Importance of Solidarity with Cuban Five Reiterated

The world demand to achieve the final release of the Five Cuban anti-terrorists imprisoned in the U.S. has enormous value, the mother of one of them reiterated on Tuesday in Havana.

We still need the support of all for truth and justice, Mirtha Rodriguez said in a meeting with participants at the 14th International Convention of Urban and Land Management, reported Prensa Latina.

This event, based in the Conference Center until 4 November, is being attended by some 300 delegates from 14 countries in the Americas, Africa and Europe.

Antonio Guerrero's mother expressed her hope that as soon as possible the injustice against her eldest son, and Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Rene Gonzalez will end.

They, known worldwide as the Five, were arrested on September 12, 1998 while monitoring the violent actions of anti-Cuban groups located in Florida.

Rodriguez recalled that René was released from prison on October 7, but is being forced to remain on American soil for a period of three years under a regime of supervised release.

That decision (Judge Joan Lenard refused a request for the anti-terrorist to return to Cuba at the end of his prison sentence) is terribly cruel to him and his family, stressed the woman of nearly 80 years of age.

She also referred to the situation of one of the Five, Gerardo, who was sentenced to double life imprisonment plus 15 years, who is the most needy of the world's efforts to achieve their release.

We claim this because we have right on our side, our children were punished by hatred and political vengeance, they were not judged as people, but as an attack on a nation, she said.

After Rodriguez's address, an exhibition of watercolors, Cubanía in butterflies, the work of Antonio Guerrero, was inaugurated at the event. It was first opened to the public last September at the Natural History Museum in Havana.

GRANMA