Local Cuban Five

The Cuban 5's lawyer, Len Weinglass is in hospital

From: laborexchange@aol.com
Date: 7 February 2011 05:37:18 PM PST
To: laborexchange-n@organizerweb.com
Subject: Len Weinglass update

I wanted to let you know if you don’t already that Len Weinglass is in the Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx. A website has updates and you can post a message to Len on a bulletin board. Go to http://www.caringbridge.org, sign up, and then visit lenweinglass. He gets these messages.

At last report, on Saturday the doctors found that Len had a blood clot in his lungs and they immediately began treating him with a blood thinner to prevent any further clots from developing. His surgeon came to visit him Sunday and spent a long time answering Len's questions. Len has a tumor on his pancreas that has metastasized resulting in some spots on his liver. Len is meeting with an oncologist today to discuss options including chemotherapy and possible participation in a drug trial. He watched the superbowl Sunday and was feeling better than in the prior couple of days. He’s requested no phone calls or visits for now unless prearranged.

As you probably know, Len has been at the forefront of the fight to free the Cuba Five. We’ve been working with him on the case for a couple of years. He’s a hero, inside and outside the courtroom, here and abroad, never letting up for a moment in the fight for radical change.

Best,
Peter

CHRISTMAS ACTIONS FOR THE MIAMI FIVE

To mark the United Nations International Day on Human Rights, from Friday 10 December CSC is asking all supporters of the Miami Five to CALL, FAX and EMAIL the US Government to demand that President Obama free these five Cuban men unjustly imprisoned in the United States for fighting terrorism. Please take the Christmas actions for the Five here.

Write to the Five this Christmas. Full addresses.

November 20, 2010

Final Declaration of the 6th International
Colloquium for the Release of the Five and against Terrorism

By Redaction AHORA

The colloquiums held in Holguin in the last six years have underscored the importance attached to this colossal injustice against the Five and the growing solidarity displayed by thousands of supportive friends with their case.

Altogether, the convictions handed down against our Five Brothers amount to two life sentences and 99 years of imprisonment. The legal recourses are running out. Multiple visas have not been issued to their family members and humanitarian visas have not been given to Olga and Adriana.

While the Five are being held in unfair incarceration, a notorious international terrorist, Orlando Bosch Avila, is being recognized by universities in Miami, and Luis Posada Carriles will be prosecuted only because he lied to the US immigration authorities, and not for his terrorist actions and his responsibility for the death of thousands of innocent people.

The recent statements made by international terrorist Francisco Chavez Abarca, who was the right hand of Luis Posada Carriles and was arrested in Venezuela last July 1st and subsequently extradited to Cuba, reveal the plans plotted with absolute impunity from the US against Cuba, Venezuela and other countries in the region.

The absence of response to a request made by the Venezuelan Government five years ago for extradition of criminal Luis Posada Carriles and the refusal to extradite Roberto Guillermo Bravo to Argentina as the perpetrator of the killing of 16 political prisoners show the real face of the US government and its lack of morality to champion human rights and to claim a fight against terror.
The US government has kept the Five in unjust incarceration for over twelve years, while the terrorists are freely walking the streets of Miami.

The case of the Five is absolutely political and only the international solidarity will secure their return home to their families. We are aware of the urgency of this moment. Therefore, it is critical that our efforts are intensified in the last two years of the first term of office of the Obama administration.

We must work more united than ever and our actions must be multiplied among the thousands of hands that are being raised as a single fist composed of the more than 300 solidarity committees for the release of the Five, which operate in 111 countries.

The more than 300 delegates from 50 countries attending the 6th International Colloquium for the Release of the Five and against Terrorism have made the following calls:

1. The lobby actions with parliamentarians, unionists, religious groups, personalities and social movements must be expanded to include their peers in the US. Requests must be made for statements by the European, Central American and Latin American parliaments. The motions, resolutions and other documents adopted by parliaments must be utilized.

2. The report on the Five that was recently issued by Amnesty International must be used as reference at every desirable opportunity; in particular, copies of this report must be circulated to members of the US administration. The same applies to the decision made by the UN Group on Arbitrary Detentions.

3. International days of solidarity with the Five must continue to be organized for the period between September 12 (day of their arrest) and October 8th, with special regard paid to October 6th that was declared by Cuba as the Day of the Victims of Terrorism and June 8th as date when the Five were unjustly convicted as guilty.

4. New forms of communications must be designed to make sure that the truth reaches everyone and the case of the Five must be reported to the wide spectrum of the social sectors.

5. An international conference must be organized in Washington DC attended by American personalities, as well as representatives of other countries, to require President Obama the following:

? Exercise his executive prerogatives and release the Five;
? End the genocidal blockade against Cuba; and
? Respect the will of the peoples around the world

6. Multiple visas must be demanded in favor of the family members; in particular, Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez. Appeals must be lodged with the International Commission on the Right of Family Visitation and with Ms. Michelle Obama as a woman and as a mother. The initiatives and actions of the solidarity committees must be further encouraged.

7. Artists, personalities and opinion leaders must be encouraged to demand the release of the Five and their comments must be disseminated through the printed press, radio, television and the alternative media. Posters, postcards, telephone calls, printed materials, video presentations must be generated locally, nationally and internationally. A renowned songwriter must be identified for his readiness to write a song about the Five and singers from different parts of the world must be invited to play that song jointly.

8. Conferences with focus on the case of the Five must be organized in US and other universities with the attendance of recognized legal scholars.

9. Cubainformacion news service must be kept informed of the initiatives being implemented for mutual support in campaign operations.

10. The use of social networks; including but not limited to twitter, facebook, blogs, emails, community radio stations, TV stations and the Internet, must be intensified.

11. Demonstrations, concerts, theater plays, exhibitions and contests in denunciation of the case and solidarity with the Five must be organized in every possible cultural space. Sport events, such as marathons, as well as baseball and soccer matches, must be encouraged.

12. The US government must be denounced for its impunity and the double standard of its claim of fight against terror, while it harbors and protects international terrorists, such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch Avila. An end to impunity, the dismantle of Miami-based terror organizations, and the prosecution and punishment of the murderers of our people must be demanded.

13. The documentary film, "Cuba's Reasons," which features statements by international terrorist Francisco Chavez Abarca, must be made available as denunciation of the forms of terrorism against Cuba and our peoples.

14. The artworks on the Five, now available in electronic format, must be relied upon for their widespread circulation in different countries.

15. A call must be made on the forthcoming World Festival of Youth and Students, scheduled to be held in South Africa, to support the universal request to President Obama to release the Five Cuban Heroes immediately and unconditionally.

End the injustice! Free the Five now!

Holguin, Cuba
Year 52nd of the Revolution

November 2010

Solidarity and Freedom for the Cuban Five

The World Peace Council (WPC) is initiating a campaign in solidarity with the just cause of the liberation of the Cuban Five political prisoners who have been unjustly punished and are being held in US prisons.

We call upon all peace loving organizations and forces in the world to rally around the WPC campaign under the slogan: “Solidarity with Socialist Cuba-Free the Cuban Five” and carry out actions in support of their liberation.

More than twelve (12) years of injustice have passed for those Cuban Five, for their families, for their wives and their children in inalienable violation of their human rights, evidence of the imperialist double standards USA government’s policy fomenting state terrorism towards third countries and particularly against Cuba.

The USA Supreme Court’s shamelessness of rejecting the petition of the Cuban Five and particularly of Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, -condemned to two life imprisonments, plus 15 years which have been denounced as a violation by the Arbitrary Detentions’ Commission of Human Rights Council of the United Nations, shows what is the real political motivation: the US government’s policy towards the Cuban Revolution.

We call on you to reverse this difficult situation for these human lives- the US government has banned the visits by their wives and daughter to two of the prisoners- and confront the hostile media manipulation in the USA which has contributed to their unjust convictions.

We call upon you to exercise pressure on the US government through petitions and publications, events and protests demand from it the unconditional release of the Cuban Five. Their imprisonment constitutes, amongst other things, an act of political revenge of the USA towards Cuba and its Revolution, which we vehemently reject.

We call upon you to denounce the “Common Position” of the European Union by which it is flagrantly interfering in the Cuban domestic affairs and are complicit with the activities of the USA.

This WPC campaign will be also an opportunity to show to the world the achievements and sacrifices of the Cuban society, for more than 50 years under Blockade and the contribution of Cuba for the peoples in the world, including in the USA. It will be a service to the defense of truth and in solidarity with the struggling people of Cuba and its national sovereignty and independence.

Your solidarity contribution will be highly appreciated in your help to disseminate and to discuss this truth. This campaign will culminate in May 2011 with the holding of an International Conference in the Cuban Province Guantanamo, which will confront the US presence and abuse of the Military Base and its attached concentration camp.

Cuba is not alone!
Long live the anti-imperialist Solidarity!
Free the Cuban Five!

Noviembre 2010

Solidaridad por la liberación de los Cinco Cubanos presos en los Estados Unidos

El Consejo Mundial por la Paz, está iniciando una campaña de solidaridad por la justa causa de la liberación de los Cinco presos políticos cubanos quienes han sido injustamente condenados y están en cárceles de los Estados Unidos.

Hacemos un llamado a todas las organizaciones y fuerzas de paz en todo el mundo, para que realicen una marcha bajo el auspicio del Consejo Mundial por la Paz con el eslogan “Solidaridad con la Cuba Socialista – Liberación de los Cinco Cubanos” y llevar a cabo acciones en apoyo a su liberación.

Han pasado 12 años de injusticia para esos Cinco Cubanos, para sus familias, paras sus esposas y para sus hijos en inalienable violación de sus derechos humanos, por evidenciar ante el mundo el doble rasero del gobierno de los Estados Unidos al fomentar el terrorismo de estado hacia terceros países y en particular hacia Cuba.

La desvergüenza de la Corte Suprema estadounidense de rechazar y escuchar la petición de los Cinco, en particular la de Gerardo Hernández Nordelo - condenado a dos cadenas perpetuas, mas 15 años ha sido denunciada por la Comisión de Detenciones Arbitrarias del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas; pone al descubierto el motivo político del verdadero responsable: la política gobierno estadounidense hacia la Revolución Cubana.

Les convocamos para revertir esta difícil situación de estas vidas humanas a quien dos de ellos el gobierno de los Estados Unidos les prohíbe ser visitados por sus esposas e hija, víctimas de una hostil manipulación por la parte de los medios estadounidenses los que han contribuido a sus injustas condenas.

Hacemos un llamado a ejercer una presión sobre el gobierno de los Estados Unidos a través de las peticiones y publicaciones, eventos y protestas demandando la incondicional liberación de los Cinco cubanos. Su encarcelamiento constituye, entre otras cosas, un acto de venganza política del gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América hacia Cuba y su Revolución, lo cual nosotros vehementemente rechazamos.

Hacemos un llamado también, para denunciar la “Posición común” de la Unión Europea mediante la cual flagrantemente interfiere en los asuntos domésticos (internos) de Cuba en notoria complicidad con las actividades de los Estados Unidos.

Esta campaña del Consejo Mundial por la Paz, también será una oportunidad para mostrar al mundo los logros y sacrificios de la sociedad cubana, por más de 50 años bajo el Bloqueo y el asedio y exponer la contribución de Cuba para los pueblos del mundo, incluyendo el de los Estados Unidos de América. Será un servicio en defensa de la verdad y la solidaridad con la batalla que libra el pueblo de Cuba por su soberanía nacional e independencia.

Su contribución a la solidaridad será altamente apreciada en su ayuda para diseminar y difundir esta verdad. Esta campaña culminará en el 2011 en el mes de mayo con un Seminario Internacional en la Provincia cubana de Guantánamo, en la que confrontaremos la presencia norteamericana y el abuso de la Base Militar y su campamento de concentración anexado.

¡Cuba no está sola!
¡Viva la Solidaridad antiimperialista!
¡Libertad para los Cinco Cubanos !

Send a message to Obama

JOIN A CAMPAIGN TO SEND POSTCARDS TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ASK THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THE CUBAN FIVE AND TO FREE THEM!

The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five has designed two types of postcards: one to be sent to President Obama and another one to be sent to Congresspeople, Senators, any other elected officials or the media.

As you know, the case is now in its most crucial stage. And as the defense lawyers have filed the case before the U.S. Supreme Court, our task is to raise awareness and let the case be known to newly elected officials and all U.S. audiences.

During his presidential campaign, then-Senator Barack Obama used a very popular slogan -- "YES WE CAN."

We believe that YES WE CAN FREE THE CUBAN FIVE FROM U.S. PRISONS! That is precisely the message of these postcards.

Join this campaign. We can send you postcards to distribute in your community, your school, your job, your place of worship, to your family members and friends.

If you want to view the front of the postcard go to the home page: www.thecuban5.org.

The following is the text for both postcards:

We respectfully ask you to look into the case of the Cuban Five imprisoned in the U.S. since 1998. René González, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Gerardo Hernández were unjustly sentenced to four life sentences plus 77 years collectively.

Also, two of them have been denied the right to receive visits from their wives: Adriana Perez and Olga Salanueva.

Their defense lawyers have filed the case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

We appeal to your sense of justice, and ask you to immediately put an end to this travesty of justice. All nations have the right to defend themselves against terrorism and that was precisely what the Cuban Five were doing.

It is time that they be allowed to go home to their families and their country.

Sincerely,

Let us know how many postcards you need to distribute in your area by writing to info@thecuban5.org

We need to hear back from you soon so that we can have a sufficient number printed.

The postcards are a good tool to spread the word about the case because while they make their way to President Obama or to the Department of Justice, Senators and Congresspeople, the cards are seen by many other people who can also learn about the Cuban Five.

IT IS TIME THE CUBAN FIVE BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO
THEIR FAMILIES & THEIR COUNTRY!

Dear friends and supporters of the Cuban Five,

Take a minute out of your busy time and send a message to newly elected President Barack Obama. Tell him about the case of the Cuban Five by asking him to grant visas to Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez, wife of Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez respectively, who have not been able to visit their husbands for 10 years; and to demand the immediate release of the Cuban Five.

Obama?s website is asking people in the US to write to him about any issue that concerns them. Now is the time, even before he enters office, to let him know about the case of the Cuban Five from as many people as possible. Ten years is enough!!!

Spread the word and send this e-mail to all your friends.

To send the message to President Barack Obama click here.

In solidarity,

Alicia Jrapko

June 2008 An email from Nino Pagliccia:

Hi! I have just received letters from Antonio Guerrero and Gerardo Hernandez (Click their names below to see the letters). These letters acknowledge and say thank-you for greetings and messages that the brigadistas of last year?s brigade sent to them. The translation of Gerardo?s letter is below.

During the brigade last August and some time afterwards we wrote supportive messages on five notebooks, one for each of the five heroes. I mailed the notebooks quite some time ago. Recently the one sent to Ramon was returned to me with the note ?Item not allowed?. Ramon has since been moved to another prison and I will mail the notebook again. Antonio and Gerardo clearly received them. The notebooks had a very Cuban cover with the famous character Elpidio Valdes?.

These letters show how important it is to send them messages and postcards to let them know that we are with them! Write to them; send them pictures. I was told that the prison guards are amazed at the volume of mail and support the Cuban Five receive.

They also show that they are still strongly committed to their revolutionary principles.

They also show that they are aware of the US gov imperial agenda and they are critical of it. Notice the reference to the war in Iraq and to the censorship around their cases.

Finally, it is fitting to receive these letters around the 80th birthday of Che Guevara on June 14th. Antonio includes a beautiful poem dedicated to Che.

Thanks to the 2007 Brigadistas, including our dear brigadistas from Greece who were with us, for making this happen!

In solidarity,

Nino

Click below to see the letters:


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