2002: Year of the Heroes, Prisoners of the Empire

Havana, December 29 (AIN) At a proposal made by President Fidel Castro, the National Assembly of the Popular Power, agreed to call year 2002 "Year of the Heroes, Prisoners  of the Empire"  in a homage to the five Cubans unfairly jailed and condemned in Miami.

In his words, Fidel ascertained that each day , the political and moral price, the empire would pay , should be higher, every day, every hour each second this injustice is kept.

Unanimously , the 522 deputies, gathered in the 3rd  extraordinary period of sessions of the V legislature, approved the name of the coming year, in which the battle of ideas will increase in demand of the liberation of this courageous young men.

After the proposal of the  President of State Council, Parliament handed the Title of Heroes of the Republic of Cuba to: Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino and René González for their example, dedication, dignity and firmness.

Ricardo Alarcón, Parliament President, read a message to the people of the island sent from jail by these patriots, confirming  there is not greater honor for them than to be part of this people and fruit of the rich Cuban history, since from it they learned.

That is how history of struggles and sacrifices guided us, with which we have faced each battle, defending each conquest and dream, and that we will continue, defending homeland from any part of the universe, the message reaffirms.

Likewise, the legislative body conferred the Mariana Grajales order to Carmen Nordelo, Magaly Llort, Irma Schewerert and Mirtha Rodríguez, mothers of the four prisoners of the empire.

At the same time, it agreed to hand over the Ana Betancourt order to. Adriana Pérez , Elizabeth Palmeiro, Rosa Aurora Freijanes and Olga Salanueva, the wives of four of them.

Several deputies and guests addressed the audience on behalf of workers, youth and students organizations, intellectuals and sport men, to support with solid arguments the validity of each proposal.

To the extraordinary session there were relatives of the five heroes, Juan Miguel González, Elián´s father and his family and representatives of social, students and youth organizations.

In a shameful process, Gerardo Hernández was condemned to two life sentences and 15 years and Ramón Labañino to a life sentence.

Antonio Guerrero was sanctioned to a life sentence, two condemns of five years and eight years of controlled freedom, meanwhile Fernando González Llort and Rene González were sentenced to 19 and 15 years of imprisonment.