Nicaraguan Support Group Steps Up Solidarity with Cuban Five 

Managua, Jun 18 -- Nicaragua's Solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela Committee, has renewed its commitment to fight for the release of the five Cuban political prisoners unjustly imprisoned in the US since 1998.

Committee leader, Edgardo Garcia, has pledged to continue to increase contact with US citizens to raise awareness of the innocence of the Five Cuban heroes: Fernando Gonzalez, Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino and Gerardo Hernandez.

The group were arrested September 1998 for monitoring Anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based in south Florida and were given unjust sentences after a biased trial in Miami.

The defense team appealed the sentences to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, and after a thorough study of the case, the three judge panel that heard the case on March 10, 2004, annulled the sentences on the 9th of August 2005 and ordered a new trial.

However, the US Administration counter appealed and requested a review of the decision by the full twelve judges of the 11th Circuit Court. The oral hearing was held in Atlanta on February 14th this year but the decision of the full court of appeals has not been handed down yet. 

"The Cuban Five should be free," stated the Nicaraguan activist, who also called for the imprisonment of terrorists like Luis Posada Carriles, who master minded the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976 killing all 73 people aboard, among many other crimes.

Garcia added that the committee will also demand the lifting of the over four-decade US commercial, economic and financial blockade against Cuba. (PL)