Your refusal to grant Rene Gonzales and entry visa to UK
Your refusal to grant Rene Gonzales and entry visa to UK
I am writing to add the voice of Sheffield Trade Union Council to the long list of individuals
and organisations who have already written to you to protest your decision to refuse an
entry visa to the UK for Rene Gonzales in September to address a meeting in the House of
Parliament at the invitation of MPs. This is the second time he has been refused an entry
visa – the first time being in March when he had intended to visit the UK to give evidence
to an international committee of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and
imprisonment of the Miami 5.
Rene Gonzales, a Cuban national, was one of the Miami 5. The five Cubans were jailed in
1998 after gathering information on right-wing terrorist groups based in Miami and handing
it over to US authorities. After being detained without trial in solitary confinement for
17 months they were accused of various conspiracy charges and received sentences of
between 15 years and double life. The trial was held in Miami where anti-socialist Cubans
wield enormous influence and judges repressed key evidence — the US government even
paid journalists to write hostile articles during the trial. It is widely seen as a travesty of
justice that they were imprisoned when the real reason they were in Miami was to gather
evidence on the activities of Cuban exiles who had committed horrendous acts of terrorism
on Cuba soil.
Rene Gonzales having completed his 15 year sentence is now free. There is no case for
arguing that Rene Gonzales is a terrorist threat or even that he posed a threat to national
security or threatened the safety of the general public. Indeed Rene Gonzales was granted
visas to visit a number of European countries with no problem whatsoever.
I would like an explanation from you on what grounds the entry visa was declined as it
appears that your decision was not rational and is widely perceived to be politically biased
by a great many citizens in this country.
Yours sincerely
Martin Mayer