Ramón Labañino Salazar

"All started on September 12 , 1998 about 5:30 at home, there we were arrested and were taken at the FBI headquarters, for a "convincing" interview to call us to collaborate and betray with certain promises in exchange .

 As it is obvious, I had nothing to tell nor say, and after failed attempts, without anymore to get, we were taken to the Federal Detention Center of Miami right at the heart of the Miami Downtown, where we have spent the whole time…" 

After 17 months in jail, that is how Ramón Labañino Salazar wrote a letter to his wife on January 21, 2001 in which he dedicated some verses:

Do not complain of this empty  space,
Nor the trace my body left on your pillow,
Nor humidity of my lips in yours
Nor in the one thousands nights and one daybreak

Do not suffer the soul's insomnia,
Nor vanish the hopeless feeling
Nor stay late at night, or torture with
endless ideas…

It is the same man who has expressed with huge joy and pride:  I have listened to, when circumstances allow us, each word, each verse, each song, even each breath  our people has dedicated to us. To all, to our Commander, tell him that I am the luckiest man in the world, that more than ever, my loneliness has been so crowded , to all of you, thank you very much….Cuba will always have a voice and a man to defend it, no matter circumstances, although  it could cost my life.

Love and sensibility characterize Ramón Labañino Salazar, born on June 9, 1963 in a family of farmers origin , at the Marianao locality, at the City of Havana . His academic results were outstanding and also emerged as student leader at primary school "Arístides Viera" at the Secondary School , "Osvaldo Rafael Sáncehz" and the High School "Manolito Aguiar"

Between 1980 and 1986 he received college studies at the Economy Faculty, graduating there with a Golden Diploma, At the University of Havana, where he was also outstanding at sport journeys.

In June 1990, he got married to his present wife, Elizabeth Palmeiro Casado, graduated from the Language and Literature School, with whom he had two girls: Laura of eight years old and Lisbet. He has another son from a previous marriage, Alí Labañino Cardoso.

Elizabeth states him as a sweet , warm , intelligent people, able to keep updated with everyday things of the family, so his absence is a present one, able to erase distances.

In one of his letters, Ramón states to his wife: "Today is  February 3 of the year 2001 and I do not want to say good bye without repeating once more how much I miss and wish you. So, take care of yourself, and take care of the kids and to all my relatives…" My beloved, remember to send me the birthday list, take updated  photos with the girls and love me  a lot. This letter will reach you February 14, as a present, it is your day and mine, and of this eternal love without frontiers."

In spite of prolonged absences from the country, Ramón did not stop  paying  attention to his daughters, for whom he has felt a huge love and a constant preoccupation for their development and education.

Due to the accomplishment of missions abroad, he could not share with his wife the moments of pregnancy nor birth, of his two minor girls, since right from the beginning of the 90 decade, he went to fulfill his job to USA, taking charge of risky tasks guided towards the Mafia groups located at Miami, that in those years greatly increased terrorist activities against Cuba.

Ramón explains to the girls why he did not enjoy his first smiles…" I had to leave for the love I owe to you and to all…I will come back, do not doubt it, we will recover all my absences."

Until the moment of his arrest at Florida, Labañino Salazar lived in severe conditions. He delivered medicines to different drugstores of the state and traded shoes.

Since he was arrested by FBI agents he has faced - as well as his mates--  the cruelest confinement and the cruelty of his jailers who, violating the VIII Amendment of the USA´s Constitution, have ill treated him and had enclosed him - without a reason- in punishing cells in several occasions, one of these for several 17 months.

He has suffered calumnies and hysterical attacks of the extreme rights of the Cuban exile that openly joined to the FBI and the District gave place to a corrupted, political  trial, full of lies. In this case, the VI Amendment of USA, carried out in a hostile and aggressive environment for the accused, in the middle of the anti Cuban atmosphere, which included the press attack, everything stopped them for being judged impartially.

Ramón expressed in one of his letter to his wife: "As always I have said,  here I am ready for everything. There is much handling and deceive and distortion of the facts, but we trust the truth will come out.  the important thing is to fight and state truth, unmask the fakers and send the message of love and peace we have. But we will not stop to defend ourselves this love message and peace we have, but we will not stop to  defend ourselves no matter whom it be. Our country deserves respect,  no matter who has to understand it.."

The young Cuban was charged to a life sentence and 18 years, found guilty of conspiracy, espionage, false documents and agent of a foreign government without communicating to the District General.

It came out to be a political trial. He was condemned for struggling against terrorism