Thursday, November 19, 2009
BY HERB JACKSON
The Record
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Critics of relaxing travel restrictions to Cuba said Wednesday that the
Castro regime first has to agree to return criminal fugitives, including
a woman who murdered a New Jersey state trooper in 1973.
"Cuba has insulted not only the state of New Jersey but also the entire
justice system of the United States," Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage,
said at a briefing for members of Congress and aides arranged by a
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Normalization cannot
come without concessions from the Cuba regime."
The committee is holding a hearing today on whether to lift the trade
and travel restrictions that were imposed on Cuba after Fidel Castro
seized power.
Col. Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the state police, told the briefing
he still has two detectives assigned to the case of Joanne Chesimard, a
member of the Black Liberation Army who killed a trooper after a traffic
stop on the New Jersey Turnpike and was broken out of a state prison in
1979.
"She enjoys rock star status in Cuba," Fuentes said.
Now known as Assata Shakur, she has unrestricted access to the island, a
car, and free housing in exchange for being an anti-American "propaganda
specialist for the Castro government," Fuentes said.
"We simply need to get her back on U.S. soil. Until that point, the
pressure is not going to cease from our delegation," he said. The state
has offered a $1 million reward for her capture and return.
New Jersey lawmakers are largely united across party lines in demanding
Cuban concessions, but several at the briefing were concerned some
colleagues in the House were willing to look the other way over
fugitives and human rights violations.
Reps. Chris Smith, R-Mercer, and Albio Sires, D-West New York, both
criticized a delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus that visited
Cuba earlier this year and failed to raise either issue.
"The fact that Joanne Chesimard remains free in Cuba after having
brutally gunned down a state trooper … is an outrage beyond words,"
Smith said.
Smith, a longtime human rights crusader, said he has tried repeatedly to
get permission to travel to Cuba because he wants to visit prisons and
ask to see political prisoners. His requests have been ignored, he said.
Critics of relaxing travel restrictions to Cuba said Wednesday that the
Castro regime first has to agree to return criminal fugitives, including
a woman who murdered a New Jersey state trooper in 1973.
"Cuba has insulted not only the state of New Jersey but also the entire
justice system of the United States," Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage,
said at a briefing for members of Congress and aides arranged by a
member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Normalization cannot
come without concessions from the Cuba regime."
The committee is holding a hearing today on whether to lift the trade
and travel restrictions that were imposed on Cuba after Fidel Castro
seized power.
Col. Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the state police, told the briefing
he still has two detectives assigned to the case of Joanne Chesimard, a
member of the Black Liberation Army who killed a trooper after a traffic
stop on the New Jersey Turnpike and was broken out of a state prison in
1979.
"She enjoys rock star status in Cuba," Fuentes said.
Now known as Assata Shakur, she has unrestricted access to the island, a
car, and free housing in exchange for being an anti-American "propaganda
specialist for the Castro government," Fuentes said.
"We simply need to get her back on U.S. soil. Until that point, the
pressure is not going to cease from our delegation," he said. The state
has offered a $1 million reward for her capture and return.
New Jersey lawmakers are largely united across party lines in demanding
Cuban concessions, but several at the briefing were concerned some
colleagues in the House were willing to look the other way over
fugitives and human rights violations.
Reps. Chris Smith, R-Mercer, and Albio Sires, D-West New York, both
criticized a delegation from the Congressional Black Caucus that visited
Cuba earlier this year and failed to raise either issue.
"The fact that Joanne Chesimard remains free in Cuba after having
brutally gunned down a state trooper … is an outrage beyond words,"
Smith said.
Smith, a longtime human rights crusader, said he has tried repeatedly to
get permission to travel to Cuba because he wants to visit prisons and
ask to see political prisoners. His requests have been ignored, he said.
NorthJersey.com: Critics of Cuba travel seek return of fugitives (19
November 2009)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/70441952.html
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