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European solidarity campaign with the 5
Sign to gain their release !
To the people of the US and their representatives in Congress
Dear friends,
Five years ago the events of September 11 shocked us all very deeply. We feel sincere sympathy for all the victims and their families and condemn without reservation these acts of terrorism. That is why we in Europe draw your attention to the case of five Cubans: Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labańino, René González, Fernando González and Antonio Guerrero.
The people of the United States have the right to defend themselves against terrorism but we believe that Cuba also has this right. Therefore we hope that you will understand the necessity for the Cuban people to do the same.
It is well known that since the 1960s anti-Cuban terrorist groups have been operating in Miami with the aim of attacking Cuba. These groups use every method against the Cuban people including the murder of civilians, bomb attacks and other terrorist aggressions. Even American citizens have been the victims of these acts. Of course Cuba tries to avoid such attacks on its territory. In the past, the FBI resisted all cooperation with the Cuban government on the issue. That’s why Cuba sent people to infiltrate these terrorist groups in Miami in order to get information so as to be able to prevent terrorist attacks on its own territory.
On September 12, 1998 five Cubans were arrested by the FBI. They received sentences ranging from 15 years to double life in prison while their only crime was to protect the Cuban people against terrorist atrocities. The trial was unfair. The case was held in Miami where a fair and impartial trial was impossible for the “Miami Five”. High ranking US military personnel testified that at no time did the five present a threat to the security of the US.
The US government could not present evidence on the main charges: conspiracy to commit spying and conspiracy to commit murder. That’s why it tried, without success, to have the latter charge dropped, admitting in writing that it had no evidence to support that charge. Nevertheless, the five were found guilty on all charges. Their severe sentences and treatment are inhumane. For two of them, their wives and one of their children are denied the right to visit.
On May 27, 2005, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions determined that the detention of the Miami five is arbitrary and illegal and insisted that the US government takes measures to release the five.
On August 9, 2005, the Court of Atlanta decided that the Miami trial was invalid, cancelled the sentences and ordered a new trial. Nevertheless, one year later, the same court in plenary session, obviously under extreme political pressure, reversed that decision.
These judges announced their decision exactly at the same moment that extremists in Miami were demanding an end to Cuba as a sovereign nation, while arms were seized that were reserved for terrorist actions against Cuba, and when representatives of terrorist groups were making public declarations acknowledging their misconduct and announcing the prohibition of a book for children on Cuba.
In Europe tens of thousands of people have signed petitions to free Gerardo, Ramón, René, Fernando and Antonio. We ask you, the American people and their elected representatives, to support our demand to the government of the US to immediately release these five Cubans, whose only crime was fighting terrorism.
We are confident that you will support this just demand.