by the Cuban Committee for Humane Treatment for Ana Belen Montes
Does anybody know who Ana Belén Montes is?
The pain caused by prison is the hardest one, the most devastating one, the one that kills your intelligence and dries out your soul, leaving scars imprinted in it, which will just never go away’.
José Martí
Does anybody know who Ana Belen Montes is? A question frequently asked by friends of the mate kidnapped by the USA.
Born in Eastern Germany on February 28th, 1957, a Puerto-Rican holding an America citizenship and public officer GS-14, working for the DIA was prosecuted and condemned as a spy because of informing the Cuban government about aggression plans to be directed against the Cuban people, something which didn’t affect her country’s national security neither put any innocent lives in danger.
In 1979, as she was 22 years old, the University of Virginia granted her a bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. Later on, she acquired a Master’s Degree in this speciality. In 1985 she was hired by the DIA. Due to her capabilities, she was sent to the Air Force Base in Bolling, Washington, where she worked as a specialist in intelligence investigation. In 1992 was promoted to the Pentagon as an analyst.
Using a fake position, she was located for a while in the diplomatic representation in La Habana in order to ‘study‘ the Cuban military. In 1998 she was sent again by the DIA to the island to observe the development of Pope John Paul II visit to the island.
Besides having a sweet face, an eternal smile and very good manners, she was very modest. While living alone in a simple apartment on the north side of the American capital. She climbed up until she became first level analysis at the Pentagon, Senior Analyst. She rapidly was granted access to almost everything known to the intelligence community related to the Island. Due to her position, she belonged to a super secret ‘inter-agencies work group on Cuba’, gathering all most important analysts in federal agencies, such as the CIA, the White House itself and the State Department.
She was arrested by agents of the FBI on November 20th, 2001, while being in her office at the DIA headquarters in the Bolling Air Base in Washington DC. Some days later she was accused of conspiracy to commit espionage in favour of Cuba. She was brought to court and at some point in time was sent to a federal prison specialized in criminal with mental or physical illness, this was done although she was not ill in any way.
During trial she transparently and bravely declared to have followed her consciousness: ‘There is a Italian say which best describes what I believe: ‘the entire world is one country. In this ‘global country’ the principle of loving others like loving one-selves is an essential guide in order to have harmonious relationships with our neighbour countries’.
‘This principle means tolerance and understanding for different ways of acting of other people. It establishes that we treat other nations in the way we wish to be treated, with respect and consideration. This is a principle that, in my understanding, we have never applied towards Cuba.
‘Your Honour, I became involved in the activities that brought me here in front of you because I followed my consciousness more than obey the law. I find that our government’s politic towards Cuba is cruel and unfair, profoundly unfriendly, therefore I considered myself morally obliged to help the Island to defend itself from our efforts of imposing our values and political system on them.
‘We have shown intolerance and rejection to Cuba during for decades. We have never respected Cuba’s right to decide their own destiny, its own ideals of justice and equality. I do not understand how we keep on trying to dictate …how Cuba is supposed to choose its leaders, or not, and which are the most appropriate laws for this nation. Why we cannot let them choose the way they prefer to conduct their internal businesses, the way USA has been doing for more that two centuries now?
‘My biggest desire would be now to see a friendly relationship emerge between the USA and Cuba. I do hope that my case, in some manner, stimulates our government to give up hostility against Cuba and could work together with Havana, in a spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and understanding.
‘Today we see, more than ever, that intolerance and hatred –towards individuals or governments- only spreads pain and sorrow. I do hope that the USA can develop a Cuban politic based on appreciation to a neighbour, recognizing that Cuba, just like any other nation expects to be treated with dignity, not rejection.’
She is currently imprisoned in the Federal Medical Center, Carswell, within the military headquarters at the Air Base of the USA Navy, Fort Worth, Texas. She is confined in the psychiatry area, although she is free from any illness of this kind. This place is evidently extremely dangerous because there are indeed people within who are actually ill and this can have an serious impact on her mental state.
Ana is nowadays imprisoned with some of the most dangerous women in the USA, where she has had neighbours such as the housewife who strangulated a pregnant woman to steal her baby, also a nurse who killed four of her patients with massive adrenaline injections, and last but not least, Lynette Fromme, The Noisy, a follower of Charles Manson who tried to assassinate former President Gerald Ford.
She is kept under extreme isolation:
- She’s not allowed to receive any visits other than her father and brother
- She‘ not allowed to use a telephone
- She’s not allowed to read any newspapers or magazines, neither watch TV
- She’s not allowed to receive any post
- Nobody is allowed to search about her health or the reason why she’s being kept in a psychiatric institution although she is not ill
- She’s not allowed to have contact to any other residents in the institution
- Letters directed to her are returned using certificate mail
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons has informed she is allowed to have contact only with close family members, because accused of espionage
Ana Belen Montes is due to recover her freedom in 2027, 12 years from now. She’s been in prison already for 13 years now.
She never received any money from the Cubans, she was never enrolled through any sordid blackmail tactic. She did not act upon vengeance of desire to obtain power in any way. Perfectly knowing the risks she was taking, she faced them following profound love to justice and sincere solidarity towards Cuba.
Therefore, she deserves the greatest respect from all who love Martí’s homeland.
HELP SPREADING THIS MESSAGE ABOUT OUR FRIEND ANA BELEN MONTES
Also be aware that throughout the world many committee are being raised in order to support a fair treatment as well as liberation of this friend, who defies the vengeance of the empire in such a dignifying manner, without giving up her love to Cuba and humanity in general.
For any more information, please contact the Cuban Organizing Committee, Dr. Nestor Garcia Iturbe, under:
Criminal detachment from the suffering of others, petrifies José Martí
Cuban Committee for Humane Treatment for Ana Belen Montes contact info:
sarahnes@cubarte.cult.cu
victormanuelgonzalez01@gmail.
I am very grateful to see this text relayed here.
I am because for me Cuba has always been a powerful light tower.
Events in the world are so complex, with so many sides and intentions, and I so ignorant, that I don’t always know where the truth is.
But there is one thing I am sure on this planet, and that is Cuba.
There are of course a lot of people spiting on that country and its inhabitants; that’s easy, is what we are indoctrinated to do.
But I know. And when I see a man or woman standing for Cuba, despite all the risks that position means, then I know that man or that woman are Good people.
I’m unable to write more, I’m too deep in emotion right now.
I just want to say Thank You to the Saker and his team for this window you give us.
And Thank You Ana Belén, for being you; for putting your humanity and kindness above even your own safety.
Thank you for giving us, who are weak, the strength of the Hope.
Thank you Pavlo!
Just as people here support the Donbasa and loath the suffering inflicted by the anglo/american zionist filth,many have also have supported the overthrow of the Batista regime and respect the decision of the people of Cuba for self determination.
Many see the contradictions,lies and hypocricy,but can do nothing except vote with their feet,or wallet!.
The ballot box changes nothing…..witness Greece!.
The ‘Achilles heel’ of US hegemonic power is the petrodollar,requiring every oil using country to aquire US dollars to buy oil.
This is being bypassed by every major country,causing panic in the US and we must be resolute and hold to our values.
The US and all it’s vassals must desist, or cease to exist!,there are imperitives and that is one of them.
Be strong amigo!
“Condemn me, it does not matter: history will absolve me.”
“The duty of every revolutionary is to make revolution”
“I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.”
Fidel Castro
“I know the monster, because I have lived in its lair, and my sling is that of David.”
Jose Marti (talking about the US)
Yes, this is one of those facts that hardly anyone knows and need to be told.
off topic, I just saw this regarding a Greek being likely murdered due to wiretapping:
http://sputniknews.com/world/20150929/1027741677/tsalikidis-death.html
I generally think Cuba does pretty damn well, considering. But to a fair extent that’s irrelevant–if they were mediocre, if they were bad, it’s still none of the Americans’ damn business and their terrorist tactics–no, beyond the tactics, their whole attitude that the US has the right to decide what Cuban government and society will be like–are vile. Not surprising then that the way they treat dissent is also vile.
Living in America and being conscientious is usually punished if not misunderstood. As a newly
minted x-ray tech working in south miami, 1960, was my pleasure to become friends with an E.R.
doctor. This man was the former minister welfare (in cuba) under Batista. Along with much of the upper crust, wealth wise, that included doctors who were early emigres to miami. The vast bulk of
these cubans were early refuges trying to avoid the castro regime by waiting it out in south florida:
waiting for mostly backfired attempts of cia enabled resistance.
The medical types and all those first wave cubans impressed me. In a word: Ambitious.
Meanwhile, $40 roundtrip air from key west and a pack of pall malls kept you sexed in havana.
Now its becoming clear. The dispossessed arriving from cuba were educated, wealthy and socially mobile. Later during bay of pigs, these types didn’t want to die for their lost freedom.
Fidel and the revolution drove all that corruption offshore. Vegas & AC took off!
Thank you Saker for your tribute to Ana Belen Montes.
There were reports than Ana was cooperating fully with the investigators.
It would be a terrible irony if Ana was abandoned by Cuba because, as a possible example, she gave away someone else who was stationed in the U.S., while she was being mistreated by the
U.S. because she had not.
Her case is different from the 5 because she was guilty of the crime she was charged with and they were not. It is a wise choice for her supporters to focus on her mistreatment in jail. Hopefully, Obama will look in her direction when he needs another gesture.
She should also be proposed for presidential pardon.
And how do you know she’s guilty? Were you the judge of the court? Have you seen the evidence? ( I guess the same evidences as with Strelkov ).
With the history of justice and righteousness in the US …..
No, it´s not better to focus on mistreatment in that psychiatric den of destruction US style.
What is needed is remove her, already!
Perhaps a group of internationalist “volunteer” specialists could do something ….
You do not have a trial when you plead guilty. What would it be about?
She says she’s guilty, her lawyer (Plato Cacheris, one of the best) says she’s guilty, Cuba says she’s guilty, Elsi doubts it.
What to think?
And yes, Elsi, it’s exactly like Igor Girkin; she is convicted out of her own mouth for those who know how to read and reason.
Unlike Igor’s, however, her motives were good.
well, I’m not sure its important who draws attention to her plight…the article we read is better than a hypothetical group of international volunteer specialists…unless there’s something implied in what you said that is between the lines ?
Anyway, I also have read her statement in this article that admits she did break the law of the CIA country, but not the law of her heart. And I also think its great that Cuba has not forgotten her, although its been what ? 13 years and like the title says..”who knows who Ana is ?”
And horrible as it is to say so…this is just one of the many horrible crimes that are happening around us today…and who can stop it ? An international group of volunteers…but where are they ? only in your mind so far…its not so easy changing the world.
Thanks for posting this. Ana is a true prisoner of conscience, and should be allowed to go home to Cuba. I can’t do much except send this on to my friends. And I will pray for her. At least close family can visit her sometimes, that must be a consolation of sorts.
its wonderful that this brave good woman is being helped by CUBAN people…the most horrible thought is that this would happen and everyone would just forget.
this story reminds me of Mordecai Vanunu..another terrible story by a similar beast – Israel.
Ana is a saint and her love is an inspiration.
Solitary confinement and “psychiatric” treatment is the revenge of the empire inflicted on those who rise above the prescribed hatred for their enemy.
American poet Ezra Pound was confined in an outdoor cage in Italy in 1945 and spent 12 years in St. Elizabeth mental clinic in Washington, D.C. He was released after appeals of Ernest Hemingway and friends.
Long live Ana.
I am not convinced there is such a group. All search hits on it lead back to one source: this page. The “cubarte” link leads to a group in Paris. A search of the Cubarte website does not find her.
There are many errors in the pitch, and an overarching question: If Ana can’t have visitors or write anybody, how do they know the conditions she is under?
In fact, Ana does correspond with close and distant members of her family.
Also, she does have a psychiatric history. One might almost say that it would be crazy not to use this resource living under the stress and isolation of her activities.
Plus her history as an espionage agent is momentous and vast, and not at all as described in the lead-in. If she had been spying for Russia, she would be considered one of the master spies of all time. She may not have put “innocent” lives in danger, but she definitely put guilty lives in danger.
Ana is not a kitten up a tree. She is a brilliant, tough, principled woman who knew exactly what she was doing and the risks involved. I doubt she has regrets.
She was the socialist black sheep in a family of professional anti-espionage agents, so it is doubtful that she wants to see all of them. Everybody in her family loathes her father, who was divorced by her mother for chronic physical abuse of the entire family. Her sister, an FBI agent, was involved in breaking the Wasp ring and Cuba dropped Ana immediately after the arrests. I suppose they thought she might have been doubled.
I did a little agitating on her behalf when the Free the Five committees started up, and was told by “connected” Cuban friends “Don’t worry. We haven’t forgotten about Ana.” The tone of voice said “Back off.”
For some reason, the Cubans have always been cold on her. It may be because she cooperated completely with her captors. She may have done some real damage there. Wasp was not comprised of the Cuban Five; there were more than a dozen of them. The Five were the ones who did not talk. Or it may be her connection to the takedown of the Five.
I think her 18 years of valuable service should earn her mitigation in any case. But I’m not fighting a war.
Hello Cassandra.
It’s not that I do not trust you but I Would like to read a bit more indepth about her case beyond the occassional Newspaper article and Wiki article. Do you have any documents you could upload? Perhaps court ones? Or sources that say that she had psychiatric problems and what those were?
If she cooperated fully, why then is she isolated where she is? IF she gave up Wasp or led to the unraveling of it all then shouldn’t her sentence have been lighter, especially if she had a good lawyer?
How was she a master spy?
Thanks!
Her sister was involved in the Wasp take-down. Tenuous, but enough to arouse suspicion that she might have been careless or let her hair down over a bottle of domestic red.
The Cubans had agents in the House and in the Senate staff. Ana got higher into the US government than any other Cuban spy but one; he was never caught and was handled personally by Fidel. She was eligible for the death penalty and plea bargained. Therefore, there was no trial and no trial transcripts. She made a statement and the only documents with data are the charging document from the prosecutor, which has all the details but is not trial-tested, and the affidavit in support of a search warrant which is in the list below.
Posters have seemed to overlook this: she was not Cuban. She was born in Germany to Puerto Rican parents stationed there and therefore had U.S. citizenship. Probably this and her counter-espionage FBI-agent siblings were important in her gaining the security clearances she had. I wonder if any Cuban would be trusted that far. She was employed 16 years at the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency. Reports of her civil service grade vary but I have seen as high as D-18. She was an analyst, and often drew up the briefing documents for policy makers. She knew where the Contras were and where they were going. :)
Here http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/montes.htm is a roundup of press reports for what they are worth. There is a book about her “True Believer” by Scott Carmichael, and she is mentioned at length by another super-annuated CIA agent Brian Latell in his book “Castro’s Secrets.”
Details are still secret and most of the information comes from Cuban exiles filtered through the CIA, a double whammy from the two groups on earth most devoted to lying as a way of life. Latell, for instance, says Fidel ratted Montes out in a senior moment. What a hotdog!
Thanks for reminding us about yet another prisoner of conscience in the American GULAG, Saker. May she soon be free.
Long ago I read many of Solzhenitsyn’s books – The Gulag Archipelago, A Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, Cancer Ward, The First Circle – all of which were about the Soviet prison system under Stalin and in particular the political prisoners ranging from Anarchists and Trotskyists to Monarchists to completely apolitical people denounced because someone had a grudge against them.
Although the conditions of most of the work camps were very poor – the prisoners were in essence used as slave labour in remote areas where the location was the main prison wall, and the food was minimal – one of the things that struck me was that the prisoners lived communally in barracks and were pretty much left alone as regards their intellectual life. They worked and slept together and could and did discuss anything and everything, and even received mail and newspapers occasionally, which in the conditions of Russia in the 1930’s and ’40’s is saying something. So although their physical conditions were harsh, they were allowed a social, intellectual, and spiritual life.
Contrast that to the contemporary American GULAG where solitary confinement, beatings, and other forms of torture are the norm, and the isolated prisoners are spied on 24/7, particularly political prisoners. The whole system, including the MacDonald’s zero nutrition food, is geared to break down the prisoner and induce mental illness or a nervous breakdown in even the most resolute. The American GULAG is truly modelled on Orwell’s 1984. And Big Brother, or the NSA and it’s many rival spy agencies, is always watching and listening.
Note that I am talking about the “normal” US internal prison system here. The conditions of the world-wide GULAG of secret prisons and torture camps holding the kidnapped citizens of other countries – each such instance is an act of war – is unspeakably worse. Yet in their boundless hypocrisy, insolence, and arrogance, the criminals running Washington have the gall to accuse other countries of “Human Rights” abuses!
Well said, Terry.
I looked at the history of the gulag recently, and found that the peak period of deprivation, when people were starving there, coincided with the time when the people in the cities were eating the animals in the zoos.
One might think that a proper comparison would be to prisons elsewhere 75 years ago, but as you have cogently pointed out, the most recent innovations in the prisons in the West make them the worst prisons in history.
It also came up on a recent blog, this one or a sororal one, that the U.S. constitution excepts convicts from the abolition of slavery.
Of course the real reason the gulag is an iconic symbol of repression is the identification those who use it that way feel with those who were imprisoned in it. “I, too, fear and despise the USSR and want to see it dead with a stake through its heart, so the poor prisoners were as undeserving of imprisonment as I am.”
They had a fine time explaining to Solzhenitsyn that there was no comparison between refusing to publish him in the USSR because he was counter-revolutionary and refusing to publish him in the U.S. and Europe because he was boring. He thought the important point was that he could’t get published and it just didn’t make him feel free.
Hey Terry,
We should not diminish the Stalinist crimes simply to harden the visual impact of the capitalist ones,
They are equally horrid in their own way. The later gets worse and worse when private interests are involved. We should not forget that the “enhanced torture techniques” employed in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere were not the work of government strategists but private consultants that derived fees from their usage depending on how much the prisoners talked.
As such the more they talked, even though they talked bullshit, the more their systems and theories were used and the more the government payed them for further research until they understood that sensless torture provides little effective intelligence, especially if done on someone year after year after they have been inactive.
Get a grip. If what Solzhenitsyn said about the Bolsheviks was true, Russians in the west, bearing the brunt of Nazi attacks, would have welcomed them as liberators.
“informing the Cuban government” …so she was a spy then?
She was one helluva spy! One of the all time greats.
Thankyou,
Ana Belén Montes is a great lady.
I think that it is excellent that you take up her case. I knew about it since long go but had forgotten, the lady is indeed the most meager spy that has ever been, if a spy at all and most probably she can be classified as a whistleblower. The restrictions imposed on her are not because she is a threat to anyone but because of a sadistic justice policy that the US holds against people like this and Manning and others, who knows what would have happened to Assange
I think that it is pathetic of the Cuban government to demand and receive only the release of the so called Cuban Five but ignore the plight of this woman, a person who is not even Cuban but choose to help the Cubans in their aspirations towards peace and security.
Raul Castro should be as much shamed as Obama!
Ana clearly is the most dangerous individual imaginable by the U.S. government–a person of conscience willing to act upon that conscience. NO ENTITY is more dangerous to the Hegemon!
Song honoring her:
Song for Ana Belén Montes by David Rovics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8A-ldHiDyk
Thanks for that reminder, which is news to me.
I have put together a screenshot of Rovics video and links that you might wish to use as an illustration and which others might want to use to get the cause known, but i do not know how to send it to you.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
She is welcome to become French.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité