Posada Carriles: 11 charges, none for terrorism

HAVANA, Cuba - Criminal Luis Posada Carriles should answer to 11 charges, none of them for terrorism, in the trial that began today in El Paso, Texas, as pointed out in the Round Table aired by Cuban radio and television on Monday.

Two accusations are for perjury, one for obstruction of justice, another one for fraud in naturalization procedures, and seven for false statements in relation to migratory proceedings, clarified presenter Randy Alonso.

The selection of the jury was the objective of the trial this Monday against Posada Carriles, who entered US territory illegally in April, 2005, after being pardoned by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, five days before leaving office.

For analyst Reinaldo Taladrid, the real intention of the US district attorney’s office, on behalf of that country’s government, continues to be the protection of Posada Carriles, with the purpose of hiding his bonds and tasks fulfilled for the Central Intelligence Agency(CIA), which he served for many years.

The analyst recalled that the judges that have participated in the case in the US have insisted in that the US government has not presented evidence of terrorism against Posada Carriles and have described it as “a hot potato,” although, in this regard, Cuba has given the district attorneys substantial certified proof from the beginning..

Journalist Jean-Guy Allard recalled that Posada Carriles was serving a sentence in Panama – along with other terrorists- for conceiving a plan for an assassination attempt on Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, during the Iberian-American Summit of the year 2000, and cited illicit methods used by the criminal to enter the US later.

Over the telephone, Jose Pertierra, Venezuela’s lawyer in the extradition request against Posada Carriles –pending an answer by the US government-, explained that the trial will begin on Tuesday, January 12, and that it last a few weeks, with the presentation of evidence by the district attorney’s office.

Pertierra explained that Judge Katerine Cardone has not decided yet whether she will accept for the first time evidence presented by Cuba on the terrorist nature of the actions of Posada Carriles, and said that, if she does, the District Attorney’s Office would have to decide if it will present specific charges in this regard.

It has emerged that 22 representatives of the Miami-based anti-Cuban mafia are in El Paso, in an attempt to defend Posada Carriles, a local newspaper reported.

The publication also cited the large number of US demonstrators that –in front of the law court- demand real justice against the criminal , carrying images of the 73 people killed in the sabotage of the Cuban airliner on October 6, 1976, one of the confessed masterminds of which was Posada Carriles.(acn)