Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON2565
2008-10-07 17:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
DELEGATION PRESENTS PETITION TO EMBASSY ADVOCATING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLO #2565 2811738 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 071738Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0036 INFO RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0042
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 002565
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL PHUM CVIS CU UK KCRM
SUBJECT: DELEGATION PRESENTS PETITION TO EMBASSY ADVOCATING
VISITATION RIGHTS FOR WIVES OF CONVICTED CUBAN SPIES
Classified By: Political Counselor Rick Mills
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 002565
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL PHUM CVIS CU UK KCRM
SUBJECT: DELEGATION PRESENTS PETITION TO EMBASSY ADVOCATING
VISITATION RIGHTS FOR WIVES OF CONVICTED CUBAN SPIES
Classified By: Political Counselor Rick Mills
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A four person delegation representing the "Cuba
Solidarity Campaign," a UK-based pressure and advocacy group,
presented a petition to Polcouns and the Department of
Justice Attache October 7 on behalf of two Cuban women
requesting permission to visit their imprisoned husbands,
operatives of the Cuban intelligence service who have been
convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage and members of
the so-called "Miami Five." The delegates expressed "deep
concern" about the purported "denial of visitation rights,"
which they claimed was a violation of "international
standards" of human rights. They asserted that preventing
one woman from seeing her husband for eight years and another
from seeing her husband for ten years was sparking anti-U.S.
sentiment in the UK and around the world. They also claimed
that a visit would not harm U.S. national security, stating
that "human rights organizations would chaperone the visit."
Polcouns rebutted appropriately, stressing that one of the
women was deported for espionage-related activity and the
other was shown to be in training as a U.S.-based Cuban spy.
He also reminded the delegates that the convicted Cubans have
received numerous visits from family members, Cuban
government officials and lawyers.
2. (C) The delegates stated that more than ten thousand
people, including Nobel prize laureates and 112 MPs had
signed the petition and that Amnesty International condemned
the USG position. Len McCluskey, Assistant General Secretary
of the UK's Unite the Union, an organization of trade unions,
was the spokesperson for the delegation. The three other
delegates were Rob Miller, Director of the Cuba Solidarity
Campaign, and representatives of U.S. unions (United Steel
Workers and the Service Employees International Union).
3. (SBU) Following the meeting, the Embassy distributed a
Press Notice summarizing the facts surrounding the conviction
of the "Miami Five" and explaining the basis for denying
visitation to the two wives. The Cuban Solidarity Campaign
organized a 90 minute "vigil" outside the U.S. Embassy, which
began at 6 p.m. local time October 7.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LeBaron
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL PHUM CVIS CU UK KCRM
SUBJECT: DELEGATION PRESENTS PETITION TO EMBASSY ADVOCATING
VISITATION RIGHTS FOR WIVES OF CONVICTED CUBAN SPIES
Classified By: Political Counselor Rick Mills
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A four person delegation representing the "Cuba
Solidarity Campaign," a UK-based pressure and advocacy group,
presented a petition to Polcouns and the Department of
Justice Attache October 7 on behalf of two Cuban women
requesting permission to visit their imprisoned husbands,
operatives of the Cuban intelligence service who have been
convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage and members of
the so-called "Miami Five." The delegates expressed "deep
concern" about the purported "denial of visitation rights,"
which they claimed was a violation of "international
standards" of human rights. They asserted that preventing
one woman from seeing her husband for eight years and another
from seeing her husband for ten years was sparking anti-U.S.
sentiment in the UK and around the world. They also claimed
that a visit would not harm U.S. national security, stating
that "human rights organizations would chaperone the visit."
Polcouns rebutted appropriately, stressing that one of the
women was deported for espionage-related activity and the
other was shown to be in training as a U.S.-based Cuban spy.
He also reminded the delegates that the convicted Cubans have
received numerous visits from family members, Cuban
government officials and lawyers.
2. (C) The delegates stated that more than ten thousand
people, including Nobel prize laureates and 112 MPs had
signed the petition and that Amnesty International condemned
the USG position. Len McCluskey, Assistant General Secretary
of the UK's Unite the Union, an organization of trade unions,
was the spokesperson for the delegation. The three other
delegates were Rob Miller, Director of the Cuba Solidarity
Campaign, and representatives of U.S. unions (United Steel
Workers and the Service Employees International Union).
3. (SBU) Following the meeting, the Embassy distributed a
Press Notice summarizing the facts surrounding the conviction
of the "Miami Five" and explaining the basis for denying
visitation to the two wives. The Cuban Solidarity Campaign
organized a 90 minute "vigil" outside the U.S. Embassy, which
began at 6 p.m. local time October 7.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LeBaron