Message in solidarity with the Cuban Five sent by a HOV public meeting in London
- 11 September 2008
We have met yesterday, September 10th, 2008, in the Bolívar Hall in London, for the screening of The Battle of Chile - The Coup d'État, a documentary on the US-backed terrorism in Chile in 1973 that led to the establishment of Pinochet's dictatorship. Today, September 11th, 2008, is the 35th anniversary of the coup against the Socialist government led by Salvador Allende.
More than 3,000 people died in the USA as a consequence of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.
More than 3,000 people died in Chile as a consequence of the coup of September 11th, 1973, assassinated by the US-backed dictatorship.
More than 3,000 people died in Cuba in the last 50 years as a consequence of US-backed terrorism, aimed at the restoration of capitalism and imperialist rule in the island.
Ten years ago tomorrow, on September 12th, 1998, five Cubans were arrested in Miami and indicted by the US government with false accusations. These five courageous men were in Florida to prevent further terrorist attacks against Cuba and its people by infiltrating Hermanos al Rescate, a terrorist Cuban-American organisation that uses civilian aircrafts to violate Cuban airspace.
The five Cuban heroes (Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, and René González) have since been held in US prisons after a frame-up trial. This is a blatant human-rights violation, condemned by several different organisations and individuals, including the UN Commissions on Human Rights and the 3-judge panel of US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit that ordered a new trial 3 years ago. This decision was later to be reversed by the full panel, in a situation reminiscent of several other politically motivated judicial scandals in US history.
The meeting discussed the hypocrisy of the US government when it tries to present itself as an opponent of terror and defender of democracy. The just opposition of the US people against terrorist attacks is exploited by the White House, when it serves its purposes, in order to declare imperialist wars and constrain the democratic rights of its own citizens. When it better suits its interests and the interests of US multinationals, the US government promotes terror, military coups and the assassination of political enemies. In the case of the Cuban Five, this pro-terror attitude reaches the point of jailing five heroes who were only trying to defend their people from a terrorist organisation!
The meeting voted in favour of sending a message of internationalist solidarity to Gerardo, Antionio, Ramón, Fernando and René, in the 10th anniversary of their arrest.
Free the Cuban Five! Stop imperialist terror!
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