Miami Judge Authorizes Rene Gonzalez to Travel Home

Judge Joan Lenard, of the South Florida Federal District Court, approved the motion to travel to Cuba presented by the attorney for Rene Gonzalez, one of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters unjustly held in U.S. prisons.

Lenard, who has been in charge of the trials of Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino and Rene Gonzalez, authorized the latter to pay a two-week visit to Cuba to see his brother Roberto, who is seriously ill.

The Five, as they are known internationally, were detained in 1998 for monitoring violent activities by anti-Cuba groups based in the United States, and are currently serving long sentences ranging from 15 years to double life plus 15 years.

In October, Rene completed his prison term, although he must remain in the United States for three years under “supervised release,” imposed by Judge Lenard, who ordered him to comply with a group of conditions, according to which Rene should receive all the necessary permissions to travel home and present the detailed itinerary of his stay and location in Cuba.

Rene also has to provide information of his contacts in Cuba, as well as reporting to a probation officer over the phone.

The order also states that all conditions of supervised release are invariable, and Rene should return to the United States after two weeks visiting his brother in Cuba.

Taken from Prensa Latina