| September 12 marks the 15th anniversary of the imprisonment by the U.S. of five Cuban patriots, whose only "crime" was informing U.S. authorities of terrorist attacks against Cuba being launched from U.S. soil. The Cuban Five, as they are known worldwide, are Fernando González Llort, René González Sehwerert, Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo and Ramón Labañino Salazar. A related anniversary took place September 4, the 16th anniversary of the death of Fabio Di Celmo, a Montrealer of Italian origin killed in 1997 by a bomb set by anti-Cuban terrorists in the Copacabana Hotel in Havana where he was staying. To mark this occasion, many activities are taking place around the world to demand the immediate release of the Cuban Five. At a time when the U.S. imperialists are preparing to carry out state terror against the people of Syria, the case of the Cuban Five brings into sharp relief the U.S. self-serving double standards on terrorism. The Cuban Five were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in September 1998 for their work to expose the notorious anti-Cuba terrorist groups based in Miami which are instigated and funded covertly or overtly by the U.S. government. Since their arrest, the U.S. government, despite its claims of being opposed to terrorism, has done nothing to end terrorism against Cuba launched from U.S. soil. Instead, it has done everything in its power to subject the five Cuban patriots to harsh and vindictive treatment, beginning with 17 months of solitary confinement before the start of their trial in Miami in November 2000. The rigged legal proceedings that sentenced the Five have been denounced internationally, including by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in May 2005. Justice-loving people in Britain, the United States and around the world demand the immediate release of the five patriots. In addition to the thousands of ordinary citizens, many public personalities, members of Parliament and organizations have spoken in favour of their release. The families of the Cuban Five are similarly victimized because they are denied visas to enter the United States to visit their loved ones in prison. René González was finally released from prison on October 7, 2011, after 13 years of imprisonment. This summer, he finally rejoined his family in Cuba and is now fighting for the release of his four compatriots who continue to serve severe sentences: Fernando González (17 years, 9 months), Antonio Guerrero (21 years, 10 months), Ramón Labañino (30 years) and Gerardo Hernández (two life sentences plus 15 years). U.S.-backed terrorism against Cuba has been ongoing since the early years of the Revolution. One of the U.S. most notorious agents is the self-admitted terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. The mastermind of some of the worst acts of terrorism against Cuba, he entered the U.S. illegally in 2005. He has never been charged for his crimes and in 2011 was vindicated of some minor immigration charges and perjury. Since then he has roamed the streets of Miami as a free man where he continues to conspire with his criminal counterparts. This is the self-righteous hypocrisy of the U.S. imperialists, who in the name of upholding human rights and opposing terrorism have carried out innumerable crimes against the peoples of the world. In Cuba, to mark this anniversary, Rene Gonzalez has asked his compatriots to saturate Cuba with yellow ribbons, harkening to the tradition of wearing a yellow ribbon to remember an absent loved one. "My desire is that on September 12 yellow ribbons will appear in trees, on balconies, on people's arms, on their pets or however they want to display it. That way this expression will make it impossible for visitors and the foreign media to ignore the fact that the Cuban people are still waiting for four of their sons who are imprisoned in the United States," said Gonzalez. Everyone participating in actions around the world to mark this anniversary is called on to carry yellow ribbons. The U.S. mistreatment of these patriots has brought the world's attention to its misdeeds and thoroughly exposed its unjust hostile policy towards Cuba. Far from having their spirits broken, the Cuban Five have remained as courageous as ever and an important part of the fight to stop U.S. aggression against Cuba. They epitomize the steadfast revolutionary spirit of the Cuban people to overcome all obstacles to their sovereignty and right to be. The U.S. government should take heed of world opinion and free the Five now!  The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples of the World (ICAP) has convoked an International Meeting of Solidarity for the Release of the Cuban Five, on Wednesday, September 12 in Havana, Cuba, to strengthen the global campaign to free the four Cuban heroes who are still imprisoned in the U.S. Cuba has also called for a twitter campaign directed at U.S. President Barack Obama, with the hashtag #Givemefive beginning at 10 am EST on September 12. 15 Years of Injustice, 15 Years Too Many! Justice for the Five Anti-Terrorist Cubans! Free the Cuban Five Now! |