"These convictions are a travesty of justice and a blow to democratic rights in the United States of America," states the coalition in its most recent mailing.

In the course of the trial, the five men's defense was that they were working to expose the terrorist actions against Cuba organized by counterrevolutionary groups based in Miami. These groups have acted with the complicity of the U.S. government.

Three of the Cuban citizens were convicted of "conspiracy to commit espionage" and "conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign agent." They could get a life imprisonment. The other two were convicted of "conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign agent" and face possible 10-year sentences.

One of the five, Gerardo Hernández, was also convicted of "conspiracy to commit murder" in the case of two planes that were downed by the Cuban air force in 1997 when they invaded Cuban airspace and did not leave when warned repeatedly. Four members of Brothers to the Rescue died in the shoot down. Brothers to the Rescue is a counterrevolutionary organization that supports Washington's war against Cuba and has made numerous provocative flights over the island. The prosecution based its case on the assertion that Hernández had given the Cuban government flight information about the rightist operation.

In violation of Fourth Amendment protection against arbitrary search and seizure, over a three-year period prior to the arrests, FBI agents broke into the homes of the defendants repeatedly, searching their belongings and computers. The prosecution's evidence consisted of information the federal cop agency claims it collected from encoded messages copied from the defendants' computer hard drives and alleged short-wave broadcasts between Cuba and the defendants.  
 
Attack on Cuba and on rights at home
"We believe the FBI and its higher-ups in Washington have used this case to further the U.S. government's unrelenting 'Cold War' against Cuba," the coalition said in its letter. "One of their goals has been to attempt another political frame-up and smear of Cuba." This frame-up campaign has been carried out in the big-business media, which virtually convicted the five of spying before the trial began.

The letter adds, "the government's prosecution and convictions serve to remind us all that assaults on Cuba--which continues to offer an example to those fighting to end injustice, oppression, and exploitation around the world--go hand in hand with efforts to undermine workers' rights.

"The trial and the media show around it tried to create an atmosphere where those who oppose Washington's economic war on Cuba, or stand up to other government policies, are at best intimidated and at worst branded as spies and are subject to extended incarceration. Now the top FBI agent in Miami, Héctor Pesquera, is threatening further 'investigation' of supposed spies for Cuba in the United States."

The statement by the Miami Coalition to End the Embargo of Cuba concludes, "We call on those involved in struggles for justice against police brutality, for defending the Charleston dockworkers framed-up by the police while safeguarding their picket lines, for ending all racist or sexist discrimination--and everyone who stands in defense of democratic rights--to demand justice for the five convicted in Miami and a halt to Washington's witch-hunt against 'Cuban spies.' Join us in a September 22 conference to discuss these issues and collaborate on advancing common goals."

In the latest development in this case, the five Cubans, who are awaiting sentencing and are locked up in a U.S. prison here, requested the right to meet with representatives of their government. The U.S. Attorney's office initially said three of them could meet with Cuban officials, but that the two born in the United States could not, even though they maintained Cuban citizenship. On August 1, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons approved visits by Cuban officials to all five men.
 
 
Related articles:
Che on working-class internationalism
Washington steps up enforcement of curbs on travel to Cuba
 
 
 
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