Vol. 77/No. 26      July 8, 2013

BY JANET ROTH
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Musicians, poets and other artists added their support to the international campaign to free the Cuban Five at a cultural and political evening held here June 15. The event was organized by the Cuba Friendship Society to tie in with the “5 Days for the Cuban 5” activities in Washington, D.C., May 30-June 5.

The 80 participants were welcomed by Mike Treen, national director of the Unite Union, and invited to listen to the musical trio French Toast while they ate a Cuban supper. Later they heard from Cuban band Chango Rey and watched a solo performance by dancer Tupua Tigafua.

Robert Reid, general secretary of the First Union and chair of the program, introduced Cuban Ambassador Maria del Carmen Herrera.

“To understand the story of the Five, we should connect it with the history of Cuba,” Herrera said. The 1959 revolution in Cuba “established for the first time a political, economic and social system chosen by the Cuban people. This was not liked by the United States government.”

Herrera explained how the Five had been framed up and described the international campaign to win their freedom. “We don’t trust American justice,” she said. Quoting Gerardo Hernández, one of the Five, she said to free the Five, “We need a jury of millions.”

Actor Phillip Gordon read poems by Cuban Five prisoner Antonio Guerrero.

Keith Locke, former Green Party member of parliament, celebrated the release of René González. “People around the world should take some credit for this,” he said.

The event was held in the Maritime Union’s club. “We’re great supporters of the Cuban Five,” said Russell Mayn, secretary of Local 13, which has been in a contract fight with the Ports of Auckland for the last 18 months.

Selections of poetry and prose were read by writers Riemke Ensing, Vivienne Plumb, Janet Charman, David Lyndon Brown and teacher Peter Beyer.

The evening was concluded by Annalucia Vermunt for the Cuba Friendship Society. The Five are products of the Cuban Revolution and working-class fighters who have stood as examples of dignity, integrity and steadfastness, she said, “whether it be their contribution to winning independence for Angola and helping defeat apartheid South Africa, or the respect they’ve earned from fellow prisoners in the U.S., or the solidarity they’ve shown to others, such as those fighting for Puerto Rico’s independence.”

Many participants were new supporters of the case. Fourteen copies of The Cuban Five: Who They Are, Why They Were Framed, Why They Should Be Free were bought by those wanting to find out more and for use in winning new backing for the campaign.
 
 
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