Jamaica, West Indies, The Gleaner
Letter to the Editor
THE EDITOR, Sir:
The month of September marks important dates in the history of neighbouring states, Cuba and the United States.
For
our sister nation Cuba, September 12 marks the 14th anniversary since
five of its sons, Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerro, Ramon Labanino,
Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez, internationally known as the Cuban
Five, have been incarcerated in the US for fighting terrorism directed
at their country that was hatched on US soil.
While the tragic
events of September 11, 2001 cost almost 3,000 lives, the aftermath of a
US-prosecuted War on Terror has caused death and destruction as far
afield as Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, to name a few.
Our planet has not been the same.
LESSONS UNLEARNT
One
would have thought, therefore, that a logical alliance would have been
forged between these two sovereign states, given their experience with
terrorism.
Instead, successive US administrations have sought to
undermine and criminalise with inordinately long sentences (Gerardo
Hernandez receiving two life sentences and 15 years) five Cuban patriots
for trying to protect their country from terrorist activities
originating in Miami, resulting in loss of life and millions in damage
to the infrastructure and economy of Cuba.
To add insult to injury
and a major slap in the face of human-rights advocates, the US
government has consistently denied the visitation rights for the wives
of the Cuban Five on the specious grounds in one case that she was a
'threat' to the national security of that country.
Let us join the
efforts of Colonel Lawrence Wilkinson, chief of staff for Secretary of
State Colin Powell between 2002-2005; former US President Jimmy Carter;
Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize winner for The Colour Purple; as well as millions across the world, in condemning the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five.
President Barack Obama, the eyes of the world are watching you.
TREVOR G. BROWN
trevorgbrown@hotmail
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JG: I add my voice to that of Mr. Brown.
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