Justice Department to appeal dismissal of indictment against Carriles

08.June.07

On the heels of the extradition proceedings requested against Trinidadian and Guyanese nationals by the United States, and with accusations of double standard by a number of commentators, there are indications that the US may be changing its mind about{{more}} the recent release of a suspected terrorist in the United States.

On Tuesday, the US Justice Department filed a notice in court stating its intention to appeal the May 8 dismissal of the criminal indictment against Luis Posada Carriles, to the fifth US circuit Court of Appeals.

Carriles, a Cuban citizen, is a suspected former CIA agent, and is wanted in Cuba and Venezuela on terrorism charges. He was indicted in the United States on seven counts of criminal immigration violations, but those were later dismissed.

Venezuelan and Cuban officials had made unheeded calls for the extradition of Carriles, who is accused of a number of terrorist acts against a number of Latin American countries including Cuba, such as the 1976 bombing of a plane en route to Cuba from Barbados.

Earlier this week, the US Government began extradition proceedings against Abdel Nur, Abdul Kadir, Kareem Ibrahim and Russel Defreitas for their suspected involvement in a plot to blow up New York’s JFK international airport.

This move had again brought calls of double standard against the US, and may be responsible for the move to appeal Carriles’ release.

However some persons close to the Carriles case are calling the move a charade, and do not expect anything to come of the appeal. (JJ)