Embassy of Cuba in New Zealand Newsletter No.9 9th March 2014
In this issue United Kingdom denies visa to Cuban antiterrorist Rene Gonzalez Raul Castro asks council ministers for economic analysis Cuba publishes monetary unification methodologies Cuba welcomes EU proposal Press conference by the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Cuba's revolutionary achievements recognized Cuban president meets Fernando Gonzalez A freed Fernando Gonzlez answers questions from Cubans Former prime minister of East Timor requests Cuban technical help Cuban doctors contribute to East Timor national cancer programme Cuba Starts Campaign against Polio Cuba hosts neurological restoration event Cuba: CIREN, an institution for life
United Kingdom denies visa to Cuban antiterrorist Rene Gonzalez
The government of the United Kingdom has denied a visa to Cuban antiterrorist fighter Rene Gonzalez. He was to be the main witness in a commission of inquiry organised by the Campaign of Solidarity with Cuba into the vexing case of the Cuban Five being held this week in London. Its International Committee for the Release of the Five says in a press release that on Monday, March 3, some few hours before Gonzalez was to catch his flight from Havana to London, he was denied a visa request to travel to the United Kingdom for the event which was being held at the offices of the London Law Society.
The UK Immigration office justified the refusal with its 320 (2b) of the Immigration Law, which stipulates that the entry to the country of a person who was condemned to more than four years of prison is forbidden.
Although it may be granted in exceptional circumstances, the British government warned that Gonzalez' participation in the enquiry was not considered a sufficient reason to justify his visa.
Rob Miller, director of the Campaign of Solidarity with Cuba one of the organizers of the commission said they were deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision to deny a visa to Rene Gonzalez.
Miller points out that the case of The Five was highly politicized, so such a response could only be interpreted as a political decision.
We have received legal advice and we will be appealing the decision, including an Urgent Judicial Review if necessary, he said.
Thousands of people in the United Kingdom, including hundreds of legislators, have campaigned for the release and justice for the Five for more than 10 years and hoped to welcome Gonzalez, said Miller.
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Embassy of Cuba in New Zealand Newsletter 9/3/14