Venezuelan Parliament Leader Claims Release of the Cuban Five

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela, Jul 28 (acn) President of the Venezuelan parliament Fernando Soto Rojas urged friends with Cuba in his country to step up action for the release of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters imprisoned in the United States.

In a meeting with hundreds of activists from Venezuelan friendship and solidarity-with-Cuba movements, Soto Rojas made a detailed presentation about the Cuban people's fight under the leadership of Fidel Castro to counteract all forms of aggressions from the U.S.

Soto Rojas noted how Cuba has been the target of military and economic aggressions and how it continues to pose an example of unparalleled resistance.

One of the activists, Maria Fernandez, stressed that Venezuelan social movements will not stop in their fight for the release of the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters who are serving outrageous prison terms for having tried to prevent criminal actions against Cuba.

Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino, Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez were arrested in 1998 for having penetrated Miami-based anti-Cuba groups whose mission is to plan and conduct terrorist acts to overthrow the Cuban Revolution.

In the meeting, participants also demanded the extradition to Venezuela of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, the mastermind of the terrorist attack against a Cubana de Aviacion airliner flying Barbados to Havana in which all 73 people aboard were killed.

Soto Rojas wished Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who turns 57 on Thursday, a speedy recovery.

The meeting ended with shouts of “Long live” the Cuban Revolution and leaders of each country.

Joining the activists in the encounter were Cuban specialists in different fields who are participating in collaboration programs with Venezuela on education, health, sports, etc, and also sportspeople from the island who participated in the 4th ALBA Games.

ACN