------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 16, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BEHIND THE WALLS WITH LABANINO OF CUBAN 5: "I WEAR THE PRISON UNIFORM WITH HONOR, PRIDE" By Gloria La Riva Beaumont, Texas Ramon Labanino would love nothing more than to be home in Cuba with his wife, Elisabet Palmeiro, and his three young daughters. He missed out on precious time with his mother, who died in 1998. But Ramon gave up his personal life in Cuba to engage in an important but dangerous mission inside the United States: protecting the Cuban people from terrorist attacks coming out of southern Florida. He moved to Tampa, Fla., in 1993 to protect not only his own family but the 11 million people in Cuba from the aggression and hostility directed against them from the United States ever since the Cuban Revolution. Ramon was sent by Cuba to do what the U.S. government has refused to do for decades: stop the countless bombings and sabotage plots emanating from Miami. For this heroic effort, he is serving a life sentence in the U.S. federal penitentiary at Beaumont, Texas. There is no parole in federal prison. He and four others, known by their supporters as the Cuban Five, were arrested by the FBI in September 1998, prosecuted by the U.S. government and convicted by a Miami jury in June 2001. That says it all about the U.S. policy: The terrorists run free in Miami while the anti-terrorists are in prison. I was privileged to visit Ramon in late December at Beaumont prison in eastern Texas. Joining me in the two-day visit was Houston activist Gloria Rubac, known to many Texas prisoners for her tireless defense of their rights. Gloria and I came away deeply moved by Ramon's personality, by the strength of his principles and by the optimism he shows despite prison life. The first thing he said when we met was: "First, I want to let you know how deeply we, my four brothers and I, appreciate your solidarity and the support of all our friends in the U.S. Please let everyone know we thank them very much." It was the midst of the holidays and Ramon was getting 10 to 15 letters a day. The letters, from as far as Argentina and Scotland, were a real morale boost. He laughed that some of his friends in prison say he is famous. They have come to realize he is a political prisoner and a hero to his people in Cuba. Ramon was counting the hours until his family would come to visit. After almost six months of delay in receiving a visa from U.S. authorities, his wife, daughters and father will finally be able to embrace him in late January and early February, and share all the latest from back home. In the middle of our visit, another prisoner had a sandwich delivered to Ramon. It was clear he is respected. When we reciprocated with soft drinks, his friend waved to his buddy, "big Medina." Ramon's official name in prison is Luis Medina, because that was his identity when he lived in Florida. He had to live with an assumed name in Tampa. To operate openly would have put him in danger. On the opening day of the trial, he and the two Cubans who also had other identities--Gerardo Hernandez and Fernando Gonzalez--proudly revealed their real names. In prison, he'd rather be called by his real name, but it is hard to do when he is officially Medina. He nodded when we remarked how hard his last name is to pronounce. In the videotapes the support committee has produced about the Five, we've had to change narrators more than once because the "�" followed by "i" is a real tongue-twister. He laughed at that. We told him Mumia Abu-Jamal had just written a column on the Cuban Five, urging support for his Cuban brothers in "a real fight against terrorism." Ramon was excited to hear the news and honored by Mumia's gesture. He asked us to convey his appreciation and solidarity to him. Ramon works a day shift at the prison. He is an orderly and keeps the laundry room clean. Every free moment he is busy reading, writing letters to his supporters and preparing for his appeals. PUNISHED FOR FEELING FREE He related to us the story of his transfer to Beaumont after his sentencing, and his interview by the prison staff, which is done with every incoming inmate. One of the interviewers thought he'd give Ramon a hard time. He wanted to drive the point home that he, Ramon, was a prisoner and he'd better get used to it. Ramon said sincerely, "To tell you the truth, I don't feel like I'm in prison. I am here for political reasons." For a prisoner of conscience to feel free behind bars was too much for the prison employee. He ordered Ramon into solitary confinement for a week. To increase the punishment, he said that from then on, Ramon would have to report every two hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., to prison authorities. The order still stands. No matter what he is doing, exactly every two hours he has to go to the guards on duty. Ramon smiles when he recalls that he honestly thought for a moment it was a privilege and told the interviewer, "Please don't give me any special privileges, I'd like to be treated like the others." Ramon is not one to complain. But even guards have come to know him and treat him with a certain respect. One of the staff read a book with the speech Ramon gave before sentencing, and was amazed by the boldness of his words in the courtroom. The book is entitled, "With Honor, Courage and Pride," and carries the inspiring and historic speeches of all five: Ramon Labanino, Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez. Ramon ended his speech at sentencing by saying: "If preventing the death of innocent human beings, defending our two countries from terrorism, and preventing a senseless invasion of Cuba is the reason I am being sentenced today, then, let that sentence be welcomed. "I will wear the prison uniform with the same honor and pride with which a soldier wears his most prized insignia. This has been a political trial; therefore, we are political prisoners." After our visit, Ramon walked back to his cellblock through the metal doors. We were reminded of his heroic words. And yes, he does walk tall and proud. [La Riva is national coordinator of the Nat ional Committee to Free the Five, www.freethefive.org.] ***** APPEAL DATE SET FOR APRIL April 7 has been set as the date for the Cuban Five's attorneys to file their appeal briefs in the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta. The five will file in a joint action. At a later date, oral arguments will be heard. This makes the struggle for public opinion on behalf of the five all the more urgent. The U.S. government prosecuted them. It will be up to the people of the United States and the world to free them. To get involved, contact the Free the Five committees at www.freethefive.org or call (415) 821-6545. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
