Cuban Parliament President Calls for Release of the Five

Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon, stated that the U.S. president, Barack Obama, has to release the five Cuban patriots unjustly imprisoned for 13 years in that country.

The also a member of Central Committee Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba was referring to Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Rene Gonzalez, internationally known as The Five, reported Prensa Latina.

Obama knows that they are imprisoned solely for fighting terrorism, said the official in a brief speech to the representatives of 47 parties and leftist movements from 32 countries participating in the 17th session of the Sao Paulo Forum, which opened yesterday in the Managua.

He noted in particular the situation of Gerardo Hernandez, who is serving two life sentences plus 15 years in prison, although 10 years ago, on May 25, 2001, the U.S. federal government acknowledged officially, in writing, that it had no evidence to support the accusation.

Alarcon referred to this issue after noting that during a recent visit to Mexico, a reporter inquired about the opinions expressed by President Obama on the results of the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, held last April in Havana.

Obama said he was not satisfied with the results of Party meeting, said Alarcón, and I had to say that he has no say nor vote in the destiny of Cuba. "

Alarcon told participants in the forum that the journalist told Obama that what he has to do is release the Five Cuban patriots and end the blockade that has lasted over half a century, calling it "a criminal and genocidal policy, condemned year after year by the international community. "

He also added, that he must "fulfill his promise to shut down the torture center installed on an inalienable part of our territory taken by force in Guantanamo Bay."

GRANMA