The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Highlighting rights violation

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Monday, Sep 29, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Highlighting rights violation

Special Correspondent

Wife, lawyer of Cuban jailed in US seek support from India

— PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Mobilising help: Rosa Aurora Freijanes and Nuris Pinero Sierra at the solidarity meeting for the release of five Cuban heroes, on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: It is a story of brave hearts. Although their families live in a state of uncertainty over their release from the US prison, they stoutly opposed the United States’ moves to force them into a compromise for securing their release.

Ten years after they were jailed, the Cuban Five — Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez — who were sentenced to life on espionage charges by a Miami Court, continue to languish in the US prison. The mistake they committed was entering the US to monitor the activities of Miami-based organisations that were allegedly sponsoring unlawful activities in Cuba.

“They are treated in violation of all existing human and civil rights’ laws,” says Fernando’s wife Rosa Aurora Freijanes. Ms. Rosa, who was here to mobilise solidarity of Indian community, explained in vivid detail the plight of the families of the arrested.

“Wives, children and parents of the five wait endlessly,” she said in an emotion-choked voice. Fernando’s lawyer Nuris Pinero Sierra explained as to how the jury was forced to change the judgment fearing the safety for their lives from the Cuban mafia based in Miami.

Community Party of India MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, CPI (M) MP P. Madhu and leaders of other Left parties expressed their solidarity with the cause of the arrested Cubans.

The arrests reflected the aggressive posture of the US against Cuba that was opposing its imperialist policies.

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