[Ppnews] Lawyers for the Cuban 5: We Will Not Rest Until We Right this Wrong

[Political Prisoner News]

GRANMA
July 13, 2009

We Will Not Rest Until We Right this Wrong

So say the lawyers of the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States

Deisy Francis Mexidor
francis_mexidor@ granma.cip. cu

The lawyers of the Cuban Five ­antiterrorist 
fighters who for almost 11 years have been 
imprisoned in the United States— told the press 
on Sunday at a conference in Havana that their 
efforts for this cause are far from an end, and 
that the struggle for justice continues hand in 
hand with the political struggle.

They said that they are now getting ready for the 
new trial, October 13, of Antonio Guerrero, Ramón 
Labañino and Fernando González who are to be 
transferred to the Miami Detention Center for the 
trial. Once again, Judge Joan Lenard will be hearing the case.

Tom Goldstein, head of the defense team that took 
the case of the Five to the US Supreme Court, 
said that although that legal body refused to 
review the case, important steps have been taken 
for the trial. "We are optimistic," he said, 
noting that now when Antonio, Ramón and Fernando 
are to be tried again, the circumstances are much 
different from those in 2001, when the Five were 
arbitrarily and unfairly convicted.

He said that the judge, in addition to the legal 
arguments, will have to deal with the long time 
they have been imprisoned and the suffering of 
the defendants and their families. "Now the case 
has the support of the international community; 
that is something the judge will have to take into consideration. "

Leonard Weinglass said that in October new rules 
will come into play, different from those of 
2001. "Under these new rules we expect the 
sentences of Antonio and Ramón to be dismissed."

The lawyers expressed their solidarity with René 
and Gerardo, given the repeated refusal of the US 
government to grant visas to their wives, so that they can visit them.

Joaquín Méndez said that the most unfair of all 
is the treatment given to Gerardo.

In this regard, Ricardo Alarcón, president of the 
National Assembly of the People's Power (Cuban 
Parliament) explained that the case of Gerardo is 
more complex. "We must do all that we can," he 
said, "We have to reopen his case, we have to 
resort to all the resources available. We have to 
use our hands, our teeth, our nails. As long as 
he is not freed, the same as the rest of them, it 
will be impossible for Cuba to hold normal relations with the United States."

We won't rest until justice is made.



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