Aggressive and hostile environment in the sentence hearings

By Alina Rosell

Havana, December 11 (AIN) In a hostile and loaded environment of aggressiveness at Miami, the sentence hearing started against Gerardo Hernández, process which will continue tomorrow, certainly without the minimum sign of justice .

Trough Cuban radio and TV , panelists gave details about the general hearing which took place yesterday, as part of a judicial process characterized as a tricky one followed against the five Cubans who were defending their homeland from terrorism and death and have been three years of prison in USA.

Panelists exposed several data to show that from the general hearing and the audience of Gerardo referred to very closed scripts, extremely technical to suggest pauses to the charges with the highest level , arguments from defense were rejected and gave priority to the aggravating circumstances.

New witnesses were present to prove that the accused did not have the intention of acting the security of U.S.A. nor gave access or secret information , however contradicting arguments prevail and false and cynical charges are insisted, such as conspiracy to commit espionage to murder, justice hindrance and others.

But so much toughness and violation of what has been legislated, firmness and honor, of the five Cubans, unfairly accused , who once the hearing was ended , they made the sign of victory with their fingers.

One sample of that is the recent letter that Gerardo sent to his wife, in which he expresses: "I am ready for anything to come. The worst is for me to spend the rest of my life in jail in this country, but if Mandela was almost 30 years and could not bend him, they would not be able to bend me neither."

During the Round Table , Dagoberto Rodríguez , Chief of the Interest Section of Cuba at USA, outlined the firm position of mothers who attend hearings, who manifested their confidence on their sons , in a press interview and the hope that sooner or later justice will prevail.

Also the radio and TV program offered the testimony of Fidel Ara, specialist of the Civil Aeronautic Institute of the island, to contribute to the defense and that clearly shows that the Center of Flights Control here was able to discover on time February 24, 1996, the air space violation by North American planes, without mediation of any kind of information.