The words of Roberto González, a lawyer
born to a Cuban family that fled to the United States during
the dictatorship and returned to Cuba following the triumph
of the Revolution, come to mind as I begin to reflect on
this issue. Like René, he was born in the United States
during his family’s sojourn there. He has been fighting
tirelessly to obtain the release of his brother René, who
endures cruel and unjust imprisonment, as do four other
heroes who sought to defend their country in the struggle
against terrorism.
“The worst thing that can happen to us is
to allow a sense of defeat or victory paralyze us; we
will have won in the case of the Five when they have set
foot in Havana… for this is the kind of trial that is won
with facts many times over but is lost before the Law, by
virtue of the judges' decision".
These are
wise and sensible words, spoken by a true expert at war
against shameless actions. Even he expressed his surprise at
what transpired.
During the
Round Table program, we were given a sense of the importance
of the testimonies afforded, in the city of Atlanta, by 73
world-renowned experts in international Law. There, it was
shown beyond the shadow of a doubt that the felonies imputed
to the accused, resulting in convictions unanimously
approved by a supposedly impartial jury, in the last
community on Earth where one could expect a fair verdict,
were never in fact committed. Each and every one of
statements made at the Round Table or over the phone, by
those who spoke and those who have yet to speak, must be
read word by word and analyzed.
In real
espionage cases, recently tried in the United States,
convictions usually do not exceed a 10-year prison sentence.
The charge of conspiracy to commit espionage brought against
our five compatriots has not even been proven. Their cruel
and unusual fate, and that of their relatives, reflects the
perfidious overt policy pursued by Washington of using
terrorism against the Cuban people, a policy which, for
nearly half a century, has been in violation of the most
elementary norms set down by the United Nations and
encroaching upon the sovereignty of nations.
There are
many important and proven facts that I could add, but I wish
to be brief so that these words may be transcribed and
published by the Cuban press. The most important thing is
for our people to develop a solid and unshakable conscience
of these realities.
Fidel Castro Ruz
August 22,
2007
4:35 p.m.
