Washington Opposes Revision of Cuban Five Case

Washington Opposes Revision of Cuban Five Case by US Supreme Court

HAVANA, Cuba, May 26 (acn) The president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, said on Monday that the US Government announced this weekend that it is against the revision by the US Supreme Court of the case of five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters who remain unjustly imprisoned in the United States.

Gerardo Hernndez, Ramn Labaino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez, and Rene Gonzalez - internationally known as the Cuban Five - were arrested in South Florida where they were monitoring anti-Cuba extremist groups that were planning and carrying out terrorist actions against the Caribbean nation. They were arrested in Miami in September 1998 and later convicted to very long and unjust sentences in a biased and political frame-up trial that was full of violations.

Alarcon explained that the defense team of the Cuban Five now has 10 days to present their reply to the Supreme Court before the judges of this judicial body meet to decide whether they accept the case or not.

The Cuban top legislator added that if the Supreme Court takes the case, it should have a verdict ready before the end of the current year, "although we should not forget that there is a period of summer break."

An unprecedented number of amicus curiae - friend of the court - briefs have been filed with the Supreme Court by national and international personalities, jurists and human rights organizations requesting review of lower court rulings.

Alarcon reiterated his admiration for the resistance of the Cuban Five and particularly of Gerardo Hernandez, who is serving two life terms plus 15 years.

He revealed that in recent days, the authorities of the maximum security prison where Hernandez is being held, punished all the inmates, including the Cuban anti-terrorist fighter.

The president of the Cuban National Assembly (Parliament) was speaking on Monday to personalities and ambassadors from Arab nations and Russia, invited to the 14th International Festival of Poetry that began yesterday in Havana.

ENDS

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