wfn.org | WCC regrets miscarriage of justice in trial of Cuban dissidents

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release 03-15
For immediate release
16 April 2003

World Council of Churches regrets miscarriage of justice in trial of Cuban
dissidents

In a letter addressed to the Cuban President, Fidel Castro, the general
secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Konrad Raiser, expresses
regret at the miscarriage of justice in the recent trial in which Cuban
political dissidents were found guilty and received heavy sentences. He
further urges that their sentences be reviewed and that they be released. 

"In view of the summary nature of the proceedings, the gravity of the
charges, and the severity of the punishment" in the recent trials of "members
of human rights groups, scholars and political dissidents" in Cuba, "the
World Council of  Churches is of the considered view that there has been a
miscarriage of justice," states the letter from Geneva dated 15 April.

According to the WCC general secretary, in order to have had a "fair trial",
the accused "should have been tried according to due process of law rather
than under Articles 479 and 480 of the Criminal Procedure Code", which he
considers  to be "applicable in exceptional cases only and should not have
been applied to the case in hand."

Raiser also mentions the shock and worry caused by the news that "over
seventy people have been incarcerated for exercising their right to freedom
of expression" and organization. The WCC "regrets that some of those
detained," though charged with serious offences, "were tried by the Court
under summary procedures."

The letter continues, "We therefore urge the Cuban authorities to reconsider
the orders of detention and the sentences passed on those convicted as a
result of the 18 March measures. They should be released immediately. Such
action by the authorities will serve to increase the credibility of the Cuban
government."

The WCC general secretary does acknowledge "that Cuba has recently
experienced an increase in external pressures and interference in its
sovereignty and independence, especially by the government of the United
States of America." But he emphasises that the authorities should "not allow
their decisions to jeopardise the integrity of the Cuban revolution."

In a parallel letter to the Christian churches in Cuba, Raiser says that he
is also concerned about "a series of irregularities in the situation of the
five Cuban citizens accused of terrorism who have been put on trial in the
United States." The WCC general secretary assures them of his prayers "that
justice will finally be done in their case."

In the same letter, recalling the condemnation by churches worldwide of "the
illegitimate and immoral war in Iraq", Raiser emphasises that "the
application of law and justice, as expressed in international treaties,
should also be the norm at national level", since "only they are a guarantee
of genuine democracy".

In his letter to Castro, which is both friendly and firm in tone, Raiser
recalls his visit to Cuba in October 1999 and assures him "of the constant
prayers of the World Council of Churches and its  many members who share our
concern for the peace and prosperity of the Cuban people." He concludes, "May
God bless and guide you in the path of compassion and magnanimity."

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  tel: +41
(0)22 791 64 21 /61 53

* * * * * *  * * * * * * *
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
E-mail: media@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

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