Work set to end the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba and to strengthen Canada-Cuba relations

Fernando Gonzalez, one of the Cuban Five
 heroes addresses audience in Toronto

Republished from the Canadian Network on Cuba

The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) held a very successful 7th Biennial Convention in Toronto from May 30 -31, 2015.  Delegates and alternate delegates from 19 member organizations were joined by observers and invited guests including His Excellency Julio Garmendía Peña, Ambassador of Cuba to Canada, Javier Domokos Ruiz, Toronto Consul General of Cuba and other Cuban diplomats.

The Convention had the distinct honour and privilege of hosting Fernando González Llort, one of the Five Cuban Heroes who had  been imprisoned unjustly in the United States for defending Cuba from terrorist attacks launched from the United States and/or by U.S. citizens and covert agencies and for defending Cuba's right to independence and self-determination.

Major victory for Cuba: All the Cuban 5 are now free!

by Drew Garvie

Socialist Cuba has won some major victories today. It has been announced that the last three of the “Cuban five”, which remained until today in US prisons, have been freed in exchange for American USAID spy Alan Gross.

The three Cuban heroes; Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino and Antonio Guerrero will join their families for the holidays after more than 15 years in jail. They will also join Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez who were released in 2013 and early 2014. These five men had infiltrated a group of anti-Cuban terrorists in Florida in the late 1990s. The US government proceeded to jail them for espionage, despite their work in uncovering plans for attacks against civilians in Cuba, and their willingness to share this information with US authorities. Attacks against Cuba, largely planned by groups operating on US soil with the complicity of the US, have led to the deaths of around 3,500 Cubans since 1959.

In an address delivered at noon, Cuban President Raul Castro gave more details about this victory and ongoing negotiations with the US government. He started his speech with the acknowledgement that Cuba has been “loyal in defending all the principles of our independence war” since the revolution of 1959. Raul mentioned that in 2001 Fidel Castro had promised the return of the Cuban 5 to Cuba, and that today was a realization of the goals of this long struggle. Raul expressed gratitude to the “hundreds of committees and solidarity groups, governments, institutions and personalities” that had struggled in their “efforts for liberation” of the Cuban 5 heroes. Millions of people around the world have participated in demonstrations, conferences, petitions, letter writing and more to demand the release of the Cuban 5.

Canadian-Cuban friendship network reaffirms solidarity

A young Canadian activist learns about Cuban history
on the 21st annual Che Brigade

From May 18-20 delegates from across the country participated in the Sixth Convention of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), reaffirming their commitment to deepen and strengthen the Canada-Cuba solidarity & friendship movement.  Held in the Toronto City Hall, representatives from 21 member organizations were joined by observers and special invited guests, including the President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship Amongst the Peoples (ICAP), Kenia Serrano Puig, His Excellency, the Cuban Ambassador to Canada Julio Garmendía Peña,  the Consul General of Cuba to Canada Javier Domokos Ruiz and other Cuban and Canadian guests.

      The Convention began with a tribute to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías. Delegates rendered homage through a poignant poem by Cuba based anthropologist and journalist Susan Hurlich read by internationally known playwright and actor Brian Gordon Sinclair, and a moving video of the profound personal relationship of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, centred on the song El Regresso de un Amigo (The Return of a Friend) by Cuban singer  Raúl Torres.  During the course of the Convention, delegates also stood for a moment of silence to mark the passing of Marvin Glass, a founding member of the CNC and co-chair from 2002 to 2008.

      Following the tribute to Hugo Chavez, ICAP President Kenia Serano,  and His Excellency Ambassador Julio Garmendía Peña emphasized the importance of the Canada-Cuba solidarity movement to Canada-Cuba relations, and the role it can play  in strengthening and deepening these relations, ensuring they remain based on mutual respect and equality. Serano also highlighted the importance of the upcoming Third World Conference in Solidarity With Cuba to be held in  Havana from October 27-31, 2014. Messages of greetings were also received from La Table de Concertation de Solidarité Quebec-Cuba and the United States National Network On Cuba, warmly wishing the Convention success.

Several young Brigadistas fresh from three weeks working on the 43-member Che Guevara Volunteer Brigade, along with brigade coordinator, Dave Thomas, enthusiastically talked of their experiences in Cuba. In addressing Canada-Cuba relations, John Kirk (Dalhousie University), provided an overview of the long established Canadian ties with Cuba. He expressed concerns about the Harper regime’s attitude to Cuba, which contrasts sharply with the high esteem in which  Canadians hold Cuba.   A message of support from Carolyn Bennett (MP for the the constituency of St. Paul's in Toronto) was also read to the delegates.

Jorge Garcia Orgales (Global Affairs Department, United Steel Workers) and Dave Bleakney (National Representative, Canadian Union of Postal Workers) discussed Canadian Unions & Cuba Solidarity, stressing the importance the unions place on Cuban solidarity and, in particular, on the campaign to make sure all Five Cuban Heroes being held in U.S. jails are freed. They outlined their  close collaboration with Cuban unions and emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the CNC. Local CNC organzations were encouraged  to continue collaborating with unions in order to develop closer working relationships.

      Extending over two sessions, the discussion of the ongoing economic and social measures being adopted in Cuba proved of considerable interest to delegates and observers. Isaac Saney (Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s Universities) gave a detailed elaboration of the unfolding renovation and updating of the Cuban economy, followed by Miguel Figueroa, (National Leader, Communist Party of Canada) who spoke on his recent visit to the island.  The Cuban guests enriched the discussion, stressing that these changes were taking place within the process of the renewal and continuity of the Cuban revolutionary and socialist project.

Extensive reports by the CNC executive and CNC member organization were presented covering the two and a half years since the Fifth Convention. The reports illustrated the breadth and depth of Canada-Cuba solidarity activities from Vancouver to Halifax.  Highlights of the accomplishments are the CNC's fundraising hurricane and earthquake relief for Cuba and Haiti, which raised over one million dollars, the  tour across Canada of Cuban Dr. Jorge Balseiro and the People's Tribunal and Assembly held in Toronto last September 21-23.  The scope and diversity encompassed a variety of arenas, from political work with parliamentarians, municipal councillors and unions to cultural performances, plays and festivals to ongoing information meetings, pickets and leafleting.

       CNC delegates resolved to continue their efforts to mobilize Canadian public and political opinion to end the U.S. economic blockade of the island and to challenge and break the wall of silence and disinformation erected around the Five Heroes. Delegates adopted  several resolutions,  which reaffirmed their commitment to continue the struggle to free all of the Five Cuban Heroes unjustly incarcerated in the United States for defending their country from terrorism. Special attention  was also paid to other areas of ongoing work including among others, the highly successful Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade and Cuba For Haiti and Hurricane Relief Campaigns.   The Convention also committed to support the upcoming symposium Africa's Unknown War: Apartheid Terror, Cuba & Southern African Liberation to be held at the University of Toronto on September 27 & 28. 2013, and to ensure vigorous Canadian participation in the Third World Conference in Solidarity With Cuba to be held in Havana from October 27-31, 2014.

     Delegates elected a new executive to implement the Convention's decisions and realize the work plan for 2013-2015: Laura Chesnik,  Julio Fonseca, Vincent Guihan, Elizabeth Hill, Peter Noble, Isaac Saney and Saleh Waziruddin.  The executive subsequently selected Elizabeth Hill and Isaac Saney to continue as  co-chairs. Isaac Saney was also re-appointed National Spokesperson, with Laura Chesnik resuming the position of Secretary and Elizabeth Hill that of Treasurer.

      The exciting and full three-day program reflected the rich and dynamic Canada-Cuba solidarity & friendship movement, which has been in existence for more than fifty years. A movement rooted in the overwhelming respect of Canadians for Cuba’s right to independence and self-determination, and a profound admiration for what the Cuban people have accomplished despite facing the unceasing aggression of the United States.  This respect and admiration have forged unbreakable ties of friendship and solidarity between the people of Canada and Cuba.

Labor, Law and Community Activists issue declaration for the Cuban Five's freedom

After several months of planning by a coalition of Cuba and other progressive solidarity activists of the Toronto area, 250 people attended a People's Tribunal about the Cuban Five, in the City Hall Chambers of this northeastern Canadian city. There they heard an impressive array of witnesses give testimony to a panel of Magistrates of Conscience on the unjust and illegal political prosecution carried out by the U.S. government against Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and René González.    After a solidarity evening forum on Friday, Sept. 21, the Tribunal commenced on Saturday, and the ruling was announced by Tribunal Principal Magistrate Juan Carranza. On Sunday, the attendees shared reports on ongoing solidarity work for the Cuban Five's freedom. Sunday at 1:00 pm, a spirited protest was held across from the U.S. Consulate near City Hall.   Read the list of witnesses and magistrates below, after the ruling.   The following is the ruling from the Peoples' Tribunal and Assembly:   This People's Tribunal was convened in Toronto fourteen years after the arrest and detention of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González Llort and René González in the United States.   After considering all the evidence before this Peoples' Tribunal, we find: There is overwhelming and compelling evidence as to the activity of terrorist groups in Southern Florida, groups which have planned and executed terrorist actions against the people of Cuba for decades in contravention of U. S. and international law. Every country has the right to defend itself and in that context, the Cuban Five acted in the least adversarial and nonviolent manner to prevent acts of terrorism without engaging in actions against the national security of the United States. The U.S. failed to take any action to prosecute the actual terrorists in Southern Florida. We find that men that are peacefully trying to prevent terrorism should not be in prison. This Peoples' Tribunal condemns the cruel and unwarranted treatment of the Cuban Five during their incarceration. We find the Trial was a political trial against the Five. We find there was no credible evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy to commit espionage against the Five. We find there was no credible evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy to commit murder against Gerardo Hernandez. We find the U. S. Government interfered in the trial by spending considerable sums of money to pay reporters to write over one thousand printed articles and other television and radio coverage amounting to propaganda which had the unequivocal effect of influencing the outcome of the trial. We find the court's decision to deny the motion for change of venue was patently unreasonable in light of jury intimidation and a pervasive environment of hostility against the Five. Therefore this Peoples' Tribunal concludes that the Cuban Five were unjustly detained, unjustly prosecuted, and unjustly sentenced, all contrary to international and U.S. domestic law including the U.S. Constitution. This Peoples' Tribunal proposes the convictions be quashed, and that Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González Llort and René González be set free immediately, without any restrictions on their liberty. In the alternative, and in the interest of justice and healing, this Peoples' Tribunal proposes that the President of the United States should exercise his prerogative of a Presidential Clemency and allow the Five to return home. The organizers of the Tribunal, with Elizabeth Palmeiro and Adriana Pérez   Tribunal Proceedings   Opening Ceremony by Dakota Elliott Reading of Case Summary by nchamah miller   Magistrates of Conscience Juan Carranza, Lead Magistrate of Conscience Cindy Sheehan Chris Levan Denis Lemelin Juan Carranza, Lead Magistrate Julian Rivas Ken Neumann Lee Maracle Marie Clarke Walker Miguel Barnet Naveen Mehta Saul Landau Tony Woodley Wes Elliott William Sloan   First Session - Historical and Political Context Summation of Session - by Isaac Saney Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel and Expert Witnesses Keith Bolender Raymundo Navarro Abelardo Paison Reyes Livio Di Celmo Arnold August   Second Session - Arrests, Trial & Convictions of The Cuban Five Summation of Session - by Zilpha Ellis Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel and Expert Witnesses Richard Klugh Stephen Kimber Gloria La Riva   Third Session - What has happened since the trial in Florida? Summation of Session - by Julio Fonseca Tribunal Calls Impact Testimony Witnesses Elizabeth Palmeiro Adriana Pérez José Pertierra Alicia Jrapko   Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel for Summation of the Defence Richard Klugh Tribunal Calls Magistrates of Conscience to Render the Decisions of the Tribunal   Tribunal Calls Lead Magistrate of Conscience for Reading of the Final Overall Proclamation Juan Carranza

People's Tribunal in Toronto draws 250 participants Labor, Law and Community Activists issue declaration for  the Cuban Five's freedom After several months of planning by a coalition of Cuba and other progressive solidarity activists of the Toronto area, 250 people attended a People's Tribunal about the Cuban Five, in the City Hall Chambers of this northeastern Canadian city. There they heard an impressive array of witnesses give testimony to a panel of Magistrates of Conscience on the unjust and illegal political prosecution carried out by the U.S. government against Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and René González.    After a solidarity evening forum on Friday, Sept. 21, the Tribunal commenced on Saturday, and the ruling was announced by Tribunal Principal Magistrate Juan Carranza. On Sunday, the attendees shared reports on ongoing solidarity work for the Cuban Five's freedom. Sunday at 1:00 pm, a spirited protest was held across from the U.S. Consulate near City Hall.   Read the list of witnesses and magistrates below, after the ruling.   The following is the ruling from the Peoples' Tribunal and Assembly:   This People's Tribunal was convened in Toronto fourteen years after the arrest and detention of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González Llort and René González in the United States.   After considering all the evidence before this Peoples' Tribunal, we find: There is overwhelming and compelling evidence as to the activity of terrorist groups in Southern Florida, groups which have planned and executed terrorist actions against the people of Cuba for decades in contravention of U. S. and international law. Every country has the right to defend itself and in that context, the Cuban Five acted in the least adversarial and nonviolent manner to prevent acts of terrorism without engaging in actions against the national security of the United States. The U.S. failed to take any action to prosecute the actual terrorists in Southern Florida. We find that men that are peacefully trying to prevent terrorism should not be in prison. This Peoples' Tribunal condemns the cruel and unwarranted treatment of the Cuban Five during their incarceration. We find the Trial was a political trial against the Five. We find there was no credible evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy to commit espionage against the Five. We find there was no credible evidence to support a conviction of conspiracy to commit murder against Gerardo Hernandez. We find the U. S. Government interfered in the trial by spending considerable sums of money to pay reporters to write over one thousand printed articles and other television and radio coverage amounting to propaganda which had the unequivocal effect of influencing the outcome of the trial. We find the court's decision to deny the motion for change of venue was patently unreasonable in light of jury intimidation and a pervasive environment of hostility against the Five. Therefore this Peoples' Tribunal concludes that the Cuban Five were unjustly detained, unjustly prosecuted, and unjustly sentenced, all contrary to international and U.S. domestic law including the U.S. Constitution. This Peoples' Tribunal proposes the convictions be quashed, and that Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González Llort and René González be set free immediately, without any restrictions on their liberty. In the alternative, and in the interest of justice and healing, this Peoples' Tribunal proposes that the President of the United States should exercise his prerogative of a Presidential Clemency and allow the Five to return home. The organizers of the Tribunal, with Elizabeth Palmeiro and Adriana Pérez   Tribunal Proceedings   Opening Ceremony by Dakota Elliott Reading of Case Summary by nchamah miller   Magistrates of Conscience Juan Carranza, Lead Magistrate of Conscience Cindy Sheehan Chris Levan Denis Lemelin Juan Carranza, Lead Magistrate Julian Rivas Ken Neumann Lee Maracle Marie Clarke Walker Miguel Barnet Naveen Mehta Saul Landau Tony Woodley Wes Elliott William Sloan   First Session - Historical and Political Context Summation of Session - by Isaac Saney Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel and Expert Witnesses Keith Bolender Raymundo Navarro Abelardo Paison Reyes Livio Di Celmo Arnold August   Second Session - Arrests, Trial & Convictions of The Cuban Five Summation of Session - by Zilpha Ellis Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel and Expert Witnesses Richard Klugh Stephen Kimber Gloria La Riva   Third Session - What has happened since the trial in Florida? Summation of Session - by Julio Fonseca Tribunal Calls Impact Testimony Witnesses Elizabeth Palmeiro Adriana Pérez José Pertierra Alicia Jrapko   Tribunal Calls Legal Counsel for Summation of the Defence Richard Klugh Tribunal Calls Magistrates of Conscience to Render the Decisions of the Tribunal   Tribunal Calls Lead Magistrate of Conscience for Reading of the Final Overall Proclamation Juan Carranza

People's Tribunal and Assembly to be held in Toronto on Cuban Five

* Toronto, September 21 - 23, 2012 *


This event has been endorsed by the Young Communist League of Canada.

Almost 14 years ago, the Cuban Five – René González, Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino and Fernando González – were falsely charged and wrongly in a Miami courtroom of "conspiracy to commit espionage" against the U.S. on behalf of the Cuban government. Ever since the unjust conviction, the five Cubans have been held in separate U.S. prisons, often in solitary confinement.

In fact, the politically-motivated trial and conviction of the Cuban five had nothing to do with threats to U.S. security. The Cuban Five never conspired to commit espionage. They were on a mission to monitor and report on violent groups in Miami that are well known by the U.S. government to be responsible for terrorist acts against the Cuban people.

For more than 50 years, hundreds of attacks have been launched against Cuba by these extreme right-wing groups, whose aim is the violent overthrow of the Cuban government. Their campaign of bombings, assassinations and other attacks has left 3,478 Cubans dead and 2,099 seriously injured.

The Cuban Five were peacefully trying to do what U.S. law enforcement authorities have refused to: prevent terrorism.

This horrific injustice against the Five has provoked an unprecedented campaign in the U.S., Canada and around the world to demand that their convictions be overturned and that they be granted immediate release.

As part of this international effort to achieve the freedom of the Cuban Five, a number oftrade unions and solidarity groups from across Canada, in coordination with the Canadian Network on Cuba and La Table de concertation de solidarité Québec-Cuba, are convoking a Peoples' Tribunal & Assembly on September 21-23, 2012 in Toronto, to shed new light on this egregious injustice and to build a broad public campaign to demand their freedom.

The Peoples' Tribunal & Assembly aims:

• to act as a forum for education and for launching an appeal to get justice for the Cuban Five;

• to break the silence of the mainstream media about this case; and

• to map out the next steps of a broad and united campaign on the Cuban Five in Québec and across the rest of Canada.

The Peoples' Tribunal, composed of prominent Canadian and international panelists, will hear from expert witnesses before rendering a ruling. Although the Tribunal's ruling will not be legally or judicially binding, it will carry moral force and suasion of the outrage of concerned people across Canada and internationally.

Witnesses will testify to the suffering caused to the Cuban people and to others as a result of all the terrorist attacks against Cuba and Cuban interests.  They will testify to the unjust trial in Miami, the U.S. government's covert payments to journalists covering the trial, the horrendous sentences given to the Cuban Five and the violation of international law by the United States government regarding the inhumane treatment they have endured, the denial of visitation rights to family members and the U.S. government's harbouring and protection of self-confessed anti-Cuban terrorists.

The Peoples' Assembly will serve to develop and adopt an extensive plan of action to pressure the Canadian government to join the international demand urging U.S. President Obama to use his authority to immediately release the Cuban Five and allow them to return to their homeland.


Participants to the Peoples' Tribunal and Assembly on the Cuban Five are coming from the USA,
the UK, Cuba, and Canada. A press conference where Tribunal participants will be present is called for Friday, September 21, 11:00 a.m., at the Metro Hall, 55 John Street (south of King), room 303.

From Cuba:

1.  Adriana Pérez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez, one of the Cuban Five. Perez, who lives in Cuba, has not been allowed a U.S. visa for the last thirteen years of her husband's imprisonment despite repeated attempts. Her husband is serving two life sentences plus fifteen years in a maximum security prison. The most serious charge against him was conspiracy to commit murder, a charge for which there was no evidence and which the prosecuting attorney wished to withdraw for lack of evidence at his trial. The judge refused to withdraw the charges. In this most complex trial to that date in U.S. judicial history, the jury asked no questions for clarification and found all Five Defendants guilty on all counts.

2. Elizabeth Palmeiro, wife of Ramón Labañino, one of the Cuban Five. His life sentence was vacated and replaced by a sentence of thirty years. A three-judge appeals court had requested a retrial but in an unprecedented move the Prosecution asked for all the judges on the appeals court panel to review the case and 3-judge panel decision was overturned; the retrial never happened. Sentences were vacated in three of the five cases and the same judge who passed the original sentences reduced Labanino's life sentence to thirty years in prison.

3. On October 6, 1976, the Cubana airliner of passenger flight 455 exploded from a bomb set by two persons working with Luis Posada Carriles, the mastermind of this horrendous action. Seventy-three passengers aboard lost their lives including the gold medalists of Cuba's fencing team that had just concluded their competition at Games in Caracas. Posada Carriles continues to live freely in Florida. A representative from the Cuban education community will speak on behalf of the relatives of the victims from that explosion, at the Tribunal and Assembly.

4. Rodolfo D'Ávalos Fernández, member of the National Union of Jurists of Cuba and a renowned human rights lawyer.

5. Dr. Raymundo Navarro, member of the National Secretariat for International Relations of the Cuban Confederation of Trade Unions (CTC), a medical doctor who is also an elected deputy to the National Assembly of the People's Power (Parliament of Cuba).

6. Esperanza Luzbert, Director, North America, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).


7. Other representatives from Cuba will be present.


Contacts: Heide Trampus, Co-ordinator, tribunal.five@gmail.com, 416 431 5498
            Lisa Makarchuk, Chair, Media Sub-Committee lisamakarchuk@sympatico.ca, 416 603 9858

Letter from René González to his brother Roberto

Rene Gonzalez, victim of US imperialism

My Brother for life, 

I never thought I would have to write this letter. We share the same lack of enthusiasm for letter writing, a fact clearly demonstrated during our respective internationalist missions and - more conclusively - in the unique experience of the last 20 years. In other words, only conditions as extraordinary as the present ones induce me to write.

Under normal conditions, these things should said be face to face, and a lot of them wouldn't even need to be said at all. You have enough on your plate with this pitched battle against a disease that is trying to devour you, without on top of that having to face a human ailment that is much more lethal: hatred. The hatred that stops me from reciprocating all the efforts, with that well-deserved hug we Five would like to give you.

Canadian Labour Congress join CFS, MPs and other voices in supports Cuban Five

Following Resolution GR-39 "Solidarity with Cubans on Trial," The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has agreed joined with a number of other Canadian organizations calling for Justice for the Cuban Five.

The CLC's resolution, passed at their 2011 convention, calls to "express our solidarity with the Cuban 5; and write to the United States' (US) President Obama asking him to allow visitation rights for the families of the Cuban 5 and urging him to immediately release the Cuban 5." Their letter is reprinted below.

The CLC joins with a number of other voices in support of the Five, from Canada. On Dec. 12th 2007, forty Bloc Québécois deputies and sixteen NDP Members of Parliament in Canada sent a letter to Canada's Foreign Minister speaking out in favour of the Cuban Five.

Shortly before he died in August, Jack Layton, leader of the NDP spoke at a solidarity event for the Cuban Five and said: "Hundreds of thousands of Canadians go to Cuba, but are not sufficiently aware of what faces the Cuban Five and their families. [...] This is the beginning of a campaign, and our Party will be part of it. How moved I am by your stories."

In addition to the labour movement the Canadian Federation of Students has called for the Five's immediate release. In a 2008 letter their National Chairperson wrote that "The ruling of the United Nations and Amnesty International confirms that the case of the Cuban 5 is a highly political trial that was thoroughly unfair and unjust. As such, we urge you to act immediately to allow visitation rights to the family of the Cuban Five and to release them from jail without delay."

Dear President Obama,

On behalf of 3.3 million members of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), I am writing to protest the continued imprisonment of the Cuban 5 and to ask you to intervene so as to procure their release from prison and be allowed to return to their families in Cuba.

Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, and René Gonzalez have been imprisoned since 1998. René Gonzalez was released from prison last October but must carry out three years supervised probation in Miami. He was recently denied permission on humanitarian grounds to return to his country for at least two weeks to see his dying brother, Roberto.

These men were charged with multiple offences including conspiracy to commit espionage. In truth, they were in the United States unarmed and never posed a threat of any kind to U.S. national security.

They were in the United States to monitor the activities of Cuban exiles who, operating from bases in Miami, were planning violent actions against innocent people in Cuba. In fact they were trying to prevent more brutal acts against their country and save innocent lives. The continued incarceration of these Cuban patriots is morally indefensible.

I urge you to exercise the power of your office and grant a pardon to the Cuban Five, allowing them to return to their families in Cuba.

Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Gross: What Happened Between March and August?

by Arnold August

Cartoon by Latuff

On August fifth it was announced that the fifteen-year sentence arising out of the March fourth Provincial Court trial against Alan Gross, a US AID contractor, was upheld by the Cuban Supreme Court. The American citizen appealed the decision of the Provincial Court in Cuba's highest level of the judiciary on June 22, the result of which was made public on August fifth.

Regarding this issue, since March fourth to date the international media, especially based in Miami, Washington and Madrid, are concentrating on Havana, the Gross trials and legal challenges.

For those who may be puzzled by the Supreme Court decision, it would be useful to examine briefly what has happened in the United States — not Cuba — between March fourth to date in order to perhaps shed some light onto the Supreme Court's confirmation of the lower court's resolution. In this five-month period, the Obama Administration has on many occasions repeated its policy of interfering in the internal affairs of Cuba under the guise of "democracy promotion". For example, the Congress has recently ratified once again the decision to spend 20$ million in the next year explicitly dedicated to subversion in Cuba, including the type of activities that Gross had carried out and for which he has been arrested, tried, found guilty and sentenced. On many occasions the Obama Administration in collaboration with their mercenaries on and off the island did not reduce, but rather reinforced, their provocative activities against the sovereignty of Cuba, one of the legal principles violated by Gross as a US agent contractor.

While Obama visited Chile on March 21, 2011, not long after the original trial and sentencing of Gross, the US President spoke about the need to defend "democracy and human rights within our borders [USA and Chile], let us recommit to defending them across our hemisphere.... And yes, that includes the people of Cuba."

How do readers think that the Cuban government and judiciary had taken this? By adding insult to injury, Obama stated in an interview to a Chilean newspaper as a prelude to his visit to Santiago de Chile that "The Chilean experience, and more particularly its successful transition to democracy and its sustained, growing economy, is a model for the region and the world."

When the news was released on August fifth regarding the Cuban Supreme Court decision, it was the same day that those of us who follow the news through Telesúr and other alternative media were able to bear witness to how the Chilean police violently attacked the students and professors demanding education, economic and political rights. There were according to official sources 874 arrests and hundreds wounded. Is this the example that Obama meant of Chile being a model of democracy and economic development for Cuba? The scenes of Chilean state brutality resembled more the emblematic steps (Escalanita) of the University of Havana before the January 1, 1959 Triumph of the Revolution, when the US-backed Batista dictatorship unleashed their forces so many times against the youth, professors and workers. Many students were killed in these assaults in Havana, but so far at the time of writing in any case, there has been no deaths in Chile during the course of the current confrontations.

Despite the demands to Obama from around the world declared by Nobel Prize winners, individual parliamentarians, parliaments and personalities for the release of the Cuban Five, what has Obama done between March fourth and today? He has done nothing, and we are heading into a most crucial period for the soon-to-be concluded Habeus Corpus process for Gerardo Hernández Nodelo, with nothing yet positive in sight at this time. The Cuban Five are imprisoned since 1998 because they attempted to curb US-backed terrorist interference in the internal affairs of Cuba.

Given all these provocations and repeated confirmations from the White House and the US Congress that they have every intention to continue their program of attempting to subvert Cuba's constitutional order, how else can the Cuban government and judicial authorities react? They have no choice but to make it clear that they will continue to defend their sovereignty as it is the right of every country to do so, big or small.

Allan Gross and his family should blame their own government for their predicament. The White House got him into it in the first place. By carrying out the same policies against Cuba since March fourth to date, it has given no reason for the Cuban judiciary to decide otherwise.

Court's out, let's go party!

Stephen Kimber wrote an excellent book about the Cuban Five case, and explores the history of anti-Cuba terrorism. Today's excerpt is very enlightening. You can see more at the book's website: http://cubanfive.ca/

DAY IN THE FIVE - WHOSE FAIR TRIAL?

by Stephen Kimber on December 8, 2010 | No Comments

On December 8, 1998, after a 14-day trial, jurors in Puerto Rico acquitted five anti-Castro exile militants of plotting to kill Fidel Castro.

Afterwards, two of the jurors told reporters the verdict was intended to send a "message to the Cuban people that we're with you."

The jurors then left the courthouse, singing the Cuban national anthem in the company of the no-longer-accused. That night, they all celebrated together at a popular local Cuban restaurant.

"Prosecutors had hoped that holding the trial in Puerto Rico would give them a better shot at convictions than in Miami," the Miami Herald explained after the verdict. In Miami, the newspaper noted, "juries regularly acquit anti-Castro plotters."

The prosecutors may have been wrong about Puerto Rican juries.

But they definitely knew their Floroda juries.

That's why, even as prosecutors in Puerto Rico had opposed defence motions to move the assassination plot trial to Miami, prosecutors in Miami were fighting even harder to oppose defence motions for a change of venue in the case of the Cuban Five.

The Five were arrested in September 1998, just three months before the verdict in the Puerto Rico case.

For more details on the case against the Puerto Rican plotters-the one on which they were acquitted-check out this excerpt from Sting in the Wasp's in-progress narrative.

Cuban Five Cause to be Amplified in World Youth Festival

Cuban Five Cause to be Amplified in World Youth Festival
by PL — last modified Nov 26, 2010 08:14 AM
— filed under: WORLD FESTIVAL OF YOUTH AND STUDENTS, CUBAN FIVE
The denouncing of irregularities in the trial and the maltreatment to five anti-terrorist fighters of Cuba since 1998, will get to the 17th World Youth and Students Festival in South Africa, said the son of one of the Cuban Five here Wednesday.



In conversation with Prensa Latina, the eldest son of Antonio Guerrero, with the same name as his father, said that thousands of young people will know about the Cuban Five in South Africa, from December 13 to 21.

Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, René Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez and Fernando Gonzalez were arrested in the US when they were monitoring the terrorist actions of anti-Cuban groups in Florida, US.

A lot of irrefutable evidence, the innocence and testimonies from high military chiefs of the US show the Cuban Five never attempted against the US national security.

"Our interventions will show the human part of the case, the suffering for more than 12 years of separation and the value of world solidarity, for their definite liberation," said Antonio Guerrero Jr.

This Cuban young man, graduated from the Information Sciences University and who works for the Civil Aeronautics Institute of Cuba, will be a member of the Cuban delegation to the 17th World Youth and Students Festival.

The Cuban delegation is comprised by 265 Cuban citizens, including renowned artists, sports stars and internationalist fighters who took part in the independence of Africa.

A total of 35 collaborators from different sectors giving services in South Africa, Algeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Swazilandia will join those who depart from Havana on December 9.

Together with Antonio Guerrero Jr. the respective elder daughters of Rene Gonzalez (Irma Gonzalez) and Ramon Labañino (Aili Labañino) will travel to South Africa as members of the delegation.

Stop the tortures to the Cuban Five – Freedom Now!

The World Federation of Democratic Youth has received with worry and indignation the news regarding the physical and psychological that Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, one of the five Cuban Heroes unfairly arrested in the USA, has been suffering.As the the National Assembly of the Popular Power of Cuba has expressed, once again the imperialist government of the USA is showing the world its terrorist politics towards the Cuban Revolution and its hypocrisy by maintaining unfairly imprisoned five Cuban youngsters that struggled against terrorism, and even promotes that Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosh, two of the biggest criminals of Latin America and the world, walk freely through the streets of Miami.

On behalf of its member and friend organizations, WFDY vehemently condemns these actions of physical torture and psychological terrorism against Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, and demands once again to the USA government the immediate release of the Cuban Five Heroes, icons to the world youth, as examples of struggle against terrorism and imperialism. We call upon all our members, friends and all the progressive youth of the world to express its rejection of this inhuman action and to multiply our voices to demand the liberation and keep supporting the glorious Cuban revolution - still blocked and harassed by the North American Government with the support of the European Union.

VI INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE CUBAN FIVE

¡FREEDOM NOW!

VI International Colloquium

For the freedom of the Five Cuban Heroes

& against terrorism

Holguín, from November 17^th to 21^st, 2010

The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples invites all friends of Cuba to join us in the 6^th International Colloquium for the freedom of the Five Cuban Heroes, prisoners of the empire & against terrorism.

This sixth edition will take place from November 17^th to 21^st, 2010; in Holguin province and it will be a new opportunity to all justice-loving people to unite wills and efforts in the struggle to free the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned in north American jails for fighting against terrorism. Accreditation fees for the event will be $25.00 CUC per person.

The comfortable Hotel Pernik, located in the center of the provincial capital, will be ready for accommodation in single/double rooms, including breakfast, transfers in-out and transportation to all the activities of the program.

Moreover, from November 22^nd to 24^th, the participants will have access to an additional program of optional visits to places of historical and cultural interest.

Program

Wednesday, November 17^th

15:00 Welcome ceremony, information meeting, and accreditation for all participants at EXPO-HOLGUIN

Thursday, November 18^th

09:30 Opening of the VI Colloquium.

10:00 Updating about the case of the Cuban Five

Meeting with relatives of the Cuban Five at Expo-Holguín

12:30 pm Lunch at Expo-Holguín

02:30 pm Exchange of all foreign delegations by geographical areas

Friday, November 19^th

08:00 Voluntary work in organic urban farms, and planting of trees.

12:30 Lunch at Expo-Holguín.

14:30 Meeting with the delegates to the Colloquium according to different interests: lawyers, journalists and alternative media, writers and artists, teachers and students.

16:30 Meeting with the National Commission in the case of the Cuban Five at ICAP and the International Committee of Solidarity with the Five Cuban Heroes.

Place: Expo-Holguín.

Saturday, November 20^th

08:00 Solidarity Parade.

08:30 Meeting at Che Guevara Monument.

10:00 Session of the VI Colloquium

12:30 Lunch

14:30 Reading and Adoption of the Final Declaration of the Colloquium and the action plan for the future.

15:30 Conclusions.

20:30 Get together with the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR)

Sunday, November 21^st

09:00 Exchange about the struggle for the freedom of the Cuban Five in different municipalities of the province.

09:30 Public audience against terrorism.

Place: Boca de Samà community.

20:00 Cultural activity in homage to the 50^th Anniversary of ICAP.

Monday, November 22^nd

RETURN OF DELEGATES TO THEIR COUNTRY

Optional tours offered by Amistur Agency, which will be sold during the days of the event for no less than 15 persons

Enjoy a day at Guardalavaca Beach

Visit to Guardalavaca Beach. Beach time. Lunch

Visit to Taina Aboriginal Village and “Chorro de Maita” Museum.

Prize per person: 25 CUC

Meeting with the History

Departure to Birán. Visit to the birth house of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

P.M. Lunch in a restaurant

City tour by different hisdtorical and cultural places of interest, including the visit to the Provincial Museum “La Periquera”.

Prize per person: 25 CUC

CLOSE TO OUR NATIONAL ROOTS

9:00 AM Visit to the National Monumentary Park Bariay, where the Monument to the 5^th Centenary is: Built in October 27^th, 1992, during the celebration of 500 years of Christopher Columbus arrival, which reminds the encounter of both cultures, the European and the Aboriginal ones.

1 Arrival to the National Monumentary Park Bariay

2 Visit to the Spanish Fort.

3 Visit to the information centre.

4 Transfer to the Museum of the Forester to enjoy a welcoming cocktail (Natural coconut water)

Lunch at “Colombo” Restaurant with a liquid included.

5 Return to the hotel.

Prize per person: 30 CUC

NOTE: To the friends arriving by Havana City, there will be a bus during November 15^th, 16^th and 17^th, departing at 6.00 AM from ICAP Headquarters, located on 17 Street, No. 301, between H & I streets, Vedado. There will also be a lunch included with. All this will be 15:00 CUC. The return, November 22^nd from Pernik Hotel, at 6:00 AM, with the same characteristics.

Organizar Committee: Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples

Address: San Carlos street Nº 27, Peralta, Holguín CP80100. Cuba.

Telephone: (53-24) 461 914; (53-24) 424 376

E-Mail: icaphg@hg.cc.cu

icap@cristal.hlg.sld.cu

Oficial Tour Operator: AMISTUR S.A.

Address: Paseo Ave. Nº 406 e/ 17 y 19 streets, Vedado, Havana City. Cuba.

Teléfono: (53-7) 830 1220; (53-7) 833 2374; (53-7) 834 4544

E-Mail: comercial@amistur.cu

Los prizes of the event are per day and they cover accomodation in single/double rooms, breakfast and transportation, from November 17th to 21st.

AMISTUR CUBA S.A.

Name of the event: VI International Colloquium for the Freedom of the Cuban Five

Topic: Solidarity

Dates: From November 17^th to 22^nd , 2010

Place: EXPO-Holguín

Especialist: Lic. Argelio F. Martínez Domínguez.

AMISTUR CUBA S.A.

Telef. (537) 834 45 44/ 8301220/ 833 2374

Fax.- (537) 838 3753

E-Mail: comercial@amistur.cu

Especialist: Lic. Tania Fernández Viu.

AMISTUR CUBA S.A.

Telef. (537) 834 45 44/ 8301220/ 833 2374

Fax.- (537) 838 3753

E-Mail: eventas@amistur.cu

Prizes:

Prizes per person, by night (CUC)During the event November 17th-22nd, 2010
Hotels	Category	SGL in CUC	DBL in CUC
En Ciudad Holguín
Hotel Pernik ( CP)	3*	22,00	17,00

DINNER WITH LIQUIDS INCLUDED 10,00 CUC PER PERSON

Services included in the prize of the package

§Accomodation with breakfast included

§2 Transfers from and to airports / hotel / airport

§3 Transfers to the event sessions

§ Personalized assistance

§5 Reconfirmation of flights

Prizes per person by each night (CUC) PRE & POST EVENT
Hoteles	Categoría	SGL en CUC	DBL en CUC
En Ciudad Holguín
PRECIO POR PAX (CP)	3*	20,00	15,00