Greens MLC John Kaye officially welcomed to Sydney the new Cuban consul Reinaldo Garcia as part of an event to mark 12 years since the arrest of the “Cuban Five”.
The Cuban Five are anti-terrorist fighters who were arrested in the US for infiltrating and collecting information on Miami-based right-wing anti-Cuban terrorist groups.
Despite disclosing information they had gathered to US authorities, it is they and not the terrorists that are facing jail terms, in some cases double life sentences.
The September 15 meeting held at the Tom Mann theatre also heard from Free the Five committee activist Tim Anderson and lawyer Adriana Navarro who gave an overview of the frame-up against the Cuban Five.
Elizabeth Hulm reported that 25 people gathered at the Wesley Church corner in Perth to mark the anniversary. Passers-by were told 3400 people have been brutally murdered by the actions of terrorist groups based in Miami. Many people stopped to sign a petition for the freedom of the Five.
Following speeches, the rally marched through the Hay Street Mall handing out leaflets to interested shoppers, calling for US President Barack Obama to exercise his power to rectify the grave injustice.