Importance of Solidarity with Cuban Five Highlighted

Havana, Nov 2. -The world clamor for the release of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unjustly held in U.S. prisons has a tremendous value, the mother of one of these heroes said."We continue needing support from everyone for truth and justice," said Mirtha Rodriguez in a meeting with participants of the 14th International Convention on Territorial Distribution and Urban Development, running at Havana's Conference Center through Nov. 4 and attended by some 300 delegates from 14 countries of Latin America, Africa and Europe.

The mother of Antonio Guerrero expressed hope that the injustice against her son and his comrades Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labanino, Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez will end as soon as possible.

Internationally known as The Cuban Five, they were detained on September 12, 1998, while they were monitoring violent actions by South Florida-based groups.

She recalled that Rene was released from prison on October 7, but he has to remain in the United States for three years under supervised release, a decision that is extremely cruel to him and his relatives.

She also referred to the situation of Gerardo, sentenced to two life terms plus fifteen years in prison, who is the one who needs the most global efforts to have him released.

"We are demanding justice because the truth is on our side; our sons were punished out of hatred and political revenge; they did not try the persons, but rather attacked a nation," she said. (Prensa Latina)