LatAm Solidarity Brigade Ends Activities in Cuba

Havana, Cuba, Aug 13.- Members of the 19th Latin American and Caribbean Brigade of Voluntary Work in Solidarity with Cuba ended their activities in this country and expressed their willingness to continue supporting the social process started in Cuba in 1959.

In a final declaration released in the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp, in the western province of Artemisa, they agreed to involve civil society organizations in their countries to extend support to Cuba.

They also agreed to fight in the social networks for the release of the five anti-terrorist Cuban fighters unjustly held in the US since 1998, the document says.

According to the Cuban News Agency, the document includes the commitment to demand respect for the rights of Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Fernando Gonzalez and Antonio Guerrero to directly communicate with the outside world and receive family visits.

The Cuban Five -as they are known worldwide- were condemned to harsh sentences for reporting on violent actions planned against Cuba by terrorist groups based in US territory.

Against them there were 26 separate charges, 24 of them relatively minor and rather technical, including failing to register as foreign agents with the Attorney General of the United States.

The defendants agreed with this position, but they were prevented from explaining that under a doctrine of U.S. Law, known as the Necessity Defense, they should be forgiven for failing to comply with this technical matter.

Their mission implied the protection of lives, prevent property damage and terrorist acts, and, according to US laws, you can technically violate a regulation prescribed by law if you are doing it to avoid further damage.

None of the charges involved the use of firearms, violent actions or property damage. (Radio Cadena Agramonte).