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Vol. 73/No. 49      December 21, 2009

 
Cuban Five: ‘We will
continue until victory’
 
The statement below was distributed to the press following the December 8 hearing to resentence Fernando González and Ramón Labañino, two of the Cuban Five prisoners. A third prisoner, Antonio Guerrero, had his life sentence reduced to 21 years and 10 months at a resentencing hearing on October 13.

Dear Sisters and Brothers of Cuba and the World:

We have now served more than 11 years in prison without justice being done in any part of the process that we have been through in the U.S. judicial system.

Three of us were transferred to Miami to be re-sentenced by order of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals of Atlanta, which determined that our sentences had been erroneously imposed.

Our brother Gerardo Hernández, who is serving two life sentences plus 15 years in prison, has been arbitrarily excluded from this re-sentencing process. His situation continues to be the primary injustice of our case. The U.S. government knows the accusations against him are false and that his sentence is unjust.

This has been a complex process, thoroughly discussed in every detail, in which we participated together with our lawyers. We have not given up even one iota of our principles, honor, and decency, always defending our innocence and the dignity of our homeland.

Just like when we were arrested, and on other occasions during these long years, this time we have also received proposals from the U.S. government to collaborate in exchange for more benevolent sentences. And once again we reject such proposals, something that we will never accept under any circumstances.

The work of the legal team and the indestructible solidarity of all of you is present in the results of these re-sentencing hearings.

It is a significant fact that the US government, for the first time in 11 years, was forced to recognize that we caused no damage to its national security.

Also for the first time the prosecutors publicly acknowledged the existence of a strong international movement in support of our immediate freedom that is affecting the image of the U.S. judicial system in the eyes of the international community.

Once again, the absolutely political character of this process is confirmed.

We the Five are being punished for accusations that have never been proven. Although three of our sentences have been partially reduced, the injustice against all of us has been maintained.

Meanwhile the Cuban American terrorists continue to enjoy total impunity.

We reiterate: The Five are innocent!

We are deeply moved and thankful for the permanent solidarity that you have given us and that is so decisive in this long battle for justice.

Together with all of you we will continue until the final victory, which will only be achieved with the return of the Five to the homeland.

Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez
Fernando González Llort
Ramón Labañino Salazar

Miami, December 8, 2009
 
 
Related articles:
Cuban 5 win 2 more reduced sentences
‘Mobilize workers to support Cuban Five’
N.Y. pickets: ‘Free Cuban Five now!’
Continue fight to free Cuban 5!  
 
 
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