Forum Opens in Havana a World Solidarity Program with the Cuban Five

Forum Opens in Havana a World Solidarity Program with the Cuban FiveHavana, Sep 5.- An experience exchange called "Five Days for the Cuban Five" will be the beginning in this capital today of a global program of solidarity with the Cuban antiterrorist fighters, about to turn 15 years imprisoned in the United States.

The campaign will run until October 6, to mobilize international public opinion to achieve the release of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, and Fernando Gonzalez.

They were detained in 1998 alongside Rene Gonzalez for the crime of miscarrying terrorist actions against their country, organized primarily from the Florida city of Miami.

Only Rene Gonzalez remains in Cuba since this year he renounced his U.S. citizenship after completing 13 years in prison and a period of supervised release.

The International Committee to Free the Five, as they are known among the followers of their cause, announced that many activities will be carried out in the world for their release.

Graciela Ramirez, from the Committee, informed that a vigil will be held in Washington on September 12 at noon. That day will mark 15 years of the imprisonment of the Cuban Five.

An important number of friendly organizations with Cuba to demand that President Barack Obama ends this injustice are expected to participate in the vigil.

Kenia Serrano, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, said that the island's music bands will perform concerts the same day.

Those music groups will sing in Spanish language the song entitled "Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree." This song is remembered in the United States when the return of a loved one is expected, she added.

The Cubans throughout the island confirmed yesterday that they will use yellow ribbons to send a message to U.S. people in solidarity with the antiterrorist fighters imprisoned in the northern country.

Rene Gonzalez made the call this week so that, as of a symbol in the United States, people learn more about the cause of the Cuban Five.

"It is a symbol that U.S. people will achieve understanding, visitors could see and foreign correspondents here could not ignore it," he said in a televised speech.

We want this is a different campaign and the last one. It's time to bring them home and for that reason we have your support, Gonzalez said.(Prensa Latina)