Gerardo
Hernández Nordelo, born June 4, 1965 in a humble family , he is a sincere,
studious, honest gentleman and with a deep sense of responsibility.
His high
sensibility and sense of humor - shown through his drawings and comics and
will of exposing with clearness his ideas, which have turned him in a loved
mate and admired one for those who surround him.
The
tender relation which he keeps with the chemistry engineer Adriana Pérez O´Connor,
whom he married in 1998, is shown through his letter sent from jail:
..when I think anyway that you make me happy, I almost can't believe it how
lucky I am of having such a wife like you. You are the love of my life, if at
celebrating this year, our anniversary , I could have only one wish for you,
this could be to give you happiness as you have given me. Happy anniversary
with love and be sure that within 10 years we will still be a very good
looking couple.
Gerardo
is a fair person, able to keep the sense of humor at very tough conditions.
In 1989 he ended his college studies with high results at the "Raúl
Roa García" International Affairs Institute. He was a student leader and
he stands out for his enthusiasm and creativity at cultural festivals, as a
member of a theater group and as a caricaturist and humorist.
The loss
of his sister, María del Carmen Nordelo, in an air accident affected him
deeply and even when conditions were created to travel to USA and could attend
the funerals, he decided to stay accomplishing important missions as the last
homage to her sister. His other sister is Isabel Hernández Nordelo.
Carmen
Nordelo Tejera, his mother, feels for him an extraordinary love. He feels
proud and sure humanity all will turn his son back from North American jails,
where he has been confined for the incredible crime of struggling against
terrorism.
It was
at the mid of the 90´s when Gerardo went to USA to accomplish dangerous
missions, to prevent Cuba from terrorist actions, already planned and carried
out by counter revolutionary organizations located at Miami. His goal was to
preserve his people from death, to save Cuban and North American
lives and to fight terrorism.
From
this generous young man his accusers said he had the hands "stained with
blood" to which he answered ; "Let misters of the District know that
the only blood I could have in these hands is from my brothers cowardly
fell or murdered the countless aggressions and terrorist acts carried
out against my country by persons who quietly walk by the streets of this
city. Blood by which one day I swore I was willing to sacrifice my own life if
with this I could protect my people from
such crimes.
Your
honor, the District considers, and thus has asked, I should spent the rest of
my life in a jail. I trust that if it is not in this or other level of the
system, reason and justice will prevail above all political prejudices and
will understand we have not done any harm in this country, which deserves such
a condemn. But if it were not like that , I would allow myself to repeat the
words of one of the greatest
patriots of this nation, Nathan Hale, when he said: "I only regret not to
have more than one life to give
to my homeland."
In USA,
Gerardo worked as a graphic artist . He lived in severe conditions, with vital
means and without luxury of any kind. He was respected by his neighbors at
Miami; by friends and acquainted because of his excellent social behavior who
expressed so widely right from
his detention.
Against
him there were charges attributed in the trial: conspiracy, espionage, false
documents, as an agent from a foreign government without being a diplomatic
nor having communicated so to the District Attorney and conspiracy to commit
murder.
This
last charge was only attributed to Gerardo, maneuver which did not count with
proofs nor evidence. He was found guilty when he was linked by the District to
the withdrawal of the two planes, on February 24 , 1996 of the terrorist
organization , "Brothers to the Rescue" located at Miami, which
violated the Cuban air space.
Testimonies
offered at the Court and from Basulto himself, leader of that organization,
repeatedly breaking the North American laws , making pirate flights with base
at that territory, stated that the accused had nothing to do with the
incident.
Nor the
idea, preparation or flight itself in that date, Gerardo had any
participation. However, testimony offered by Basulto, confirmed the full
responsibility of this one and his organization, "Brothers to the
Rescue" when he provoked the falling of two planes, which could be
qualified as a conspiracy to draw a nation to war.
From the
Interest Section of USA until the
State Department , they all knew the periodical and provoking flights from
that terrorist organization, Cuba repeatedly warned about danger these events
planned at Miami, could represent
with the tolerance from the North American government.
On
February 24, 1996 once more, crafts from "Brothers to the Rescue"
violated the Cuban air space and were withdrawn, a state's decision and that
in the trial was personalized in Gerardo, which is illegal and against the
norms of law.
In his
plea, Gerardo expressed…" I would ask what motivated the District to
mount this propagandistic show around this charge and search at all
means the condemn of someone whom
they know had nothing to do with the death of those peoples….
"…..Your
honor, the District considers , and thus being asked , I should spend the rest
of my life in jail. I trust that if it is not in this one, or some other level
of the system, reason and justice will prevail above all political prejudices
and vengeance wishes, we have not harmed anybody or caused damage to anyone.
But if it were like that , I
would allow to repeat the words of one of the greatest patriots of this
nation, Nathan Hale, when he said; " I only regret not to have more than
one life to give to my
homeland.".
