Call to increase actions to free the Five

Nuria Barbosa León

THE 9th International Colloquium for the Liberation of the Five and Against Terrorism, which took place in the eastern province of Holguín (November 13-17) and was attended by 300-plus delegates from 51 countries, ended with determination to win the struggle.

The Final Declaration adopted by the meeting emphasizes intensifying actions to clearly disseminate the issue of the anti-terrorists incarcerated in the United States and to demand that President Barack Obama exercise his constitutional powers to release Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando González.

On the final day a massive march and Solidarity Tribunal was held with the participation of 10,000 Holguín residents calling for the liberation of the Five Cuban heroes.

During the event, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark was awarded the Republic of Cuba’s Order of Solidarity for his outstanding work with civil rights movements, his energetic demand for an end to the criminal U.S. blockade and support of the Five.

Speaking to the press, Kenia Serrano, president of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP), affirmed, "This is the largest gathering in terms of nations participating at this Holguín event." This was the first Colloquium held with the participation of René González, one of the Five who, after completing his sentence in full, was obliged to remain in Miami under supervised liberty. In order to return to his homeland, he renounced his U.S. citizenship.

Describing the discussion and sessions as very active, Serrano, also a National Assembly deputy, stated, "The fact that we were able to have René’s participation in this international Colloquium is a matter of great satisfaction. It is irrefutable evidence of the results of the struggle for the liberation of the Cuban heroes."

The exhibition Yo me muero como viví, of 15 watercolors painted by Antonio Guerrero was opened at the event, which then moved on to review the working agreements reached in last year’s Colloquium, with a call, above all, to increase actions within the United States.

The second session discussed the use of new technologies to send out clear and simple messages, reflecting communication standards defined in the United States and with an emphasis on Facebook and Twitter and other social networks, as well as to make use of audiovisual materials within the conventional media.

The families of the imprisoned Cuban patriots detailed the many flaws in the legal proceedings and the punishment additionally meted out to wives and children, and subsequently highlighted new initiatives which will take place in coming months.

René González affirmed that his four brothers in struggle, while still incarcerated, maintain the moral strength of dignified and brave patriots. He recounted the brutal violations committed against them since the very moment of their detention in 1998 and those which they must suffer every day. "Our entire prosecution constitutes an act of revenge toward the island on the part of the U.S. government and its sole justification is the U.S. inability to overthrow the Revolution, which continues demonstrating to the world the justness of its humane work."