------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the June 23, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
A VISIT WITH RAMON LABANINO
By Teresa Gutierrez U.S. Federal Prison Beaumont, Texas
Anyone who travels to Cuba meets many women and men there who defend their country and their way of life. It is a wonderful and rich experience.
They have a tremendous zest for life, a unique view of world events, and an intense passion for the world, especially their beloved country.
Ramon Laba�ino is such a Cuban.
But he is not in Cuba. He is serving a life sentence in a federal prison in Beaumont, Texas.
He and four other political prisoners--Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hern�ndez, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez--are in federal prisons scattered around the U.S. They have become known as the Cuban 5.
This writer visited Laba�ino on May 30 in Beaumont, along with anti- death penalty activist Gloria Rubac.
As he excitedly walked out to visit with us, dressed in the brown khaki issued to inmates, it was hard to imagine that this man, tall and robust, flashing a wide smile, was going through the horrors of what is known as the U.S. justice system.
Ramon and the other four had come to the U.S. to monitor the actions of U.S.-backed right-wing terrorists, who regularly carry out provocative and dangerous actions against Cuba. These terrorists are based in Florida but get their direction from Washington. They have brought untold suffering to the Cuban people.
The five were arrested in 1998 and charged with espionage against the U.S. government, which they emphatically deny. They had come to fight terrorism, but the U.S. government launched a deceptive, unjust and cruel campaign against them that resulted in the harshest sentences possible.
All five were tried in Miami, Fla., where it is impossible for those defending Cuba to get a fair or just hearing.
Ramon had made a tremendous sacrifice when he accepted the assignment and left behind his beloved country, as well as his wife, Elisabeth, and three daughters.
But he came to Florida because of his deep devotion to his nation and his unflinching support of the Cuban Revolution.
As we visited with Labanino on May 30, his love for Cuba was evident, but he also expressed a commitment to the people of the world. He explained that his actions to defend the Cuban people against those who would like to see the revolution overturned were also meant to defend an idea--the progress of humanity.
Ramon was indignant about recent criticisms of Cuba for having arrested paid agents of the U.S. who were trying to bring about "regime change" and for executing three hijackers.
"One cannot judge Cuba out of context," he said. The Cuban government had to take these actions at a very critical moment to defend the country, which has been the subject of attack from the U.S. for over 40 years, he explained. The progressive movement needs to unite against imperialism, which is the most important problem in the world.
Intellectuals, he pointed out, should contribute to the progress of humanity, act responsibly about important matters and look at Cuba historically, which means in the context of its history.
Ramon stressed the importance of the people of the United States and said he even felt at times that he'd like to stay and do political work here if he were free.
He believes the people here must be more organized and the movement should be the strongest and biggest because of the role that the U.S. government plays around the world.
It is here, he said, "where the people must be most conscious."
Ramon described his life in a Texas prison. Divisions abound, he told us. Gangs, drugs and violence run amok. Prisoners somehow get access to guns and drugs, which contributes to the repressive and violent atmosphere. This climate is fostered by the system and benefits the prison officials. U.S. prisons serve only to repress, not to rehabilitate.
Labanino told us more than once to express his profound gratitude to all the people who have worked so hard to defend him and the other four political prisoners.
He receives 10 to 15 letters a day and cannot respond to them all. So he wants to make sure that everyone who writes to him and works on his case knows how deeply grateful he is.
Indeed, the solidarity movement has been decisive in the case of the five. When John Ashcroft's Justice Department decided, with absolutely no justification whatsoever, to put all five in solitary confinement a few months ago, it was international pressure that helped get them out of the hole.
Attorneys for the five have stressed that the next few months are extremely important. Oral arguments are expected to take place soon. Forums, letters and campaigns of all kinds are needed to get the word out on the case.
Tens of thousands of people in the U.S. have traveled to Cuba and know first-hand that it has achieved a society worth fighting for.
Ramon Labanino, Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez and Antonio Guerrero are innocent and deserve to be freed.
The web site www.freethefive.org has more information on their case and how to help.
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