Statement on the Cuban 5
N. Mabedla
8 November 2011
The ANC note with great concern the continuing imprisonment of four of the Cuban 5 namely:
Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerero Rodriguez, Fernando Gonzales Lion, Ramon Labanino Salazar, who were arrested in 1998 and are currently serving long unstipulated sentences in different prisons across United States of America. The conditional release of Rene Gonzalez Schweret- the fifth member of the Cuban 5 on the 7th October 2011 that he must not leave the United States of America in the next coming 3 years and confined in Miami where there are Anti-Cuban gangs and Human and Drug Traffickers.
The lack of fairness during trial, overturning of their conviction by appeal court only to be overturned in 2005 by a full court and the denial for their families to enter the United States of America for their visit, which is a fundamental right of all prisoners in the world, must be challenged.
The ANC recognizing the call from across the globe and the letter from the 110 member of Parliament of the United Kingdom by Attorney General for their release calls for support of all parties in the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa for a letter of demand for their release from President Obama`s Government demonstrating their recognition for Human Rights.
