VI International Colloquium for the Freedom of the Five Heroes and against Terrorism
VI International Colloquium for the Freedom of the Five Heroes and against Terrorism More than 350 Delegates from 56 Countries Gather in the City of Holguнn from November 18 to 22 for the VI International Colloquium for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 In a broad display of support for the Cuban 5, over 350 delegates from five continents converged in the eastern city of Holguin, Cuba, for the 6th International Colloquium. The largest delegation came from the United States, the country that has imprisoned the 5 heroes for more than 12 years. A large room at the Expo-Holguнn convention center welcomed the delegates for the three day conference. Along with informational literature tables, the hall had a large display of 13 panels summarizing the injustice of the case of the Cuban 5 and demanding their freedom. Attending the events were the mothers, wives and other family members of the Cuban 5 and family members of the victims of the 1976 Cubana airliner that was blown up over Barbados by Miami based terrorists. Also attending was Carlos Muсiz Pйrez, son of Carlos Muсiz Varela, a Cuban youth assassinated in Puerto Rico on April 28, 1979.
Among the delegates at the Colloquium were several ex political prisoners including Anwar Jassin from Lebanon who was imprisoned for 17 years in an Israeli prison and Marco Gonzбlez a prisoner during the Chilean dictatorship of Pinochet. Lidia Donnini whose family member was disappeared during the Argentinean dictatorship was there as well as known personalities like Father Geoffrey Bottoms a catholic priest from the United Kingdom. Many intellectuals, elected officials, journalists and solidarity activists came to this increasingly popular yearly event. The intense days of the colloquium were presided over by the family members of the Cuban 5, family members of the Barbados victims, Kenia Serrano and Basilio Gutiйrrez, President and Vice-President of ICAP, Amaury Torno , from the Holguin department of ICAP, Fernando Rojas, Vice-Minister of Culture, Raul Verrier Molina and authorities of the provincial government.
The event opened with a warm welcome by the organizers, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples - ICAP- that this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. On a giant screen, the audience heard a talk from Ricardo Alarcon President of the National Assembly of the Popular Power of the Republic of Cuba, who could not attend because he was leading a Cuban delegation on an official visit to China. The afternoon was filled with panels where delegates from geographical areas could exchange ideas and accomplishments of their work around the case of the Cuban 5. On the second day of the event delegates participated in three workshops divided by areas of work, including media, social networking and work with intellectuals and artists. A key panel made up of members of the National Commission of ICAP, whose function is to focus on the work around the case, and the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, met with active representatives of the solidarity committees attending the colloquium. While these activities were taking place, in the Press Room a number of interviews were being conducted with the delegates. Representatives from Brazil, Paraguay, Belgium, Lebanon, Sweden, Cuba, and the United States participated in the program "A Light in the Darkness" hosted by journalist Arleen Rodrнguez and dedicated to the Cuban 5. This show was broadcasted on Radio Rebelde in Cuba and to the world through the internet. A showing of the new documentary "Path of Terror" was shown on the third day of the conference. This video is now being distributed to solidarity groups around the world. It reveals terrorist plans against Cuba, Venezuela and other countries through statements made by international terrorist Francisco Antonio Chбvez Abarca, an agent of Luis Posada Carriles. Throughout the busy conference delegates got to interact with the people of Holguнn. These activities included the planting of trees, a march and rally in front of the Monument to Che, an evening with the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and visits to various municipalities in the province of Holguin. On each evening of the colloquium the delegates were entertained by cultural presentations.
The event ended with an enthusiastic final plenary session interrupted several time by the delegates who stood up and raising their fist chanted "Ole, Ole, Ole Ola, freedom for the 5, Ole, Ole, Ole Ola, freedom for the 5 NOW! To end the event, the Final Declaration of the VI International Colloquium was approved by all delegates. This declaration reflected a commitment to expand the scope of the work in the struggle to free the Cuban 5.
An additional day was added so that delegates who had the time could participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.
FINAL DECLARATION
The colloquiums held in Holguin in the last six years have underscored the importance attached to this colossal injustice against the Five and the growing solidarity displayed by thousands of supportive friends with their case.
Altogether, the convictions handed down against our Five Brothers amount to two life sentences and 99 years of imprisonment. The legal recourses are running out. Multiple visas have not been issued to their family members and humanitarian visas have not been given to Olga and Adriana.
While the Five are being held in unfair incarceration, a notorious international terrorist, Orlando Bosch Avila, is being recognized by universities in Miami, and Luis Posada Carriles will be prosecuted only because he lied to the US immigration authorities, and not for his terrorist actions and his responsibility for the death of thousands of innocent people.
The recent statements made by international terrorist Francisco Chavez Abarca, who was the right hand of Luis Posada Carriles and was arrested in Venezuela last July 1st and subsequently extradited to Cuba, reveal the plans plotted with absolute impunity from the US against Cuba, Venezuela and other countries in the region.
The absence of response to a request made by the Venezuelan Government five years ago for extradition of criminal Luis Posada Carriles and the refusal to extradite Roberto Guillermo Bravo to Argentina as the perpetrator of the killing of 16 political prisoners show the real face of the US government and its lack of morality to champion human rights and to claim a fight against terror.
The US government has kept the Five in unjust incarceration for over twelve years, while the terrorists are freely walking the streets of Miami.
The case of the Five is absolutely political and only the international solidarity will secure their return home to their families. We are aware of the urgency of this moment. Therefore, it is critical that our efforts are intensified in the last two years of the first term of office of the Obama administration.
We must work more united than ever and our actions must be multiplied among the thousands of hands that are being raised as a single fist composed of the more than 300 solidarity committees for the release of the Five, which operate in 111 countries.
The more than 300 delegates from 56 countries attending the 6th International Colloquium for the Release of the Five and against Terrorism have made the following calls:
1. The lobby actions with parliamentarians, unionists, religious groups, personalities and social movements must be expanded to include their peers in the US. Requests must be made for statements by the European, Central American and Latin American parliaments. The motions, resolutions and other documents adopted by parliaments must be utilized.
2. The report on the Five that was recently issued by Amnesty International must be used as reference at every desirable opportunity; in particular, copies of this report must be circulated to members of the US administration. The same applies to the decision made by the UN Group on Arbitrary Detentions.
3. International days of solidarity with the Five must continue to be organized for the period between September 12 (day of their arrest) and October 8th, with special regard paid to October 6th that was declared by Cuba as the Day of the Victims of Terrorism and June 8th as date when the Five were unjustly convicted as guilty.
4. New forms of communications must be designed to make sure that the truth reaches everyone and the case of the Five must be reported to the wide spectrum of the social sectors.
5. An international conference must be organized in Washington DC attended by American personalities, as well as representatives of other countries, to require President Obama the following:
· Exercise his executive prerogatives and release the Five; · End the genocidal blockade against Cuba; and · Respect the will of the peoples around the world
6. Multiple visas must be demanded in favor of the family members; in particular, Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez. Appeals must be lodged with the International Commission on the Right of Family Visitation and with Ms. Michelle Obama as a woman and as a mother. The initiatives and actions of the solidarity committees must be further encouraged.
7. Artists, personalities and opinion leaders must be encouraged to demand the release of the Five and their comments must be disseminated through the printed press, radio, television and the alternative media. Posters, postcards, telephone calls, printed materials, video presentations must be generated locally, nationally and internationally. A renowned songwriter must be identified for his readiness to write a song about the Five and singers from different parts of the world must be invited to play that song jointly.
8. Conferences with focus on the case of the Five must be organized in US and other universities with the attendance of recognized legal scholars.
9. Cubainformacion news service must be kept informed of the initiatives being implemented for mutual support in campaign operations.
10. The use of social networks; including but not limited to twitter, facebook, blogs, emails, community radio stations, TV stations and the Internet, must be intensified.
11. Demonstrations, concerts, theater plays, exhibitions and contests in denunciation of the case and solidarity with the Five must be organized in every possible cultural space. Sport events, such as marathons, as well as baseball and soccer matches, must be encouraged.
12. The US government must be denounced for its impunity and the double standard of its claim of fight against terror, while it harbors and protects international terrorists, such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch Avila. An end to impunity, the dismantle of Miami-based terror organizations, and the prosecution and punishment of the murderers of our people must be demanded.
13. The documentary film, "Cuba's Reasons," which features statements by international terrorist Francisco Chavez Abarca, must be made available as denunciation of the forms of terrorism against Cuba and our peoples.
14. The artworks on the Five, now available in electronic format, must be relied upon for their widespread circulation in different countries.
15. A call must be made on the forthcoming World Festival of Youth and Students, scheduled to be held in South Africa, to support the universal request to President Obama to release the Five Cuban Heroes immediately and unconditionally.
