[Ppnews] Cuban Five Statement on their Re-sentencing

[Political Prisoner News]

December 8, 2009

Today concluded the re-sentencing process for 
Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Ramón 
Labañino in the United States District Court for 
the Southern District of Florida, ordered by the 
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Fernando 
Gonzalez' original sentence (19 years) was 
modified to 17 years plus 9 months in prison and 
Ramón Labañino (1 life term plus 18 years) 
reduced to 30 years in prison. Antonio Guerrero's 
hearing was held on October 13, 2009. His 
original sentence (1 life term plus 10 years) was 
reduced to 21 years plus 10 months and 5 years of 
supervised release. The sentences of Gerardo 
Hernandez (2 life terms plus 15 years) and René 
González (15 years), having been ratified by the 
Court of Appeals, were excluded of this re-sentencing process.

Following is the statement issued by Antonio 
Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labañino on December 8, 2009

Dear Sisters and Brothers from Cuba and from all over the World:

We have already served more than 11 years in 
prison and there is still no justice at any level 
of the American legal system.

Three of us have come to the Miami Court to be 
re-sentenced due to an order from the Eleventh 
Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined that 
our sentences had been erroneously imposed.

Our brother Gerardo Hernandez, who is serving two 
life terms plus 15 years, has been arbitrarily 
excluded from this re-sentencing process. His 
situation remains the principal injustice in our 
case. The US Government is well aware of the 
falseness of the accusations against him and the unfairness of his sentence.

This has been a complex process, difficult and 
much discussed in every detail, in which we 
participated along with our counsels.  We did not 
give an inch in our principles, decorum and 
honor, always defending our innocence and the dignity of our Homeland.

Just as it did at the moment of our arrest and at 
other occasions during these long years, the US 
Government proposes now that we collaborate to 
obtain more benevolent sentences. Once again, we 
have rejected such proposals, something that we 
never will accept under any circumstances.

Present in the results of these re-sentencing 
hearings are the work of the legal team and the 
indestructible solidarity of all of you.

It is significant that the US Government, for the 
first time in 11 years, was obliged to recognize 
that we did not cause any damage to its national security.

Also, for the first time, the prosecutor publicly 
recognized the existence of a strong 
international movement in support of our 
immediate freedom, a movement that affects the 
image of the US judicial system in the eyes of the international community.

Once again the absolute political character of this process is confirmed.

We the Five are punished for accusations that 
never have been proved. Although three of our 
sentences were partially reduced, the injustice remains for all of us.

The Cuban-American terrorists continue to enjoy total impunity.

We reiterate: The Five are innocent!

We feel profoundly moved and grateful for the 
permanent solidarity that you give us, so crucial 
in this long battle for justice.

Together with you, we will continue until the 
final victory, which only will be reached with 
the return of the Five to our Homeland.


Antonio Guerrero
Fernando González
Ramón Labañino

Miami, December 8, 2009




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