[NYTr] Imprisoning Love: Bush's Mission Impossible

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles

Cuban Five

Imprisoning Love:  Bush's Mission Impossible 

By Roberto Perez Betancourt
AIN Special Service

Although the George W. Bush government systematically denies Olga 
Salanueva visa to enter the US to visit her husband in prison --where 
he has been unjustly held for almost nine years for fighting against 
terrorism-- the contemptible aim of also putting their love for each 
other behind bars has been impossible to achieve.

August 16 marks the seventh year since Olga last saw her husband, Rene
Gonzalez, after he was detained on September 2, 1998 along with several
other Cubans residing in the US.  Washington arbitrarily charged the
"Cuban Five" with spying and other crimes for which they were sentenced
to severe prison terms in a biased trial held in Miami. 

Rene, as well as Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo
Hernandez and Ramon Labanino, have been victims of outrageous and
systematic violations of their civil rights in a legal process
characterized more by political manipulation than for legal arguments,
as has been revealed by international experts. 

Referring to the "love at first sight" which united the couple 
25 years ago, Rene recently told Bohemia magazine, "We've had to dream 
of each other during the two thirds of our marriage, holding on to 
eight years of full happiness shared together and in which we have 
formed a beautiful family. During a period of almost perfect joy and 
much love, our dreams hold on for a future together, which I foresee 
with optimism, and where I see her mature, beautiful, smiling and full 
of tenderness.  I hope I can return her with happiness, unconditional 
affection and human values that have poured over our relationship."

Rene was born in Chicago, Illinois of a family of Cuban immigrants. 
After the triumph of the Revolution he returned to the island, on 
October 2nd, 1961.  After studying there, where he became a pilot, 
at the end of 1990 he returned to the United States to carry out an 
important mission: to infiltrate terrorist organizations in order to 
inform the Cuban government of planned terrorist activities against the 
Cuban people. Driven by the need to defend the Cuban people, Rene and 
his comrades gathered information to alert the island of criminal 
activities from South Florida, supported by Washington, also affecting 
other nations including the US. 

As additional punishment against both wives for not giving in to
blackmail by the prosecution, the George W. Bush administration has
denied the constitutional right of the couple to meet in prison, a
violation which has been repeatedly denounced by international civil
rights organizations. Salanueva affirmed that she has been permanently
erased from a list of possible visitors for Rene. She asserts she has
the right "to enter the prison where (her) husband is being held. He
has that right as a prisoner as well as my daughters and myself.  We
still do not have a photo together.  They even deny us that right and
want to know how long will we have to wait."

The US Immigration Service ridiculously affirms that Olga represents a 
"threat" to the country's national security, although they have not 
presented any evidence.

The issue of family visits to federal prisoners has been touched on by 
the US Supreme Court, which clearly states that the Constitution 
protects the interest of preserving the family; so a governmental 
agency cannot obstruct relations of a prisoner with his wife and 
children.

The US Constitution prevents this of any any statute, including those 
related to immigration, resulting as a clear violation stopping any 
family member to maintain their ties, as in the case of Rene and Olga. 
In a letter addressed to his wife, Rene tells Olga, who was also 
arbitrarily detained for three months in a US prison before being 
deported to Cuba:  "Be happy, don't let any pessimistic or unfavourable 
thought cross your mind or be imprint of meanness because have t go to 
jail, be full of character, morale and principles...What I love doing 
most is thinking of you and constructing our future together in my 
mind."

Imprison love?  Of course this will continue to be Mission Impossible 
for George W. Bush and all his ilk.