US Minister Demands Justice for the Cuban Five

6-23-09, 9:55 am



MATANZAS, Cuba, June 22 (acn) – Reverend Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC) in the United States, advocated more solidarity and demanded justice for the five Cuban antiterrorists incarcerated in the US.

During a recent conversation with the press, Dr. Kinnamon spoke about his concern for the recent decision of his country’s Supreme Court of not accepting to review the case of Gerardo Hernandez, Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez, unjustly put in prison for more than ten years now.

During the opening of a meeting on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Spanish-American Evangelical Congress in Havana, the clergyman said that in this case the position of his government is a clear expression of how politics influences US justice.

The religious leader pointed out that the US Council of Churches and other ecclesiastical personalities are requesting a meeting with President Barack Obama, in order to tackle the issue of the Cuban Five - among other themes- and demand their release.

Kinnamon expressed his disagreement with the denial of entry visas for the wives of Gerardo and Rene, and added that over the last few months letters were sent to migratory authorities so Adriana Perez and Olga Salanueva could visit their husbands in prison.

The work of Protestants in the world is to try to achieve, as much as possible, the unity of all forces, in order to try to influence the decision-making of governments with regard to peace, solidarity, justice, and the struggle against poverty, among other matters, explained the Reverend.

The meeting, which will take place until Friday at the Evangelical Seminar of Theology in central Matanzas province, gathers over 60 religious leaders from 14 nations.

From the Cuban News Agency