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A hero comes home
• Decorated Hero of the Republic
Fernando González arrived
in the country, and into the arms of his family,
February 28,
after completing his full, unjust 15-year prison
sentence in the United States
Nuria Barbosa León
THE
Cuban people closely followed the midday arrival and
reception of Fernando Gonzáles Llort, on Friday,
February 28, enjoying the smile and furrowed brow of
the man who spent 15 years, five months and five
days in prison for defending his country from
terrorist attacks, orchestrated by anti-Cuban groups
based in Florida.
 An
embrace from Cuban President Raúl Castro, kisses
from his mother Magaly and wife Rosa Aurora
Freijanes were great joys. He said, “This is
happiness which is difficult to describe, being here
in Cuba, being here with my family, it is an immense
happiness, yet at the same time, a piece is missing,
the piece which is reserved for the moment when
Ramón, Gerardo and Tony are in this same place. Then
the happiness will be complete.”
Fernando was arrested by U.S. authorities September
12, 1998, along with his brothers in struggle René
González, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino and
Antonio Guerrero. This February 27, he completed his
sentence imposed by the South Florida District
Federal Court, which found him guilty of charges
which were never proven during the lengthy
prosecution of the Cuban Five, who were in fact
working to prevent terrorist attacks on Cuba being
planned.
President Obama has the authority to immediately
release the Five, for not only humanitarian reasons,
but as an act of justice, given the many documented
irregularities which took place during the trial,
involving constitutional and human rights
violations.
“It
is an honor for me to be received by the President
of Cuba, Raúl Castro,” Fernando said upon his
arrival, “A gesture which strengthens my commitment
to the struggle for my brothers’ return. It is a
gesture which feels one with humility and
gratitude.”
Demanding freedom for the five Cuban
anti-terrorists, thousands of students gathered for
a moving concert on the University of Havana grand
stairway March 1. Bearing the message, “We want them
home now,” singer-songwriters
Gerardo Alfonso, Eduardo Sosa, Tony Ávila and
Vicente Feliú, repentistas Hectico and Aramís, as
well as the popular groups Los Van Van, Havana
D'Primera and Yoruba Andabo welcomed Fernando and
René - the first of the Cuban Five to complete his
full prison sentence.
Prior to the concert, in a few, perhaps hastily
written words, Fernando said he was excited to be
back and thanked the Cuban people for their support
over the many years of his imprisonment.
“Many thanks to the Union of Young Communists for
organizing this concert, the youth of today are the
inheritors of our tradition of struggle,” he
commented, and added, “Not even my most creative
imaginings could have prepared me for what I have
experienced since I descended the stairs of the
airplane which returned me to the homeland.”
A
variety of activities including talks, panel
discussions, poetry readings and concerts are taking
place across the country in schools and workplaces,
to express the Cuban people’s commitment to
continuing the struggle to free the Five.
March 7-8 in London, an important gathering entitled
Voices for the Five, is being held with many
renowned figures participating. The main event is an
International Tribunal which will hear evidence
about anti-Cuban terrorism and the rigged trial to
which the Five were subjected.
The
Tribunal’s findings will be submitted to U.S.
authorities and directly to President Barack Obama,
during another event set to take place in Washington
in June.
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