Breaking News: Spy-Wife Adriana Pérez to Visit Vancouver on Monday; Accompanied by Cuban Ambassador to Canada 1

(Courtesy: Halifax Media Co-op)

*la versión en español sigue la versión en Inglés*

A special evening organized by United Steelworkers featuring…

ADRIANA PÉREZ (Wife of Gerardo Hernández one of the Cuban 5 held in U .S. jails)

HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JULIO GARMENDÍA PEÑA (Cuban Ambassador to Canada)

MONDAY APRIL 15, 2013
6:00pm-10:00pm
“Stanley Park Ballroom”
Westin Bayshore Hotel
1601 Bayshore Drive
Downtown Vancouver, Canada

Please join us in welcoming two honoured guests to Vancouver, Canada, Adriana Pérez and Mr. Julio Garmendía Peña. Adriana Pérez is the wife of Gerardo Hernández, one of the Cuban 5. Gerardo is currently serving two life sentences plus 15 years in a United States jail accused of “conspiracy to commit espionage” and “conspiracy to commit murder”. However, Gerardo‘s mission in the United States was only to protect his country, Cuba, against a vicious campaign of terrorism coming out of Miami since 1959 that has led to over 3,400 deaths in Cuba.

Adriana has been married to Gerardo since 1988, but he has spent the last 14 years of their marriage in a U.S. jail cell. In those 14 years, Adriana has repeatedly been denied entry to the United States and has not been able to visit her husband. Yet, with courage and determination, she and the families of the Cuban 5 have been speaking out to defend their innocent loved ones and demand their freedom.

On Monday April 15, we invite you to come and hear directly from Adriana about the case of the Cuban 5. We will also be honoured by the presences of Mr. Julio Garmendía Peña, Cuban Ambassador to Canada, who will share his perspectives on this important case for the Cuban government and people.

For more information on the case of the Cuban 5 please visit:

http://www.freethe5vancouver.ca

http://www.antiterroristas.cu

http://www.freethefive.org

http://www.thecuban5.org

Event organized by:
UNITED STEELWORKERS

http://www.usw.ca

Event sponsored by:
VANCOUVER COMMUNITIES IN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA
FREE THE CUBAN 5 COMMITTEE – VANCOUVER
CANADIAN-CUBAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION – VANCOUVER

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

La esposa de uno de los 5 Cubanos y el Embajador de Cuba en Canadá visitan Vancouver!

Una noche especial organizada por United Steelworkers con presentación de …

ADRIANA PÉREZ
Esposa de Gerardo Hernández uno de los 5 Cubanos presos en cárceles de EE.UU.

SU EXCELENCIA EL SR. JULIO GARMENDIA PEÑA
Embajador de Cuba en Canadá

Lunes 15 de abril 2013
6:00 pm
“Stanley Park Ballroom”
Westin Bayshore Hotel
1601 Bayshore Drive
Centro de Vancouver, Canadá

Por favor, únase a nosotros en dar la bienvenida a dos invitados de honor a Vancouver, Canadá, Adriana Pérez y elSr. Julio Garmendia Peña. Adriana Pérez es la esposa de Gerardo Hernández, uno de los 5 Cubanos. Gerardo está cumpliendo dos cadenas perpetuas más 15 años en una cárcel de Estados Unidos acusado de “Conspiración para cometer espionaje” y “conspiración para cometer asesinato”. Sin embargo, la misión de Gerardo en los Estados Unidos era sólo para proteger a su país, Cuba, contra una feroz campaña de terrorismo cometida de Miami desde 1959, que ha llevado a más de 3.400 muertes en Cuba.

Adriana ha estado casada con Gerardo desde 1988, pero el ha pasado los últimos 14 años de su matrimonio enuna celda de una prisión en EE.UU. Durante esos 14 años, Adriana ha sidoreiteradamente negada la entrada a los Estados Unidos y no ha podido visitar a su marido. Sin embargo, con coraje y determinación, ella y los familiares de los 5 Cubanos han abogado para defender a sus seres queridos inocentes y para exigir su libertad.

El lunes 15 de abril, les invitamos a venir y escuchar directamente de Adriana sobre el caso de los 5 Cubanos. También tendremos el honor de tener la presencia del Sr. Julio Garmendía Peña, Embajador de Cuba en Canadá, quien compartirá su punto de vista sobre este importante caso para el gobierno y el pueblo cubano.

Para más información sobre el
caso de los 5 Cubanos visite:

http://www.freethe5vancouver.ca

http://www.antiterroristas.cu

http://www.freethefive.org

http://www.thecuban5.org

Evento organizado por:
UNITED STEELWORKERS

http://www.usw.ca

Evento patrocinado por:
VANCOUVER COMUNIDADES EN SOLIDARIDAD CON CUBA
COMITÉ FREE THE CUBAN 5 – VANCOUVER
ASOCIACIÓN DE AMISTAD CANADIENSE-CUBANA – VANCOUVER

Editor’s Note: Hernández’s wife, Adriana Pérez O’Connor, was still in training as a Directorate of Intelligence (DI) asset when the Wasp Network (La Red Avispa) was brought down in September 1998. She and her children were deported and permanently banned re-entry visas. Her mission had been to courier messages and material between Havana and Miami.

UN High Commissioner Backs Cuban Five Case Reply

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 28 (Cuban News Agency) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, expressed her support of actions in favor of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters held in the United States and said she would do her best to find a solution to the case. Pillay received the spouses of Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez for the third yearly occasion in Geneva.

Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, along Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labanino, known as the Cuban Five, were given extremely long sentences by a Miami court in 2001 after they monitored Florida-based violent organizations that planned terrorist actions against Cuba. Rene Gonzalez, is currently under probation in US territory after having met a 13-year prison term. During the meeting with the High Commissioner, Olga Salanueva said the probation imposed on her husband is absurd since he is denied to return to his country with his family. The two women stressed the importance that the United Nations intercedes in favor of reaching definitive solution to the Cuban Five case.

They also asked for the UN official to help in getting a visa for them so that they can visit their husbands in the United States. The UN High Commissioner admitted that the visa denial by US authorities is a violation of human rights, which should have not been used as an extra punishment. Pillay expressed her support of the case and her intentions to do her best towards a solution, according to a release by the Cuban permanent mission in Geneva.

New York’s Casa de las Américas Spreads Castro Propaganda; Seeks Admittance of Cuban Spy-Wives 2

Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez: State Department of US, Please Grant the Wives Visas

by Casa de las Américas (Casa)

The Department of State is prohibiting entry, from Cuba to the US, to two of the wives of the Cuban Five. These women want to visit their husbands incarcerated in US prisons. Olga Salanueva, wife of Rene Gonzalez, and Adriana Perez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, are law abiding and productive citizens of Cuba who simply want to visit with their respective husbands. Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez are two of five men referred to as the Cuban Five. They are political prisoners serving two life sentences and 98 years collectively after being railroaded by the FBI in its continued hostility toward Cuba. They were arrested on September 12, 1998. They were falsely charged with espionage conspiracy and were convicted in Miami on June 8, 2001.

These five Cuban men never committed espionage nor did they conspire to do so, their actions were not directed against the US. Instead, their mission was to prevent Cuban exile terrorist organizations in Miami from carrying out attacks on Cuba. They wanted to monitor the activities of violent Cuban exiles that were planning violent actions against innocent people in Cuba. They were trying to prevent further brutal acts against Cuba and save innocent lives.

In 1959, after the US backed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown; Batista’s repressive police and army torturers took refuge in Miami. With Miami as their staging ground, they organized, planned and carried out numerous sabotage and terrorist acts against the people of Cuba. To date, the attacks have killed 3,478 Cubans. Reports of these acts are not widely publicized in US media.

Anti-Cuban terrorists placed bombs in various hotels ‒ in one instance killing an Italian tourist. A bomb was placed in the Havana airport. Bombs were placed in buses to and from the airport. The Cuban government protested these terrorist activities to the US, but to no avail. They protested to the United Nations, and they recognized that Cuba had the right to defend its sovereignty.

Cuba’s numerous appeals to Washington to stop terrorist attacks from various Miami based groups were repeatedly ignored. This is why a group of concerned Cubans in Miami infiltrated the terrorist organizations: to do what the US government could not do given that these terrorists are connected to and protected by an elite group of extremely wealthy right wing Cubans that live and control the politics of Miami and oppose all attempts between the US and Cuba to normalize their diplomatic relations.

Olga has not seen Rene since August 16, 2000. In April of 2003, the Department of State denied her a visa, invoking section 2112(f) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act. Repeated requests to obtain a visa to visit her husband have been denied.

Adriana was subjected to cruel and unjustified treatment when she attempted to visit Gerardo on July 25, 2002. Upon Adriana’s arrival at the Houston Airport, she was detained by the FBI for 11 hours, isolated, deprived of her passport, photographed, fingerprinted and illegally interrogated before she was sent back to Cuba without having seen Gerardo. The FBI offered absolutely no explanation to support their decision. Thereafter, time and again, she has been denied a visa from US authorities, to visit her husband.

While the cause for the case of the Cuban Five has inspired a worldwide movement, these men have remained imprisoned for nearly 14 years. In the case of Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernández they have also been denied family visits. Besides the fact that their right to a fair trial was denied because it took place in Miami, their right to have family visits has also been denied.

Recently, a conference was held at Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC with Danny Glover as the featured guest speaker. The objective of the forum was to bring light to the case of the Cuban Five as well as the inhumane act on the part of the Department of State of denying visas to Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez who simply want to visit their husbands. Many well-known celebrities have joined in the efforts of informing the rest of the nation of this great injustice. These include Bonnie Rait, Susan Sarandon, Benicio del Toro, Oliver Stone, Martin Sheen, Pete Seeger, Ry Cooder, Chrissie Hynde, Haskell Wexler, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Ed Asner, Mike Farrell, and others.

It is time to correct this wrong and this great injustice. By signing this petition directed at the Department of State, you join in the effort of allowing Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez to obtain visas for them to visit their husbands incarcerated in US prisons.

Editor’s Note: According to its website, Casa de las Américas (Casa) is a New York-based organization of Cuban emigrants who support the revolution. Beginning in 1955, the July 26 Committee was established in NY for the purpose of supporting the armed struggle that was taking place in Cuba against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Shortly after the triumph of the revolution in 1959, the Committee was renamed Casa Cuba, which later became Casa de las Américas.

OP/ED: Why Does Amnesty International Love Castro’s Spies But Hate Alan Gross? 4

Having previously served as a volunteer Caribbean Specialist with Amnesty International USA, I have great respect for the organization’s work on behalf of human rights. Regrettably, the same cannot be said for the efforts of AI’s London-based headquarters.

On its website, AI professes to toil “to end grave abuses of human rights.  Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion…..”(http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are). That is, unless your name is Alan Gross or if you are a Cuban spy who committed espionage against the United States. Despite Gross’ years-long imprisonment by Cuba, AI has proven itself capable of only devoting two sentences to this injustice in its 2012 Annual Report (http://www.amnesty.org/en/ region/ cuba/report-2012).

In contrast, its 2011 Annual Report devoted the paragraph “Unfair Trials” exclusively to convicted Cuban spy-murderer, Gerardo Hernández. Amnesty’s coverage focused on a defense team appeal “based, in part, on evidence that the US government had secretly paid journalists to write prejudicial articles in the media at the time of trial, thereby undermining the defendants’ due process rights. In October, Amnesty International sent a report to the Attorney General outlining the organization’s concerns in the case.” (http://www.amnesty.org/en/region /usa/report-2011).

AI’s bias is even more apparent in its October 13, 2010 press release which called for the US Attorney General to review the case of the five spies (http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/ info/AMR51/096/2010/en). This press release accompanied a disturbingly inaccurate, unbalanced and prejudicial 22-page report by the spy-loving London office (http://www.amnesty .org/en/ library/info/AMR51/093/2010/en).

Earlier, on March 25, 2009, AI released an Appeal For Action under the headline:  “Unjust Punishment:  Cuban Wives Denied Visas for Ninth Time” (http://www.amnesty.org/en/library /info/AMR51/041/2009/en). In this plea to its membership, AI falsely claimed “The reasons cited for the denials are based on claims that both women are threats to national security. Yet neither woman has faced charges in connection with such claims, nor has any credible evidence been produced to substantiate the allegation.” The disingenuous appeal was followed on March 26^th with the press release:  “Miami Five wives again denied visas to visit their husbands”  (http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/miami-five-wives-again-denied-visas-visit-husbands-20090326). Unfortunately for London, this Havana-promoted lie about the two wives had been exposed nine months earlier in the US State Department media release:  “The “Cuban Five: Cuban intelligence operatives often misrepresented as political prisoners” (June 9, 2008) http://www.docstoc.com/docs/14807527 /The-%E2%80%9CCuban-Five%E2%80%9D.

Details about spy-wife Adriana Perez’s espionage training had not yet come to light when AI released its January 17, 2007 public statement, “Unnecessarily punitive — Amnesty International calls for temporary visas to be granted to two wives of the Cuban Five” (http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/013/2007/en/869da977-d3ba-11dd-a329-2f46302a8cc6/amr510132007en.html).  As a result, we can partially forgive their zealous action. However, René González’s wife — Olga Salanueva, had been “outed” as a Cuban spy years earlier operating under the alias Ida González. Two publicly available sources which Amnesty researchers somehow overlooked were Kirk Nielsen’s February 2001 story, “Inside The Wasp’s Nest,” Miami New Times, http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2001 -02-22/news/inside-the-wasp-s-nest/ and Estrecho de Traicion: La Historia de la Fatidica Union entre Ana Margarita y Juan Pablo Roque, a Spanish-language book published in 1999 by Ana Margarita Martínez with Diana Montané.

Human rights are an important issue:  one not to be undermined by sloppy research and ideologues. Amnesty International members have worked too long and too hard for its global efforts to be damaged by well-intentioned but misguided and dishonest Castro apologists in London. Headquarters should admit its error and immediately remove all its “Cuban Five” materials from the internet. Additionally, London should follow the lead of other human rights organizations and finally become an advocate for the release of Alan Gross.

Cuban Spy Attended Toronto “People’s Tribunal” 1

The Cuban News Agency (ACN) and Prensa Latina (PRELA) have reported that Adriana Pérez and Elizabeth Palmeiro, wives of Gerardo Hernandez and Ramon Labañino, participated in last weekend’s People’s Tribunal & Assembly in Toronto.  According to ACN, the two women denounced the US for incarcerating their spy-husbands and “thanked participants and organizers for their solidarity.”

Cuban media failed to mention that, following the arrests of 10 members of the Wasp Network, Adriana Pérez O’Connor was identified as a Cuban intelligence agent.  Her mission was to courier messages and material between Havana and Miami.  Still in training as a Directorate of Intelligence (DI) asset when the spy ring was beheaded in September 1998, she and her children were deported and permanently banned re-entry visas.

Adriana and Elizabeth

Bolivian President Met With Spy-Wife Adriana Perez Reply

The wife of Wasp Network leader Gerardo Hernandez “met yesterday with President Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia’s Senate, Gabriela Montaño, and most members of the Legislative Assembly”  according to Havana’s Prensa Latina (PRELA).   On Wednesday, her first day in Bolivia, Perez focused on media interviews, as well as and meetings with diplomats and various Bolivian officials.  PRELA reports that today Perez will meet with “Bolivian intellectuals and media directors.”

See related postings:

“Lone Peruvian Official Met With Cuban Spy,” August 20, 2012, http://cubaconfidential.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/lone-peruvian-official-met-with-cuban-spy/

“Spy-Wife in Peru Lobbying For Cuban Five,” August 15, 2012, http://cubaconfidential.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/spy-wife-in-peru-lobbying-for-cuban-five/

“Wife of Jailed Cuban Spy-Master to Visit Bolivia,” August 8, 2012, http://cubaconfidential.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/wife-of-jailed-cuban-spy-master-to-visit-bolivia/

Lone Peruvian Official Met with Cuban Spy Reply

Multiple Cuban media outlets report that Humberto Acuna, the regional governor of Lambayeque, met yesterday with Adriana Perez, wife of convicted Cuban spy Gerardo Hernandez.   Havana’s Prensa Latina stated that the governor received Perez, Cuban ambassador Juana Martinez, and a third individual.

The trio had earlier attended the 13th Solidarity with Cuba Forum in Chiclayo, the region’s capital city.  During their visit with Acuna, they presented the Castro regime’s perspective on the jailed spies.  Additionally, they noted how the Forum pledged to “maintain the struggle” to free the Cuban Five.  More specifically, the Cubans highlighted the group’s demand for the immediate return of the five and the denouncement of the US refusal to allow Perez and fellow spy-wife Olga Salanueva (wife of Rene Gonzalez) to visit their husbands.

During the meeting, Acuna and Martinez also “addressed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, health, sports.”

Spy-Wife in Peru Lobbying For Cuban Five 1

Prensa Latina (PRELA) reported earlier today that Adriana Perez, spouse of convicted spy Wasp Network ringleader Gerardo Hernández, is in Peru for “an intensive program of activities.”  According to PRELA, she was invited to attend this weekend’s 13th Peruvian Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, which reportedly will focus on the issue of the Cuban Five.

Supportive Peruvians welcomed Perez last night, as did Cuban ambassador Juana Martinez.  PRELA reported that Perez was “surprised and honored for the welcome, and encouraged by the Cuban flags and posters with photos of the Five.”  Perez arrived in Peru with Ileana Alonso, whose father died on a Cuban airliner over Barbados in 1976.  Havana adamantly insists the plane was brought down by anti-Castro activists.  The two will meet with unspecified Peruvian authorities and hope to conduct interviews with the local media.

In an amusing albeit sloppy bit of journalism, PRELA erroneously cited Perez as “the wife of Rene Gonzalez, sentenced in 2001 to double life sentences plus 15 years in prison.” 

To see PRELA’s mistake, scroll down to the third line from the bottom:  http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=535723&Itemid=1

Wife of Jailed Cuban Spy-Master to Visit Bolivia Reply

Adriana Perez, wife of convicted Wasp Network ringleader Gerardo Hernández, is travelling to Bolivia this month to lobby support for the Cuban Five.  According to the Cuban News Agency (ACN), she will arrive in Bolivia on August 21 after a three-day stay in Peru.  She will then meet with members of the Bolivia-Cuba solidarity movement, legislators and government officials.  As it has for years, Cuban media used the media opportunity to criticize the United States’ repeated refusal to issue Adriana Perez a visa to visit her husband in jail.  Gerardo Hernández is serving two life terms plus 15 years.

Editor’s Note:  Following the arrests of 10 members of the Wasp Network, Adriana Pérez O’Connor was identified as a Cuban intelligence agent.  Her mission was to courier messages and material between Havana and Miami.  Still in training as a Directorate of Intelligence (DI) asset when the spy ring was beheaded in September 1998, she and her children were deported and permanently banned re-entry visas.  

Like Perez, Olga Salanueva (wife of Cuban 5 spy René González) has also been barred re-entry into the US.  Unlike Perez however, Salanueva was a fully trained spy and actively engaged in espionage against the United States when the  1998 arrests occurred. 

The U.S. allows family members of the other three spies almost limitless visas.  In addition to the long and frequent family visits, Cuban government officials also often enjoy visits with all five inmates. 

Cuba Condemns US For Denying Visit With Imprisoned Spy 1

According to Cuban authorities, a team of officials who travelled to Victorville, California last weekend to see Gerardo Hernández Nordelo were denied entry to the prison.  Havana also contends a meeting last Monday (July 9) between Hernández and defense attorney Martin Garbus was impeded.

The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) goes on to complain that the US continues to deny visits by Hernández’s wife and in 2010, twice denied visits by one of his lawyers.

Editor’s Note:  Hernández’s wife, Adriana Pérez O’Connor, was still in training as a Directorate of Intelligence (DI) asset when the Wasp Network (La Red Avispa) was brought down in September 1998.  She and her children were deported and permanently banned re-entry visas.  Her mission had been to courier messages and material between Havana and Miami.

See the official MINREX statements here (in English & Spanish):

http://www.cubaminrex.cu/English/Statements/Articulos/StatementsMINREX/2012/statement12712.html

http://www.cubaminrex.cu/Declaraciones/Articulos/DeclaracionesMINREX/2012/dec2012-7-12.html