6-03-06, 10:09 am

The brother and lawyer of Rene Gonzalez, one of the five Cuban political prisoners incarcerated in the US, said that justice is not respected in the case of the Cuban Five. Roberto Gonzalez, speaking with attorneys and representatives of institutions on Wednesday in the Cuban city of Sancti Spiritus, highlighted the need to strengthen international solidarity with 'the Five.'

He stressed that the waiting period for the decision by the court of appeals in Atlanta could be extended, since the US justice system does not require specific timelines within which rulings must be announced. Solidarity, said Roberto Gonzalez, will contribute in letting these judges know that the international community is awaiting their decision.

'We are not trying to pressure them, only to let them know that they must respect US laws and that they should uphold the decision made by a three-judge panel this past August 9 which annulled the Five's sentences,' he said.

'The support of many people in the world crashes through the bars and provides the five vast forms of encouragement, support and love,' said Roberto Gonzalez.

Roberto Gonzalez, who is a member of one the defense team in Cuba, recalled that in May 2005 the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that the trial of the men was illegal.

Afterwards, in August, a panel at the Atlanta Court of Appeals revoked the trial held in Miami and ordered a new trial; this was later appealed by the prosecution to delay the illegal detention of the five.

The Cuban Five were arrested on September 12, 1998 and in a biased trial in Miami were sentenced to unjust prison terms under false accusations.

Gerardo Hernandez was sentenced to two life prison terms plus 15 years; Ramon Labanino to a life sentence plus an additional 18 years behind bars; Antonio Guerrero, life plus 10 years, Fernando Gonzalez received 19 years; and Rene Gonzalez, 15 years. The men are being held in different prisons across the US.