Book by Antonio Guerrero Launched at Bay of Pigs

Havana, April 17. -The book entitled: “A Place to Retreat,” made up of 18 poems written between January 26th and February 12th in 2010 by one of the Cuban Five, Antonio Guerrero, was launched at the Playa Giron Museum, in the Cienaga de Zapata municipality.

The book launching was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban people's victory against the U.S.-backed mercenary invasion at Bay of Pigs.

The poems were written as personal testimony by Guerrero to describe his seclusion in the Oklahoma Federal Transfer Center, where his spent time isolated in the Security Housing Unit (SHU).

In the short preface Guerrero describes how he narrated the long hours spent in “solitary” using small pencils and little pieces of paper.

The poems were edited by Alfredo Zaldívar and the book contains illustrations made by Johann Trujillo of the Matanzas publishing house.

During the ceremony, the participants denounced the unjust imprisonment of Guerrero and his companions, Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramón Labañino, and Fernando Gonzalez, in the United States.

Relatives of these five Cuban antiterrorists were present at the launching.

Guerrero´s mother, Mirtha Rodriguez, said she was honored to be at the museum that treasures items related to the Cuban victory over mercenary forces 50 years ago.

She told the people gathered at the ceremony that in her latest visit to her son in a Colorado penitentiary, she found him optimistic and that the Five are proud to be part of history and the times they are living. (RHC)