Release of "Cuban Five" -Socialist Forum

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The Cuban Solidarity Campaign, Socialist Forum of Ghana and the International Socialist Organization on Tuesday demanded the unconditional release of the five Cubans arrested by the US government in 1998.

Gerardo Hernadez Nordelo, Ramon Labanino Salazar, Antonio Guerrero Rodriquez, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez Schwerert were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage and murder and had since been convicted.

Mr Alhassan Adams, spokesperson for the group, said the five Cubans went to the States for the sole purpose of preventing terrorist attacks on their country (Cuba). He alleged that since the launch of Cuba's 1959 Revolution, it had suffered repeated terrorist attacks from Cuban exiles based in Miami, Florida.

"The 'Miami mafia', notorious for its involvement in narcotics, gun-running and violent crimes in the US has also repeatedly invaded Cuban airspace, poisoned livestock and soils, planted bombs, hijacked planes, sabotaged vital economic infrastructure, and carried out assassinations.

"Their crimes against Cuba are too numerous to mention; they have accounted for the deaths of over 3,000 Cubans over the years," he declared. Mr. Adams said in the early 1990s, Cuba decided to infiltrate the ranks of the Miami Mafia in order to develop the evidence that would compel or at least enable the US ruling elite to take action and that was the task of the five Cubans.

"In June 1998, the Cuban government invited the Deputy Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Cuba and presented him with over 1,200 pages of text, 160 minutes of videotapes and eight audiotapes - concrete and documentary proof of the international crimes of Miami-based terrorists. "The US government did not move against the terrorists. Rather, it used the information freely provided by the Cuban government to arrest the Cuban patriots who risked their lives exposing these crimes," he asserted.

According to Mr Adams, the five Cubans were tortured; tried by a kangaroo court; convicted by a thoroughly intimidated jury and had been denied their families' visit. "On the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the conviction of the 'Cuban Five', the Cuban Solidarity Campaign, the Socialist Forum of Ghana and the International Socialist Organization, join hands with millions of people all over the world to demand their unconditional freedom. "We urge all progressive forces throughout the world to join the struggle to free the five from unjust imprisonment," he added. 15 Sept 09