Chronicle on Cuba - July 2004

Terrorism

July 6: A Panamanian court has upheld rulings against Luis Posada Carriles and other three Cubans on charges of illegal possession of explosives, association to commit delinquent acts and crimes against public safety. The Second Higher Court of Justice denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by Posada Carriles's attorney. (AFP, 6/7/04)

July 14: A video of US forces quelling disturbances at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, facility were shown to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, the office of Senator Patrick Leahy said. Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the committee, had requested in May to see the videos after a British newspaper reported on the existence of such material at the US naval facility where suspected al Qaeda and Taliban members or collaborators are being held. According to Leahy's office, General Jay Hood -- the commander of the Guantanamo facility -- brought DVDs to a meeting with Leahy and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. (CNN, 14/7/04)

July 15: Appeals by defense attorneys for convicted terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to have him and several accomplices released from prison into house arrest could be the first stage of a possible escape plan, the Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry warned. The Cuban Foreign Ministry warned against providing any conditions that could favor a jailbreak, especially considering that Posada Carriles and Jiménez Escobedo had previously escaped from prisons in Venezuela and Mexico. [Nota de Prensa ] (AFP, 15/7/04)

July 15: Panamanian authorities responded to the Cuban warning on a potential jailbreak by Posada Carriles with assurances that security would remain tight around the convicted terrorist. The Panamanian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued an official statement calling the Cuban warning as “unfounded”. (AP, 15/7/04)