Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Washington, D.C.
http://www.embavenez-us.org/
http://www.walterlippmann.com/posada-03-2006.pdf
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Posada Carriles has “a long history of criminal activity and violence in which innocent civilians were killed,” says the U.S. government
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Pertierra: amparar a este terrorista o deportarlo a un tercer país para evitar que se haga justicia, no son opciones para EEUU |
(Washington DC, March 31, 2006.-
Embassy of Venezuela).- In a document entitled Interim Decision to
Continue Detention dated March 28, 2006 and sent to Mr. Luis Posada
Carriles, the United States admitted for the first time that Posada
Carriles is a terrorist.
The United
States admits for the first time
that Posada Carriles is a terrorist
According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE)
decision, Posada Carriles has a “long history of criminal activity
and violence in which innocent civilians were killed.” His release
from detention concludes ICE in its letter to Posada, “would pose a
danger to both the community and the national security of the United
States.”
In support of its decision, ICE cites Venezuela’s pending
extradition case against Posada and the fact that Posada fled from a
Venezuelan prison while his trial for the downing of a passenger
plane in 1976 was pending. “Your past also includes your escape from
a Venezuelan prison which was accomplished after several attempts
utilizing threats of force, explosives and subterfuge,” says ICE in
its Decision.
ICE goes on to cite Posada’s own statements to link him to the
“planning and coordination of a series of hotel and restaurant
bombings that occurred in Cuba . . . in 1997.” These bombings
resulted in the murder of an Italian tourist and the wounding of
several others. ICE also cites Posada’s conviction in Panama for
“crimes against national security,” in reference to his attempt to
assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro in 2000 with C- 4
explosives as President Castro was to speak to an auditorium with
full of students.
The attorney that represents Venezuela in the Posada case, José
Pertierra expressed that “this is something that the government of
the United States should have said and done since Posada was
detained in Florida in May of 2005. The government has always had
the evidence to conclude that Posada is a terrorist. It is in
recently declassified documents from the CIA and the FBI, and it is
also in the documentation presented by the government of Venezuela
as part of its extradition request.”
However, Pertierra explains, “Washington has always tried to avoid
using the term terrorism in relation to Posada Carriles and has
instead treated him as a simple undocumented immigrant. However, the
truth and the immigration laws now require that the U.S. face up to
the truth: its “detainee” is not an innocent undocumented immigrant,
but is instead a terrorist.¨ “If he were not a terrorist,” Pertierra
adds, “ICE would have to release him.” Pertierra pointed out that
"although ICE avoids using the specific term "terrorism" in its
Decision, the actions it attributes to Posada represent the very
essence of terrorism."
Upon being consulted about the extradition request made by Venezuela
on the 15th of June, 2005, Pertierra said that “just as immigration
laws and the facts obligate the government of the United States to
recognize that Posada is a terrorist, extradition laws and the facts
of the case obligate the United States to admit the truth.”
Pertierra added that the “truth is that Posada is a terrorist, and
he is the mastermind of the downing of the plane in 1976, as well as
the assassin of 73 defenseless passengers aboard the plane.” “He
must be extradited to Caracas to stand trial for murder. If the U.S.
does not extradite him, then it is obligated to try him in
Washington for 73 counts of first degree murder,” said Pertierra.
Pertierra recalled the words of U.S. President George W. Bush who
said that those who shelter a terrorist are also terrorists. “To
shelter or deport Posada to a third country in order to avoid
prosecuting him for murder are not legal options for the United
States,” he concluded.