Five Heroes

Never out of our minds!

2011-09-24T19:03:00.002+09:30

We've been quiet but the outrageous injustice suffered by the Cuban Five is never out of our minds. There's always something to remind us - like this freeway blog by the local Communist Party branch in Port Adelaide, South Australia. A few of these have popped up lately.

Perth action for the Cuban Five

2010-10-05T11:16:00.001+10:30

The case is not closed

2008-10-19T23:02:00.002+10:30

"CASE closed — forget about that!" affirmed Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, referring to the unjust ruling of a panel of judges in Atlanta to uphold a decision to not review the appeals of Gerardo Hernández and René González.

Speaking on the "Roundtable" TV and radio program, Alarcón said the ruling was objectively divisive in nature, in order to create confusion, but that the attitude of the Five continues and will continue to be one of unity.

He recalled details of the rigged legal proceedings, which included substantial problems, false accusations, illegalities, prevaricating by judges in the different courts and administrative arbitrariness. "The U.S. government has not been able to provide any evidence to convict Gerardo; why, then, should the Supreme Court not take the case under review?"

In the United States, the top court of justice is not obliged to review all the cases submitted for its consideration. According to statistics, it only reviews from 1 to 1.5% of cases submitted.

"We have to prevent this case from being closed," Alarcón emphasized. "We are going to reopen it with arguments, with concerts, with exhibitions, mobilizations, filings before the court, with our hands, teeth and nails, but we are definitely going to open it, we will open it."

He announced that a group of lawyers is preparing to present the case in the U.S. Supreme Court, accompanied by mobilizations, denunciations and international solidarity, which continues to grow.

That was touched on by Rosa Aurora, Fernando’s wife, and attorney Nuris Piñeiro who, in India witnessed many actions of support for the cause of freeing the Cuban Five, and for visas to be granted to Olga Salanueva and Adriana Pérez so that they can visit their husbands René and Gerardo. Piñeiro said that those actions show how the Five are international symbols of dignity and respect for peace.

Alarcón also noted that an environment is slowly being created in the United States that is forcing judges to reconsider and the government to act. On that point, he said, "I think there is total consensus in that country: change, and that change is going to be produced by the masses, the people. Likewise, there has to be a change in the case of the Five, and we’re going to achieve it."

Message from Gerrado

2008-09-29T21:45:00.001+09:30

Message from Gerardo
Dear compañeras and compañeros:

We arrive at the 10th anniversary of the arrest of the Cuban Five at a crucial moment of our legal process (That is what they call it, although perhaps “illegal process” would be more appropriate.) The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Atlanta, has just ended our appeal.

That is to say, if it were up to them, things would stand as is, and some day my bones would be sent to Cuba, after death frees me from two life sentences.

The court in question has given unmistakable signals of the type of “justice” that the Five can aspire to in this country. When there was a decision 3-to-0 in our favor, with 93 pages of solid arguments in which the three-judge panel characterized our trial as “The Perfect Storm,” the full panel, against all predictions, not only agreed to review the decision, but reversed it without much explanation. The “perfect storm” quickly became simply a drizzle.

Yet, this time, when the decision was 2-1 against the Five, with obvious legal errors, with a judge arguing in 16 pages that the prosecution presented absolutely no proof that sustains the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, and with a judge who—although voting against us—recognized that it is a “very close case,” and with several defense arguments were not even seriously analyzed, the 11th Circuit categorically refused to review it. As we say in Cuba: “Not even water is as clear.” We have said time and again that this is a political case, and those who do not see it as such, choose not to see it.

Someone recently mentioned that now the Supreme Court has the last word. I would say, the second-to-last word. The final word in the case of the Cuban Five rests with you, our sisters and brothers of Cuba, the United States and the whole world, who throughout all these years have been our principal source of encouragement. Our hopes are not placed in any court. Ten years are more than enough to have cured us of any such naïve notion.

You are our hope, who through sacrifice and swimming against the current, have succeeded in making people on all continents aware of the injustice committed against the Five. You are the ones who are not taking time out or resting in your homes but instead are honoring us with your presence in different activities, commemorating the 10th anniversary of our imprisonment. You continue struggling to unmask the double standard of a government that invades other countries to supposedly fight terrorism, at the same time that it harbors and protects infamous terrorists, and imprisons those who are trying to stop those criminal acts.

We have confidence in you to expose the hypocrisy of the corporate media and of certain international organizations, which portray mercenaries—who betray our people for a handful of dollars or a visa—as suffering political prisoners. Yet they are disgracefully silent in the case of two women who have been deprived for a decade of the basic right to visit their husbands in prison. We know that right is on our side, but to win true justice we need a jury of millions of people throughout the world, and we need you, defenders of just causes, to make our truth known.

The injustice committed against the Five has kept us away from our homeland for ten years, but it has not kept us from accompanying our people through joyful times and also the suffering. A few days ago Hurricane Gustav caused great damage in Cuba, mainly on the Isle of Youth and in Pinar del Río, two territories from where we have received a multitude of support and love all these years.

We are certain that all the people of Pinar del Río and Isle of Youth, together with local and national leadership, with the solidarity of all dignified Cubans and many friends of the world, will become stronger in these difficult moments and—as is characteristic of revolutionaries—will convert the setbacks into victory. Although it is not possible for us to be there physically, today more than ever the Cuban Five are with you in our hearts, with our brothers and sisters in the Isle of Youth and Pinar del Río, who have done so much to support the struggle for our liberation.

Compañeras y compañeros: Ten years after that September 12, 1998, we thank you once again for walking this long and rough road together with us. We know, that to continue this march, we can keep counting on you, and you can also always count on our firm determination to resist, with our heads held high, for as long as it takes.

¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

Gerardo Hernández Nordelo
Victorville Federal Prison, California
September, 2008

Leonard Weinglass: Public Support is Crucial in Cuban Five Case

2008-09-22T23:10:00.001+09:30

Leonard Weinglass, Defense Attorney for the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters held in US jails for 10 years now, known as the Cuban Five, spoke with the Cuban News Agency during the launching, September 20 in Havana, of the book “Chronicle of an Injustice,” which describes the case; the book is one more effort to raise world awareness about the cause of five Cubans who were given extremely long sentences for having fought terrorism. We now bring our readers the full text of the conversation with the US lawyer.

Mr. Weinglass, the 11 Circuit of Atlanta’s Court of Appeals recently rejected a petition made last June 24 by the defense to review the case and reconsider its decision, upheld the convictions. Could you tell us what comes next in the legal battle in favor of the Five?

- “The legal case is now moving to Washington, where we are attempting to get the Supreme Court of nine justices to take the case for review, that is one front of legal work, the second front returns to Miami where three of the Five are scheduled to be re-sentenced before the trial judge. That is the other front we are working on. There is a two-front struggle at this point. It’s very important that we build support for the case in Washington.”

However, we understand that the Supreme Court only takes from 1.5 two 2 percent of the case that are presented each year. What are the chances for this case, then?

-- “It is very difficulty to assess what our chances are. However, this is a very unusual case; it is important nationally and internationally. It is a case which won a unanimous decision first at the 11 Circuit and then it lost two later decisions, but those decisions carried a very strong dissent so in the three cases we won one and we barely lost two, so the Supreme Court should look at this record, since it is an ambiguous record, it is the kind of record that calls out for a review.”

As to legal cases you have reiterated your statement that you do not win in court but on the streets, we understand that public support is crucial.

-- “The lesson of the Angela Davis case, in which I was involved, is that as you build public support you increase the prospects of obtaining a victory. She was an African American woman, a member of the Communist Party, tried before a white jury in a rural county of California and charged with killing a judge; it was very serious, she originally carried the death penalty, but she was acquitted of all charges and that was largely because of the international outcry about her case. In the other political cases, I have been involved in public support has been crucial. The Supreme Court this year will get 8000 petitions for review; they will take fewer than one hundred; our case will only be taken if it becomes a known case, a rather famous case, then it will be review, so public support is essential to our work.”

Why is this a political case?

-- “These case takes every definition of a political trial, and it is a case that involves not just a political issue but also the relationship between the US and Cuba. In the trial process they reviewed the 40-year history of that relationship, and this case is centered in that history. So it is unavoidable of the process itself that the process itself has been political since the beginning and it remains political. Senator McCain, currently running for President referred to our case, so it is a political case; if it will be decided politically it requires political support.

The presentation of the book, which was printed in Spanish, English and French, was made by the president of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon at the colonial building hosting the Cuban Book Institute, in the old section of Havana. The ceremony was attended by relatives of the Cuban Five, the president of the Havana-based Casa de Las Americas Institution, Roberto Fernandez Retamar and other personalities.

Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez and Antonio Guerrero, were framed and arrested by FBI agents in 1998 and given unfair and long sentences including four life terms, after they collected information on Florida-based ultra-right organizations that have undertaken terrorist actions against the Cuban people.

Birthday greetings to Rene, Gerardo from Perth

2008-06-09T08:25:00.006+09:30

More than 20 people gathered in Perth yesterday to celebrate "Che" Guevara, Gerardo and Rene's birthdays.

This celebration was organised to reaffirm the commitment to the freedom of the Cuban Five in the wake of the politically manipulated outcome of the 11th Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Vinnie Molina, president of the friendship society in Perth expressed his disappointment for the result that continues to keep five heroes in jail after already being unfairly detained for 10 consecutive years. Their only crime being to defend their homeland from terrorists attacks carried out and organised by the Cuban mafia in Miami.

He also condemned the actions of the US government that keeps the self confessed terrorist Luis Posada Carriles walking free while keeping the Cuban Five illegally incarcerated. This self-confessed terrorist must be extradited to Cuba or Venezuela to pay for his crimes.

Those present also sent a message of solidarity to the Cuban Five and signed birthday cards for Gerardo and Rene which will be posted by members of the friendship society.

We must continue the struggle until the Cuban Five return home.

US Revenge Clouds Cuban Five Ruling

2008-06-08T13:10:00.003+09:30

Havana, June 7 (Prensa Latina) Rene Gonzalez, one of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unfairly held in US prisons, described as an act of vengeance against Cuba an Atlanta appelate court ruling on June 4 upholding their convictions.

"The baseness of those trying, by this case, to satisfy their instincts of vengeance against our homeland, has been once again discharged on us and our loved ones," he said in a message published Saturday by Granma daily.

Gonzalez questioned the US judicial system and denounced how those representing the law are able to mock their own laws when it comes to acting against Cuba.

At the end of his text, he called on the Cuban people to close ranks in defense of the Revolution as "the only honourable response to this vile act."

'Five Heroes' comdemns this gross act of injustice against the Cuban Five.

URGENT: The Atlanta Court of Appeals decision on the Cuban Five

2008-06-07T11:36:00.006+09:30

Dear ACFS members, friends and supporters:

It is with indignation that we share the following information. News came to us yesterday that the Atlanta Court of Appeal upheld the previous sentences imposed in the illegal and politically motivated trial against the Cuban Five Heroes.

We would like to encourage people to maintain their rage and hope for the freedom of these five Cuban heroes whose only crime was to defend their homeland from terrorist attacks.

Please read the message that we have received from the Free the Five Committee in the United States. Click here

Let the Wives Visit the Five

2008-05-05T21:46:00.006+09:30

After a lengthy period without a post, the Five Heroes blog is back up and running. Sorry to our regular readers but due to circumstances beyond our control we have been unable to post to this blog. Go to our box widget and download your invitation to a special event in Sydney this Friday.

New Year's Messages of Solidarity and Hope from Ramon and Antonio

2007-12-30T19:49:00.000+10:30

Message from Ramón

Dear brothers and sisters of the world:
As the Christmas and New Year 2008 celebrations approach, we want to send you our congratulations together with all the appreciation and affection, for supporting us in this cause that unites us: solidarity with Cuba and freedom for the Five.
For these days one makes an assessment of what was accomplished and what is to be done. This is why, in remembering all the actions that were carried out in 2007 in order to gain more solidarity for our cause, we are filled with strength and more optimism in our inevitable victory
No matter how long this cruelty lasts, victory will be ours. We will continue to struggle alongside you, to put an end to the double standard of the empire, which claims to fight terrorism, yet keeps us imprisoned, denying the history of terrorist attacks against the Cuban people.
From Argentina to Canada and the United States, through Central America and the Caribbean; on the other side of the Atlantic; from Spain, to Viet Nam and Australia, on the African continent: In every corner of the planet we have heard the voice of justice demanding our freedom. Your letters inform us each day of all these actions, events and displays of solidarity. Count on us always for every just cause, we will be with you soon.
Many thanks, sisters and brothers, for knowing that we can depend on you always, to put an end to so much injustice that for almost 10 years has separated us from our loved ones and our beloved homeland.
For Cubans, the holidays include the one we celebrate, of another anniversary of the Revolution, which returned the dignity and freedom that the peoples of our continent struggle for.
Long live the 49th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban people!
Ever onward to victory!
Ramón Labañino Salazar USP Beaumont, Texas Dec. 20, 2007

Message from Antonio

Dear Friends:
Thank you for your words full of encouragement and brotherhood.
This year 2007 is coming to its end and in one way or another we all make an appraisal of our achievements and failures, as well as of our joys and sorrows in these 12 months. We know that time is relative, but we cannot avoid to measure it and within it to trace new goals, our near and far away dreams.
There is something that clearly comes to view in our evaluation of this year: it is the incessant growing of the solidarity with our struggle for justice and freedom.
Of course, we know that still we have much to do in order to reach the truth to all corners and with it to gain the door to justice, but we can count on the tenacity that each one of our friends has demonstrated, on your indestructible attachment to reason and honesty and on your immense love to Cuban people and its Revolution.
Most of the time my answer to your letter comes with delay because I have so many commitments and I am involved in various projects, but you should know that you are and you will be forever in the hearts of the Five.
Happy New Year 2008! We wish you health, peace and love. A strong embrace from the Five.
¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
Greetings to friends,
In solidarity,
Antonio Guerrero USP Florence, Colorado December 2007

Nobel Prize winners & world intellectuals sign new call for the release of the 5

2007-10-22T18:48:00.000+09:30

The Cuban chapter of the Defense of Humanity Network announced in Havana a new call for the release of the five anti-terrorist Cubans incarcerated for nine years with heavy sentences hanging over them. Please click here to read the full story.

Colin Powell Aide denounces Injustices against Cuban Five

2007-09-27T07:21:00.000+09:30

Havana, Sep 24 (Prensa Latina) Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to US General Colin Powell, published an open letter where he denounces injustices committed against the Cuban Five and calls for public protests in support of the five anti-terrorists imprisoned by Bush´s government.

The report published today in Granma daily says Wilkerson, a retired US Army colonel and assistant to former Secretary of State Powell, said he based his courageous stance on the Five largely on his extensive knowledge of the George W. Bush administration.

Wilkerson said he became convinced that defending the Five was a just cause after attending a Sept.12 lecture by defense attorney Leonard Weinglass at Howard University Law School.

Click here to read more

Free the Cuban Five! Perth

2007-09-15T20:40:00.000+09:30

Perth activists gathered at noon on Thursday 13th September to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the unjust incarceration of the Cuban Five.
Five white doves were released as a symbolic gesture to free the five.

With this action the ACFS Perth branch joins several organisations around the world to demand freedom for the five anti-terrorists held in different US prisons.
The present demanded freedom for the Five and visiting rights for their relatives.
Perth, Western Australia says Free the Cuban Five and Extradite Posada Carriles to Venezuela.

Free the Cuban Five! Adelaide

2007-09-15T20:25:00.000+09:30

In Adelaide gathered on the steps of Parliament House to relese five doves. “We will release 5 doves to symbolise the hopes of the peace loving people of the world for their immediate release from the US penitentiaries where they are being held unjustly. Similar actions are taking place across the world on this date,” said Bob Briton, secretary of the Australia Cuba Friendship Society in South Australia.

To watch on YouTube video, please click here.

Cuban 5 Adelaide Protest - THIS WEDNESDAY

2007-09-11T20:17:00.000+09:30

A gathering will be held on the steps of Parliament House this Wednesday September 12 at 5 pm to mark the 9th anniversary of the imprisonment of the Cuban 5 anti-terrorist heroes in the United States. We will release 5 doves to symbolise the hopes of the peace loving people of the world for their immediate release from the US penitentiaries where they are being held unjustly. Similar actions are taking place across the world on this date. There be a few short addresses about the scandalous case of these political prisoners.

Sign a Petition to George W. Bush Demading Release of the Five

2007-06-16T00:47:00.000+09:30

Despite the overwhelming clamor worldwide for justice and their freedom, the five are still incarcerated in the United States, confined in prisons of maximum security, denied of their right to receive regular visits even from family members; their telephone contacts and correspondence limited and controlled.

Indeed the people of the world were shocked and outraged to know that on May 8, 2007, international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles has been released in the United States and all charges against him were dropped, while the five Cuban heroes continue to languish in US prisons and their rights grossly violated. This aptly shows the double standards of the US in its “war on terrorism”.

Let us continue to struggle for justice and freedom of the Five Cuban patriots!

Click here to sign the Amistad's online petition to free the five.

Online Forum with Families of the Five Heroes Tonight!!

2007-06-12T10:31:00.001+09:30

The families of the Cuban Five will be online tonight to participate in debate and discussion about the wrongful detention of their loved ones in the United States. They are looking forward to speaking with supporters of the Five around the world and we encourage you to be part of this event. Click here to participate in the discussion which takes place on June 13th, Tuesday evening at midnight eastern standard time in Australia. Once you have clicked on the link you will need to create a username and password so you can log on and participate. If you have problems loading the webpage from the link above please keep trying as high levels of traffic to the site can sometimes cause delays.

The Cuban Consulate in Australia has also informed us at 'Five Heroes' of the debate and invites everyone to join in on the discussion. FREE THE CUBAN FIVE!!!

Protest at Adelaide Parliament House: 21st May, 5pm

2007-05-18T16:30:00.000+09:30

The Adelaide branch of the ACFS will hold a rally protesting the release in the U.S of known terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. For more information you can email the ACFS at: acfsadelaide@gmail.com. The ACFS stated on their blog today that they would like to see big support this action 'as we feel it's important to alert as many people as possible to the hypocrisy of the U.S government'.

Posada Case Proves Innocence of Cuban Five

2007-05-05T00:30:00.000+09:30

"The best proof of the innocence of the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned in the United States, is personified by Luis Posada Carriles, whose release on bail outrageously violates the basis for Washington’s supposed war against terrorism," said Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban parliament.

Alarcon spoke at an international solidarity meeting held at the Havana Convention Center on Wednesday with representatives of labor, social and political organizations from more than 70 countries.

Alarcon referred to a document presented by Posada’s own attorneys on April 30, in which he admits working for the CIA for more than 25 years starting in 1961.

The statement, Alarcon notes, confirms what Cuba has always said: "Posada was a CIA man at the time of the Barbados plane bombing, when he was involved in Operation Condor, during the dirty war against Nicaragua and as a top Venezuelan secret police officer, when he tortured and killed many people."

The Cuban-born Posada is a naturalized Venezuelan who escaped from prison while awaiting trial for the 1976 midair bombing of a Cuban Airliner. The commercial plane had left from Venezuela and blew up off the coast of Barbados resulting in the death of all 73 persons on board. Operation Condor was a plan to eliminate all opposition to the South American dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s. The dirty war was aimed at toppling the Nicaraguan Revolution and took place in the 1980s.

On the other hand, the Cuban Five, imprisoned in the US since 1998, had worked to gather information about terrorist plans against Cuba by Miami-based groups that operate with impunity in the US. When Cuba shared its intelligence information with Washington, the FBI proceeded to arrest the informants while allowing the terrorists to continue their activities on US soil.

Alarcon called on the solidarity with the Cuban Five movement to step up efforts to obtain their freedom. He noted that a decisive ruling from the Appeals Court of Atlanta is expected to come after the oral hearing tentatively set for August 20.

"Only through solidarity can we obtain justice in this case. All of us that feel part of this noble effort to create a better world and combat terrorism are obliged to keep close watch over the developments in this case," said Alarcon.

Besides their continued support to seek the release of the Cuban Five and demand that Posada Carriles be tried for his crimes, the solidarity gathering gave its support to the Cuban Revolution.

Also attending the gathering were Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, from the Cuban Communist Party Secretariat; Salvador Valdes Mesa, general secretary of the Cuban Workers Federation; and George Mavrikos, general secretary of the World Labor Federation.

ORFILIO PELAEZ (Granma)

International Meeting Demands Cuban Five Be Released

2007-05-02T00:19:00.000+09:30

Havana, Apr 29 (Prensa Latina) The nearly nine-year imprisonment of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters in United States shows Washington's real position as to terrorism, Cuba's Young Communist League (UJC) first secretary Julio Martinez stated on Sunday.

Martinez is participating in an international youth meeting in solidarity with the Cuban Five, taking place in this capital attended by student and juvenile delegations from 46 countries.

"We can not accept imprisonment to those who fight so terrible problem and release those who practice it," stated the UJC leader referring to the release on bail by US authorities of international criminal Luis Posada Carriles.

The Five, as Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez are universally known, are serving harsh sentences until double life imprisonment in US jails.

Statements on Release of Luis Posada Carriles

2007-04-28T08:05:00.000+09:30

While the Five Cuban Heroes remain in prison, falsely convicted in the United States, suspected terrorist Luis Posada Carriles has been let out of a U.S prison on bail whilst facing illegal immigration charges. The U.S Government refuse to extradite Posada Carriles to either Cuba or Venezuela to face charges relating to the bombing of Air Cubana Flight 455 which caused the deaths of 73 innocent people. To read official statements from the Cuban Government and the 118 member Non-Aligned Movement, download the documents from our 'Box' widget on the right hand side of the page.

Who are the Cuban Five?

2007-04-09T17:39:00.000+09:30

The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who are in U.S. prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001.

They are Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González.

The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related charges.

But the Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups, in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba.

The Five’s actions were never directed at the U.S. government. They never harmed anyone nor ever possessed nor used any weapons while in the United States. Click here to read more.

ACFS members in Adelaide Rally to the Cause...

2007-03-07T22:16:00.000+10:30

Welcome to the Free the Five Weblog....

2007-03-05T13:04:00.000+10:30

Held in separate prisons around the United States, the Cuban Five have been wrongfully convicted of espionage against the US government. We will keep you informed of actions against this unjust situation and to update you on any developments pertaining to their case. We will also post interviews, media releases and other information relevant to the the Cuban five.

Venceremos!