Latin American Parliament Demands Release of the Cuban Five

HAVANA, Cuba, May 26 (acn) The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), in a work meeting of three of its commissions held in this capital, championed on Thursday the release of the five Cuban Heroes unfairly incarcerated in the United States.

Cuban News Agency

Panamanian Elias Castillo, president of that organization, described as anti-juridical the imprisonment, for almost 13 years now, of Fernando Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez.

The unjust sentences give to these Cuban antiterrorists, he said, constitute acts that are rejected by and reprehensible for all honest men on the planet.

Several parliaments of the region –like the Panamanian- and the Parlatino itself, have criticized on several occasions the indictment against The Five, he pointed out, who were protecting their people against terrorist acts organized in south Florida.

Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon explained to the delegates of 17 countries attending the meeting, the judicial process against the Cuban heroes -the longest in US history.

It’s a battle of appeals, he commented, that still continues, and presented documents –by the US government- in which the innocence of Gerardo Hernandez is evidenced, as well as the lack of incriminating evidence against him.

The meeting, which includes the 14th edition of the commissions of Equity, Gender, Childhood and Youth; Health; as well as the 15th of the Meeting of the Commission of Economic Affairs, Social Debt and Regional Development, winds up on Friday at the Barcelo Habana Ciudad Hotel.

The Latin American Parliament was created on December 10, 1964, following the Declaration of Lima, and later institutionalized on December 16, 1987, at the Peruvian capital.

Presently based in Panama City, this intergovernmental organization of regional, permanent and unicameral ambit is made up by the national parliaments and legislative assemblies of 23 nations.