34 Years of Impunity

On October 6, 1976 a civilian Cuban airliner took off from the coast of Barbados towards Cuba. Among the 73 passengers on board was the Cuban Junior Fencing team who were proudly returning to their island with gold medals. Along with them were 11 humble students from Guyana who were to begin studying in Cuba, five passengers of the Democratic Republic of Korea, among them a young girl. There were 57 Cuban passengers and flight crew on that plane. But flight 455 never made it to its destination. Its 73 passengers died a horrible death when a bomb, ordered to be placed in the plane by the international terrorists Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, blew up in mid air.

For the last 5 years the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has officially demanded from the United States the extradition of the criminal Posada Carriles who has been a fugitive from justice for the plane bombing and for other crimes committed in that country. After 34 years since that criminal act 73 families and an entire people continue to demand justice.

The Cuban government yesterday declared October 6, the "Day of the Victims of State Terrorism". This declaration by Cuban President Raul Castro is an unconditional statement concerning this open wound of this small island nation as well as a symbol of the impunity of the US and the unwavering efforts of Cuba to fight terrorism.

The Committee of the Family of the Victims of the Barbados Crime, has sent an open letter to Obama demanding a trial and punishment to Posada and for the freedom of the Cuban 5.

The speech of the President of Cuba and the letter of the Family of the Victims of Barbados can be read by clicking on the links below.

http://www.cubadebate.cu/raul-castro-ruz/2010/10/06/the-cuban-government-urges-president-obama-to-abide-with-his-commitment-to-fight-terrorism/

http://thecuban5.org/wordpress/2010/10/06/letter-to-obama-from-the-committee-of-families-of-victims-of-barbados/

New Youtube of Dolores Huerta about the Cuban 5

The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 is making a series of YouTubes with US personalities, to reach out to a wider audience of people who are still unaware of this important case. This is another way to break the silence of the media corporations that continue to hide the case of the Cuban 5.

To watch the new YouTube of Dolores Huerta click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeXXmvb5xYw

Dolores Huerta, Co-founder, along with Cesar Chávez, of the United Farms
Workers of America, AFL-CIO "UFW". Currently she is the President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

In 1993 Dolores was inducted into the Hall of Fame of women of the nation. She has received multiple awards for her tireless work as a leader and activist in the fight for human dignity. Dolores Huerta has worked hard for the freedom of the Cuban 5 and the right of family visits. Currently she is the co-chair of the Advisory Board of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5.

Update of the Campaign Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5

On September 12, on the 12th anniversary of the arrests of the Cuban 5, twenty-three US actors and artists sent a letter to President Obama demanding the freedom of the Cuban 5. The signers included: Edward Asner, Danny Glover, Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, James Cromwell, Mike Farrell, Eliott Gould, Bruria Finkel, Richard Foos, Chrissie Hynde, Greg Landau,Francisco Letelier, Esai Morales, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Sarandon, Pete Seeger, Martin Sheen, Betty and Stanley K Sheinbaum, Andy Spahn, Oliver Stone and Haskell Wexler.

To the original list of US actors and artists, other known actors such as Sean Penn, Michael Moore and the Portorrican Benicio del Toro joined in. As a result of this successful campaign, other known-figures from the art world as well as intellectuals have added their name to this demand including, Calle 13, Juanes, Olga Tuñon, Miguel Bosse, Chico Buarque, Danny Rivera, Victor Heredia, Manu Chao, Tristan Bauer, Norman Brisky , Ettore Scola, Silvio Rodriguez, Alicia Alonso, Frank Fernandez, Miguel Barnet, Kcho, Roberto Fernández Retamar, Jorge Perugorria, Vladimir Cruz, Eduardo Pavlowsky, Paolo Virzi, Leo Gullotta, Gianni Miná, Father Miguel D´Escoto, the Nobel Prize winners Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and  Mairead Corrigan-Maguire and many more.

Send a petition to President Obama by going to:
http://www.thecuban5.org/wordpress/index.php

How you can help

1) Help us to produce more YouTubes
 
YouTubes are a very effective way to spread the word about the case of the Cuban 5. The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, has produced 6 YouTubes, one with Alice Walker, four with Danny Glover and one with Dolores Huerta, and we are planning to create many more with other well-known figures.  You can help us by making a $50 tax-deductible contribution or any other amount you can afford. Thank you very much for your support!

To donate go to http://thecuban5.org/wordpress/act-now/donate
 
2) Sign the Petition to President Obama:

    End the Injustice, Free the 5 now!

http://www.thecuban5.org/wordpress/index.php
 
3) Send the petition to all your friends and ask them to sign