2008 Woodie Awards
Cuba chronicles
Part III: Valez gives a gripping account of the Cuban Five
P.J. Valdez
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: Campus News
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Editor's note: UWT student PJ Valdez will be covering the Cuban study abroad program throughout the Winter Quarter.
In the year 2000, five innocent Cuban men were convicted in the United States after defending their native country. In the United States, many people have no idea of this. However, in Cuba, nearly the entire country is crying for the five heroes to return.
This is their story.
For decades, Cuba has been under terrorist attacks from an extreme rightist group in Florida. On October 6, 1976, two bombs were detonated on a Cubana Airlines civilian aircraft that had taken off from Barbados, killing 73 people. In July 1997, bombs exploded at the Triton, Chateau Miramar and the Copacabana hotels. On that same day another bomb exploded at the La Bodeguita del Medio restaurant.
In order to prevent further terrorist attacks, Cuba sent a group of five men to monitor the actions of the extreme rightist group in Miami. The patriots prevented some terrorist attacks from occurring; however, they were caught, arrested and accused for endangering the security of the United States. The Cuban five were accused for the crime of conspiracy to commit murder, among other charges.
The Cuban five all held college degrees and most had families. Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo was sentenced to two life terms in prison plus fifteen years. Ramon Labanino Salazar was sentenced to life plus 18 years. Rene Gonzalez Sehwerert was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Fernando Gonzalez Llort was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment. Antonio Guerrrero Rodriguez was imprisoned for life plus ten years.
For five years neither Gerardo Hernandez nor Rene Gonzales have seen their wives or children. This is a violation of international human rights as declared by Amnesty International, a violation of the U.S. Constitution and a violation of the Regulations of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Cuban five were also held in solitary confinement for 33 months before their sentences were passed. They were isolated in the "hole" for 17 months prior to the trial and 48 days after the verdict was passed. Under the Regulations of the Federal Bureau of Prisons the conditions should not continue for more than 60 days.
The Cuban five remain imprisoned for what some consider defense of their country. All over Cuba, billboards, murals and posters are scattered throughout the communities in order to make sure that the nation is aware of the Cuban five.
Each billboard, mural and poster is tagged with the words Volveran, which means "they will return."
In the year 2000, five innocent Cuban men were convicted in the United States after defending their native country. In the United States, many people have no idea of this. However, in Cuba, nearly the entire country is crying for the five heroes to return.
This is their story.
For decades, Cuba has been under terrorist attacks from an extreme rightist group in Florida. On October 6, 1976, two bombs were detonated on a Cubana Airlines civilian aircraft that had taken off from Barbados, killing 73 people. In July 1997, bombs exploded at the Triton, Chateau Miramar and the Copacabana hotels. On that same day another bomb exploded at the La Bodeguita del Medio restaurant.
In order to prevent further terrorist attacks, Cuba sent a group of five men to monitor the actions of the extreme rightist group in Miami. The patriots prevented some terrorist attacks from occurring; however, they were caught, arrested and accused for endangering the security of the United States. The Cuban five were accused for the crime of conspiracy to commit murder, among other charges.
The Cuban five all held college degrees and most had families. Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo was sentenced to two life terms in prison plus fifteen years. Ramon Labanino Salazar was sentenced to life plus 18 years. Rene Gonzalez Sehwerert was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Fernando Gonzalez Llort was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment. Antonio Guerrrero Rodriguez was imprisoned for life plus ten years.
For five years neither Gerardo Hernandez nor Rene Gonzales have seen their wives or children. This is a violation of international human rights as declared by Amnesty International, a violation of the U.S. Constitution and a violation of the Regulations of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The Cuban five were also held in solitary confinement for 33 months before their sentences were passed. They were isolated in the "hole" for 17 months prior to the trial and 48 days after the verdict was passed. Under the Regulations of the Federal Bureau of Prisons the conditions should not continue for more than 60 days.
The Cuban five remain imprisoned for what some consider defense of their country. All over Cuba, billboards, murals and posters are scattered throughout the communities in order to make sure that the nation is aware of the Cuban five.
Each billboard, mural and poster is tagged with the words Volveran, which means "they will return."