Ramón´s First letter to his wife Elizabeth , after spending 17 months in the "hole" "In the most difficult moments , in the most extreme loneliness, when we missed even human voice, I always had you and without any doubt , eternally at my side , also there was my mother. We were all, my daughters, my beloved relatives and friends and in a very top place that first mother we all due , my homeland."
First letter from Gerardo Hernández, after 17 months without communication in the "hole" " I am the one who is proud of you . For me the most important thing in the world is you to be at my side , that you understand the need and importance of this sacrifice I have imposed upon you….I am living the life I have chosen, the one I always dreamt and that is why I do not complain about anything nor regret…Sacrifice will never be greater, than the ones others did with their own lives for the homeland… I will never let you down."
North American Almirant , Eugene Caroll, former Operations navy chief, testifies that Cuba has warned about constant air provocations against the capital by Brothers to the Rescue, which could bring serious consequences if they continued. Two weeks after February 24, I informed to that respect to the White House and CIA, but they did not do me any case, he stated.
Colonel John George Buchner testifies , who occupied an outstanding position in the Command System of the Air Defense of North America and declares that Brothers to the Rescue´s flights over Cuba were "military movements" in planes which " had all military traces" He adds that he arrived to the conclusion after listening to the tapes the Havana control tower recorded with the incursion apparatus, plus public statements of Brothers to the Rescue.
New testimony of George Buchner, who admits that planes could have been withdrawn over Cuban territory.
Alarm and panic among the Miami Mafia. El Nuevo Herald writes: They are trying to blame the exile of a series of aggressions and present Fidel Castro´s regime as a victim." Terrorist Declarations from Raúl Saúl Sánchez, who called to abstain themselves or testify to avoid that " we be placed at the accused bench"
General Charles Wilhelm testifies , former commander Chief of South Commands. He ascertains that service intelligence infiltration hostile to that Army Command, is almost a remote possibility because of the high security level of the military facility. So, a tough hit was given to District false accusations that Cuba was trying to penetrate the quoted base.
"After four months of trial, the District has not introduced yet the evidences it said it owned to accuse those suspicious men of spying for Cuba, lawyers and observers coincided." The new Herald says this day.
Defense pleas end and the District after 102 hearings start deliberations with the 12 juries.
A tricky , prejudiced and under great pressure trial , fraternize with joy with the Miami Mafia, local TV left evidence of the unbelievable deed.
The unfair guilty five give knowledge a message guided to the North American people: "We did not violate nor jeopardize the North American people´s security and we did contribute in some measure to discover plans and terrorist actions against our people , avoiding death of innocent peoples: North Americans and Cubans."... We declare ourselves innocent... our families will feel proud for this gesture in favor of humanity in the struggle against terrorism."
Granma publishes a wide and detailed information about the manipulated decision of the jury under the title; Heroic Behavior in the Entrails of the Monster" . It has just been committed a repugnant justice and qualifies the trial as fraud and cynical. Then it reproduces the courageous message of the patriots to the USA, written on June 17. On June 20 , the first Round Table is broadcasted : "In the Entrails of the Monster" there the police and jury behavior is unmasked and evidences are revealed about the innocence of the five. President Fidel Castro attends this fist Round Table, where notice is given of the long list of terrorist actions against Cuba , all organized at Miami and innocence of the five is reiterated, who have kept a dignifying attitude along four years. Homeland contemplates you all, pride. The panel ends.
Before 60 thousands peoples all gathered in a combative Open Tribune of the Revolution at the Cotorro municipality of Havana, President Fidel Castro states that the battle of ideas the Cuban people is going ahead , now it is added with a tremendous force the demand justice to be done and that the five Cubans jailed at Miami, be free. At evening hours of that same day , in a TV program, the Commander in Chief states the five patriots have placed their lives in danger not only for the Cubans but for the North Americans too: "These comrades have committed no crime and we are willing to prove they are political prisoners of the empire," he says.
At the Round Table René´s Diary is started to be read, text which allows to know details of the fraudulent trial at a Miami Court. That same day and after the visit of Miami of the Secretary of Justice of USA, John Ashcroft, who met himself with executives of the Cuban American National Foundation, the five are sent again to punishing cells, where they will stay for 48 days. In the same in communicated "hole" where they were confined during 17 months of jail.
Cuba denounces this new action against the patriots adopted in reprisal for their dignifying attitude and the battle started in the island for their freedom.
The first Solidarity Committee with the Five is announced , in USA
The poem book "From my Altitude" of Antonio Guerrero is presented , at the Jose Marti memorial. Outstanding personalities of the Cuban culture, are present: Cinthio Vitier and Roberto Fernandez Retamar, who praise the work.
Parade of the people, in front of the Interest Section of USA in Havana , qualified as the biggest of all parades of the national history. More than one million citizens from Havana ask the release of the heroes who defend their people from death. President Fidel Castro leads the huge march.
Granma journal publishes a gratitude letter from the five to the Cuban people, for its actions in favor of their freedom, likewise a poem is included "Stanzas for my people", signed by the young men.
At Uruguay the first Latin American Committee of Solidarity is created. The second was in Argentine.
They are innocent, they have no committed any crime , the Cuban Parliament declares.
The Cuban Chancellery sends the North American Department a protest note for the decision of handing just five visas to the patriots relatives. They are only authorized to travel for the sentence hearings to Antonio, Gerardo and René´s mothers. Visas were denied to the logical accompanying relatives of mothers, all aged people.
Defense Attorneys denounce irregularities during the process and the precarious conditions of detention of the five, aspects which must be taken into account at the time of dictating sentence, " because they have been particularly tough and irregular"
Gerardo Hernández is condemned to two life sentences plus 15 years , In his plea , he points out "I trust that if it is not in this one, or some level of the system, reason and justice will prevail above all, apart from political prejudices and vengeance wishes and it will understood no damage has been done to this country , deserving such a condemn , but if it were not like that , allow me to repeat the words of one of the greatest patriots of this nation, Nathan Hale when he said: I only regret not to have more than one life to give to my homeland."
Ramón Labañino is condemned to a life sentence plus 18 years. He pronounces his plea and expresses; "If avoiding death of innocent human beings and defending both countries from terrorism and avoid a useless invasion I am condemned today, I will wear the prisoner uniform with the same honor and pride with which a soldier carries its most precious badges !
Rene Gonzalez is sanctioned to 15 years and states in his plea: I do not have reasons for regret…I am in the right road.. at the end this matter of the Cuban agents has an easy solution, Let Cuba live , respect the Cuban people's sovereignty."
I reaffirm my proud of being part of the Cuban people and of its Revolution, Fernando González states in his letter to the mothers . To his wife he had written months before; "In these moments, I have you here and as you have always been until the final victory, no matter what it be, or sentence decided."
Fernando is sentenced to 19 years of jail, Reading his plea he points out: I sincerely trust that some day Cuba does not have any need of peoples like me , voluntarily and for love to my country and its people, come to this country to fight against terrorism. Al man who respect himself must first of all to his people and to his history."
The Cuban Parliament agrees to confer the condition of "Heroes of the Republic of Cuba" to Gerardo, Ramón, Rene, Antonio and Fernando: Likewise it confers the Mariana Grajales decoration to : the mothers and the Ana Betancourt to their wives. President Fidel Castro reiterates that the heroes will come back to the homeland: I repeat, reiterate and emphasize they will return!, and names the coming year as "Year of the Five Prisoners of the Empire" Parliament approves it.
In an Open Tribune, with thousands of participants at the Ciudad Escolar Libertad, President Fidel Castro says truth will reach every corner of the planet that in truth there is the absolute certainty the five Cubans unfairly jailed will return to the homeland.
Antonio Guerrero pronounces his plea , after listening to a sentence life plus 10 years of jail.. "I love the island where I grew up, I was educated , also I love this country in which I was born, where during the last 10 years of my life I have given and received true samples of love and sincere affection…I have never done any harm to anybody nor place in jeopardy the USA's security... One day will come in which we no longer the fear and death and in that day history will be seen real justice of our cause..."
The five heroes give knowledge a message in which they thank the honor and they confer and reiterate their commitment with homeland.
