The Miami Five - 9 years of imprisonment
Campaign News | Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Stetment from the Cuba Solidarity Campaign
CSC STATEMENT ON THE 9TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARREST OF THE MIAMI FIVE
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign in Britain marks the ninth anniversary of the arrest of the Miami Five on 12th September 1998 with a renewed effort to campaign for the freedom of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez who are being held hostage as political prisoners in the United States.
On September 10th over 200 delegates to the Trade Union Congress, the annual meeting of British Trade Unions, attended a meeting organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. They heard from Members of Parliament Ian Davidson and Colin Burgon, Trade Union General Secretaries, Brendan Barber (TUC), Dave Prentis (Unison) and Tony Woodley, (Unite), Rob Miller, Director Cuba Solidarity campaign, and Zelmys Dominguez Cortina from the Cuban Embassy in London. The meeting urged support for the Month of Action and again called for the release of the 5 Cuban heroes.
CSC will hold a Candle-lit Vigil outside the US Embassy in London on 9th October to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of the murder of Che Guevara in Bolivia in 1967. While the Five are hailed as heroes in Cuba they also represent the ideals of Che to those in other countries who believe that another world is possible.
As well as these two major events CSC will be holding meetings and events around the country as part of the Month of Action to free the Miami Five.
For nine years the Miami Five have been victims of a gross injustice in the continuing hostility towards Cuba at the hands of successive administrations in the US that are determined to beat the country into submission. Their only crime has been to defend their people against terrorist acts originating in Miami with the support of the CIA and the full complicity of Washington that have resulted in nearly 3,500 deaths and over 2000 injuries.
Furthermore their families have been subjected to delays in obtaining visas to visit their loved ones in prisons scattered across the US. In the case of Adriana Perez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, and Olga Salanueva, wife of Rene Gonzalez, visas have been denied indefinitely which means that they have not seen their husbands for nine years and seven years respectively.
While the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta reaches its decision following an unprecedented third hearing international solidarity continues its long march towards securing freedom for the Five in the conviction that truth, reason and justice will prevail. We at CSC are proud to be part of that movement and will not rest until the men are returned to their families and their people who continue to struggle for the right to national sovereignty and self-determination in the face of increased US aggression.
Volveran!
