Mara Ochoa
March 10 will mark a watershed day in the long history of US hypocrisy in international relations. This is the date set by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear oral arguments by attorneys for five Cuban nationals who, while working to expose terrorism against Cuba, were arrested, tried and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for alleged espionage activities against the United States.
The activists are appealing for a trial to be held outside Miami.
Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez were sent by Cuba to monitor and infiltrate Miami-based right-wing extremist groups, such as Omega 7 and Brothers to the Rescue. The Cuban government used the information gathered to inform US authorities of planned and perpetrated terrorist activities from US soil against the Cuban people.
Rather than use the information to stop terrorism, the US authorities arrested the five on September 12, 1998. The five activists were denied bail for the 33 months between their arrest and trial, and kept in solitary confinement cells for 17 months. They were completely cut off from their families and were unable to communicate with each other.
However, even under these extreme conditions, none of the arrested men became disoriented or desperate enough to falsely confess and implicate others in exchange for a promise of leniency.
For more than 40 years, right-wing groups in Miami — which receive financing, training and backing from the CIA — have engaged in terrorist activities against Cuba, against Cuban Americans and against anyone who calls for a normalisation of US relations with Cuba. Their activities have included planting two bombs on a Cubana Airlines plane in 1976, which killed 73 people. Despite its endless "war on terror", the US government has continually refused to act against these known terrorist groups.
On June 8, 2001, the five Cubans were convicted of espionage. Hernandez was also convicted of murder. This charge, outrageously, is related to a 1996 incident, when two Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down after illegally entering Cuban airspace. Cuban armed forces issued several warnings, all ignored, before firing.
Hernandez has been charged with murder because he infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue and is alleged to have informed Cuban authorities of the planned flight.
Twenty per cent of the jury were ex-Cuban nationals. While the trial took seven months, the jury deliberated for short periods over four days. It did not submit a query or note to the court about the complex laws involved and did not request to review any testimony.
In December 2001, the five received sentences ranging from 15 years to two life sentences.
Since the Cubans' arrest, progressive groups have been trying to expose the US government's lies, and get the five released. What solidarity activists do to raise public awareness and mobilise people in support will be crucial to winning this, along with what the legal team does in the court.
The US Free the Five Committee has launched a campaign to place a full-page advertisement in the New York Times in mid-February. The New York Times is one of the most read newspapers in the US, and has the potential to reach millions of people.
This advertisement will ensure the case of the five is presented in the mainstream press. The aim is to raise support for the five's appeal for a trial outside Miami. The advertisement will detail the injustice done to the five, provide information about their case, name famous people supporting the five and will seek support to overturn the unjust sentence.
The advertisement will cost US$50,000, and "Free the Five" committees around the world have pledged to help raise funds for this campaign.
The Sydney Free the Five Committee is asking supporters to consider making a financial contribution, which can be made from anywhere around Australia by cheque or direct deposit. The Sydney committee has already raised A$1825 for this campaign.
Cheques or cash can be directly deposited to: Account Name: Australia Cuba Friendship Society Western Suburbs; Account Number: 22196 10551367; Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
For more information, or to get directly involved, phone Mara on 0401 941 396, or Joanne on (02) 9573 0886, email <http://freethefive@yahoo.com> or visit <http://www.freethefive.org>.
From Green Left Weekly, January 28, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.