Call from Spain in support of Cuban anti-terrorists

 • THE eminent poet Marcos Ana, one of the symbols of anti-fascist culture, heads the list of a group of Spanish former political prisoners who have signed a call for solidarity with the cause of the five Cuban anti-terrorists incarcerated since 1998 in U.S. jails.

The document, signed in Madrid, calls on the U.S. government to “immediately release the five Cubans.”

It affirms that anti-terrorist fighters Gerardo Hernández, Fernando González, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino and René González are “unjustly imprisoned in that country.”

The text also asks that “their families be allowed to visit them, especially the wives of René González and Gerardo Hernández, who are systematically denied visas, thus violating the most basic human rights of the prisoners and their families.”

“We demand that these violations and injustices be ended,” concludes the call, made during a meeting in the Spanish capital and whose text was sent to Granma daily.

Fernando Macarro Castillo, known in the world of intellectuals as Marcos Ana, was born on January 20, 1920 in Salamanca. During his intense life he fought in the Spanish Civil War, experienced the rigors of the concentration camp, was imprisoned together with the poet Miguel Hernández, escaped from two death sentences, remained in jail from 1946 to 1961 and was forced into exile.

Recently, Ana dedicated a copy of his memoirs, Decidme cómo es un árbol (Tell Me What a Tree is Like) to each of the Five, because “I am a son of the solidarity that I believe must be globalized,” he stated then. (Deisy Mexidor)

WE MUST STEP UP THE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGNS

Stepping up the campaign to win solidarity with the Cuban Five and reach the U.S. people, so that they are informed about the case, was the challenge posed to the Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade from Canada by Elizabeth Palmeiro, wife of one of the Cubans imprisoned in the United States for fighting terrorism.

In a meeting at the Havana headquarters of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, Palmeiro explained how her husband, Ramón Labañino and the other four are serving unjust sentences because the case has become politicized and has as its background the differences between Cuba and the United States.

Ramón’s wife said that “on June 4, the Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding the convictions of the Five. The appeal documents on this decision were presented on July 24, and it was decided to ask the three judges to reconsider their decision. Afterward, the appeal was presented to the 12 Circuit Court judges, so that they, too, would reconsider it. That leaves the Supreme Court. We don’t know how these judges are going to respond, or if they will. We don’t know what to expect from them, but we do know what to expect from all of you.”

In that sense, she highlighted the need to step up the solidarity campaigns, and noted Canada’s decisive role in this struggle, given that it is a very close neighbor and thus influential in U.S. public opinion.

“The whole process with the Five has been one of misconduct on the part of the U.S. government, because the legal system in that country has been subordinated to political interests, and the corporate media does not talk about the case. Canada is important because it is a neighbor that can help the U.S. people understand the truth. We have solidarity groups in Europe and the rest of the world, but the Atlantic separates that continent from the United States, and in that sense, Canada and Mexico can be essential to U.S. people learning the truth about the case and mobilizing.

“This is a political case, and solidarity is vital. The people of Cuba are satisfied with what has been achieved with 56 Canadian members of Parliament signing a letter to Condoleezza Rice and different authorities asking for freedom for the Five. But the most important thing was the solidarity activities, the discussions with parliamentarians.”

The 5th of every month is dedicated to the Five in many parts of the world, and demonstrations are organized in front of U.S. consulates or public plazas. Palmeiro said that “everything is centered on denouncing the double standards of the United States, which while claiming to be in a war against terrorism, is invading countries and protecting terrorists like Posada Carriles. However, those fighting against those activities are imprisoned in that same country.

“That is why they are political prisoners; they have been arrested over political questions. Their rights and those of their families are being violated. They either deny or permanently delay giving us visas. They are keeping us in a state of psychological stress.”

Palmeiro said that she has been unable to travel to see her husband for two years, the last time being in May 2006.

“The visa is delayed for a long time, thus keeping us from seeing each other. Ramón was not able to receive anyone for two years, and now his oldest daughter is visiting him.” His oldest daughter had gone in February to see him, but because the prison was on lockdown, she was not able to visit. She was there for four weeks without being able to see him and then her visa expired.

Palmeiro also explained to the Canadian activists that the Five are in very dangerous prisons, and that “they must be released immediately.” Support is needed “now more than ever,” because they are nearing the end of the legal process and “they have still not seen justice.” She urged the brigade members to send letters to the government asking their foreign minister to take a stand, to Amnesty International and to the UN Human Rights Commission, and to demonstrate in front of United States embassies and consulates.

The brigade members at the meeting expressed their solidarity with Ramón’s wife and promised not to give up the fight to free the Five. According to Reynold Rizimer, a member of the Cuba-Canada Friendship Association, “U.S. government policy on the five imprisoned Cubans is inhumane and unjust. I fear that, unfortunately, many people in Canada do not know about the case, and when they see the photos of them that we publish, they have no idea who they are. That is why those of us in the association, located in Calgary, are making a big effort not only to make the case of the Five known, but also the strength of the Cuban Revolution and the need to defend it against Yankee imperialism and other policies.”