed comrades’ family members, victims of terrorism against Cuba, lawyers and politicians.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker and former US attorney general Ramsey Clark will be among the experts giving evidence to the panel of internationally acclaimed judges.

The five Cubans were jailed in 1998 after gathering information on right-wing terrorist groups based in Miami and handing it over to US authorities.

After being detained without trial in solitary confinement for 17 months they were accused of various conspiracy charges and received sentences of between 15 years and double life.

The trial was held in Miami where anti-socialist Cubans wield enormous influence and judges repressed key evidence — the US government even paid journalists to write hostile articles during the trial.

But supporters of the five have organised an inquiry in London on March 7 and 8.

The commission will hear testimony from key witnesses including US defence attorney Martin Garbus, Amnesty International, and two wives of the five, Olga Salanueva and Elizabeth Palmeiro. The US has denied family members visiting rights.

There will be testimony from specialists on the range of measures taken to defend Cuba against the threat of terrorist attacks, as well as testimony from Cuban and international victims of US-based terrorism.

To find out more and book tickets see www.voicesforthefive.com/commission.
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