Cuban Five…René González refused visa to enter UK

Mar 15, 2014 News

Just a few hours before he was due to fly from Havana to London, René González, was refused a visa to enter the UK, according to President of the Guyana/Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Haleem Khan.
René González is the principal witnesses for the International Commission of Inquiry into the case of the Cuban Five which took place at the Law Society in London for two days from March 7.

President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM) Haleem Khan

In its letter of refusal, the UK Immigration and Visa Office stated that it is due to point 320 (2b) of UK immigration law, which says entry can be denied to a person who has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.
Although, dispensation can be granted in exceptional circumstances, the UK government stated that it did not consider Mr González’ attendance at the International Commission to be reason enough to justify this or “outweighed by the public interest in maintaining a refusal.”
Rob Miller, Director of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, one of the organisers of the Commission said,
“We are deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision to refuse a visa to René González.
“The British government has the opportunity to show discretion on visa applications in circumstances like this but has chosen not to do so with regards to René González’ application. In the context of the already highly politicised case of the Miami Five (Cuban Five), such a decision can only be interpreted as a political one.
“We have taken legal advice and will be appealing this decision including seeking an urgent Judicial Review if necessary.”
González returned home to Cuba in May 2013 after serving 13 years in prison and 18 months of supervised released in the United States. He was arrested with four other members of the Miami Five in 1998 after infiltrating Florida-based responsible for carrying out terrorist attacks against Cuba.
Haleem Khan noted that the fairness of their trial has been questioned by international human rights groups including Amnesty International. One of the aims of the Commission of Inquiry is to investigate this aspect of the case.
Twenty international witnesses and commissioners including their US legal team, family members, victims of terrorism against Cuba and experts on international law, US- Cuba relations and human rights arrived in Britain to take part in the International Commission of Inquiry and associated events.