Roberto González Tibanear to be sentenced to five years

This early morning (08/21/97) I received a telegram sent from Havana by Arnaldo González, the father of Roberto González Tibanear. Mr. Gonzalez Tibanear was deported from Sweden in March of 1996, back to Cuba. He has been in prison for the last eight months.

Some case history of Roberto González Tibanear has been previously distributed by CubaNet (6-19-97), as well as by the Cuban Concilio Support Group (Headline of 06-27-97). Also check in the same issue under sections "Work of our Contributors" and "Letters from Cuba."

We need to add that, Roberto González Tibanear has been designated by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. This prestigious international organization is now launching a campaign to pursue his immediate release. In the considerations leading to explain their efforts, not only Castro's government is the target of severe criticism, but the Swedish government as well, for having violated the principle of "refoulement." This is to return a refugee to a non secure country. The Swedish authorities continue to deny having acted in any reprehensible manner by deporting Mr. González Tibanear back to the island.

The above captioned telegram was received yesterday at the Swedish telegraphic company Telia at 22:46. Its contents pray as follows:

"ALEXIS, TRIAL ABRIDGED. DEFENSE GRANTED ONLY 48 HOURS. STATE ATTORNEY ASKING FIVE YEARS SENTENCE. CHARGES SWITCHED TO 'INSTIGATION TO DELICT, "AND "CONTEMPT." WE URGE YOU SEND CASSETTE OF HIS STATEMENT. CALL ME."

Once more, the Cuban authorities display the usual capricious nature of their judicial process. It seems that Roberto Gonzalez Tibanear is facing summary judgement. The 48-hour preparation limit imposed on the defense attorney for the case, greatly impairs its ability to fulfill his duty. On the contrary it assures the opposite. A habitual operating procedure of the Cuban judicial praxises. Has it always happens the State is demanding a five-year prison term for our countryman for openly indicting the real culprit of our country's disgrace, Leader Maximus, Commandant in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. The worshiping of his image permeates every sphere of our society and specially our legal system.

The Cuban exile in Sweden will dedicate itself to widely proclaim this violation to the most elementary Human Rights in Cuba. We will do everything within our reach, to confront the proper authorities, and specially the immigration minister Mr. Pierre Schori, so that he will use every available resource to stop this new atrocity of the Caribbean Gulag.

Stockholm, August 21, 1997.