Ecuador Foreign Minister Urges USA to Free Cuban Five

Ecuador's Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patiño, urged United States authorities today to free the three remaining men who were part of the Cuban Five and who are about to complete 16 years of imprisonment on U.S. soil.

"Hopefully at some point there will be understanding by the American authorities, and the the three Cuban heroes who are still in American prisons can be released, as they deserve to be," Patiño told Prensa Latina.

The foreign minister added that the American government should understand that it is time to end the "perverse imprisonment of people who were doing nothing more than fighting terrorism."

In this regard, Patiño stressed that Ecuador continues to maintain that a real injustice was committed against Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez.

The Cuban Five, as they are known internationally, were arrested on September 12, 1998 in Miami, where they had been dedicated to monitoring the activities of the anti-Cuban terrorist groups based in South Florida.

After a trial that their defenders described as politicized, prompting numerous complaints about the American judicial system, the men were sentenced to severe prison sentences, including more than two life sentences in the case of Gerardo Hernández.

So far, only René and Fernando have been able to return to Cuba after fully serving the sentences assigned for their wrongful convictions.

Starting Thursday, solidarity activists with the Caribbean island in more than 38 countries will begin an international day of efforts to convince President Barack Obama to free Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio.

Initiatives include sit-ins at United States embassies in several capitals and a vigil outside the White House on September 12, when 16 years will have been completed since the arrest of the Cuban Five.