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Statement of René González Sehwerert. |
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René
González
Birthday: August 13 |
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Write to him:
René González
#58738-004
FCI Marianna
P.O. Box 7007
Marianna, FL 32447-7007
U.S.A. |
"Our trial was
converted into a propaganda campaign by the
prosecutors, stirring up prejudices against Cuba
among the jurors, to achieve a conviction."
René González
Sehwerert was born in Chicago, on
August 13, 1956. He grew up in a workingclass
family that immigrated from Cuba to the U.S. In
1961 his parents returned to Cuba with their two
sons. From 1977 to 1979, González served in
Angola and was decorated for bravery. From 1979
to 1982 he studied aviation and graduated as a
pilot and flight instructor. He married Olga
Salanueva Arango. They have two daughters,
22-year-old Irma, and eight-year-old Ivette. In
1998, a few months before his arrest, Ivette was
born. René's wife Olga has been banned entry to
the U.S. by U.S. authorities. Thus she and
Ivette are cruelly denied the right to see him.
He is writing a book on the irregularities and
violations that the Cuban Five were subjected to
in the trial. González is sentenced to 15 years
and is in F.C.I. Marianna, Florida.
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Charged with:
a)
Conspiracy to commit crimes against the United
States: carries a maximum five-year term.
b)
Conpiract to act as an unregistered foreign
agent: carries a maximum 10-year term. It is
aggravated for helping and persuading Antonio,
Joseph and Amarilys to become unregistered
foreign agents.
Why he is
innocent
The maximum penalty was
imposed on Ramon for every infraction of which
he was found guilty, without taking into
consideration any of the extenuating
circumstances. This shows the unmeasured and
irrational nature of the penalties. According to
U.S. law, a maximum life sentence can be imposed
in the event the defendant is proved to be
potentially dangerous, aggressive or open to
recidivism. At no point did the judge, jury or
Public Prosecutor ever complain about the
behavior of the accused, nor was there any
evidence to suggest that he had not maintained
high moral and ethic conduct during the time he
had lived in the USA. The issue of necessity was
not even considered an extenuating circumstance.
There is no direct
evidence for the charge of
a) Conspiracy to commit crimes against the
United States. As
for b)
Conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign
agent, it is
necessary to have proved that the defendant knew
about the registration requirement stated by
law. Although generally speaking, lack of
knowledge about the law does not absolve a
citizen for not abiding by it, there are unusual
cases such as this where an accused has been
exonerated because the applicable statute was
not common knowledge.
The Declaration of Civil and Political Rights
was violated by obstructing Rene's right as a US
citizen by birth to family meetings; depriving
him of visits to the penitentiary by his wife
and daughters; and eventually deporting his wife
Olga Salanueva to Cuba. Olga Salanueva has
applied twice for a visa to travel to the US to
visit her husband. Both times her application
has been turned down.
In the case of Rene's youngest daughter, Ivette,
a US citizen by birth, Article 9 of the UN
Declaration of the Children's Rights has been
violated for having separated a child from a
parent.
15 Years
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