From: "Walter Lippmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 22:44:25 +0800 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [CubaNews] Cuba honors Miami Five as heros You've read the mainstream US media reports on this. Now the Cuban media report is here in English for you to read, too. ============================== GRANMA December 30, 2001 SPECIAL SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE'S POWER Cuban prisoners in Miami honored as Heroes of the Republic of Cuba, acknowledgement of their mothers and wives . 2002 is named 'Year of the Heroes Imprisoned by the U.S. Empire' BESTOWING the title of Heroes of the Republic of Cuba on Gerardo Hern�ndez Nordelo, Ram�n Laba�ino Salazar, Fernando Gonz�lez Llort, Ren� Gonz�lez Sehwerert and Antonio Guerrero Rodr�guez, Cubans unjustly imprisoned in Miami, is the Cuban people's recognition of those who fulfilled, with exemplary dedication, dignity and steadfastness, the mission of defending their homeland and protecting it against terrorism. This initiative - like that of honoring the mothers and wives of the arrested compatriots with the Mariana Grajales and Ana Betancourt Orders, respectively - was proposed by Fidel Castro, president of the Councils of State and of Ministers, and was approved by the deputies at the 3rd Special Session, 5th Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power, on Saturday, December 29, at the International Conference Center in Havana. These "prophets of the present and the future" - as Deputy Ra�l Su�rez called the five Cubans sentenced for the "crime" of having loved their country - infiltrated the depths of hatred and injustice, in order to learn of a large number of the activities of the hardcore terrorist groups that operate with total impunity in the United States. They discovered their plans and alerted Cuba, with the goal of preventing the death and damages that would result from such actions. These five men, who have become symbols of universal dignity, also prevented terrorist actions that would have seriously hurt the people of the United States, and their recompense for such noble and generous efforts was to be arrested and forced to live for the last three years in subhuman prison conditions, and put through an arbitrary and manipulated trial. Now, without any legal or moral justification, they have been given disproportionate and unjust sentences. Students from various educational levels and representatives of mass organizations, invited to the special session, expressed how proud they are of the heroism and the profound and irrefutable statements made during the sentencing hearings by Gerardo, Ram�n, Fernando, Ren� and Antonio. It was announced that those statements would be distributed around the world in nine languages, and would remain for history as insuperable testimonies of personal bravery, intelligence and dignity. Speaking at the session to propose that the year 2002 be known as "Year of the Heroes Imprisoned by the U.S. Empire," Fidel described the sentences handed down against the five Cuban patriots as vulgar, odious and extremely vengeful. He added that the news of their decorations would make those valiant men the happiest people in the world. He noted that the long sentences, including those of life imprisonment, wrests the United States of prestige and moral authority in the worldwide battle that must be fought against terrorism and for peace, above all today, when the world is living through moments of real danger. He emphasized that the political and moral battle for the release of these Cuban heroes imprisoned in the United States has already begun, and that the political price the United States will have to pay grows with every day, every hour and every second they remain in prison. He reiterated his certainty that one day they will return to Cuba . He explained that among the Cuban people's battles in the new year is the fulfillment of the Baragu� Oath, which includes the fight against the Cuban Adjustment Act, the Helms-Burton Act and the Torricelli Act, and against the U.S. economic blockade of the island. He also discussed the measures being taken to confront the consequences of the serious economic crisis around the world, and the gravity of the social and economic situation in Latin America. Furthermore, he noted that Cuba's battle to improve education and cultural knowledge is advancing at an impressive pace. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
