Free the Miami Five!

Months have passed since the Cuban people began the battle for the return of Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, Gerardo Hernández and René González, the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States since three years ago.

Accused of conspiracy to commit espionage against the United States government and of conpsiracy to assassinate, they are being punished unjustly by a biased Miami court, which represents the interests of the Cuban-American terrorist mafia. This is the same mafia that has planned and executed countless attacks of every kind against Cuba, with the single objective of overthrowing the Cuban Revolution and everything related to it.

It was impossible to expect impartiality in Miami. Each trial dismissed any semblance of justice and degenerated into ferocious attacks. José Basulto [leader of the counter-revolutionary group Brothers to the Rescue] appeared before the court to rejoice that at last ‘justice had been done’. The proofs that undermined every one of the accusations against them were ignored and rejected out of hand.

The Cuban people demand justice and the liberation of the men, who did nothing but defend the Cuban people – and indeed the north American people – from terrorist actions organised in that country.

For the USA terrorism began on 11 September, 2001. For Cuba, for Palestine, for rest of the oppressed people of the world, it began a long time ago. And no one did anything – nor do they now – to root it out.

It is an evil that cannot be reduced to the attack on the twin towers of New York. There is only one terrorism and it has to be combated from its foundation and in whatever form it manifests itself, with real and authentic cooperation between all countries.

From Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 165 February/March 2002

The Cubans are coming
1-18 March 2002

Our Cuban visitors’ whirlwind tour will include meetings in seven universities: SOAS and LSE in London, the Universities of Manchester, Central Lancashire, Wolverhampton, Sussex and the Caledonian University in Glasgow. Nancy and Kenia will also meet local residents from estate projects in Newcastle and Glasgow. They will speak to the Latin American community, Afro-Caribbean youth groups, and the Kurdish and Turkish refugee community. They will visit health centres and hospitals in inner cities, youth homelessness projects and schools. The Cubans will also visit the historical sites of Marx’s London.

The tour ends with a final all-day rally and social event. All progressive organisations are invited to attend with their stalls and contributions. Film showings, music and serious discussion will all be part of the day – a revolutionary mix of music and politics. Don’t miss out!

Kenia Yaquelin Serrano Puig was born in Holguin province, Cuba in 1973. Her life illustrates the all-roundedness of Cuban politics from sport, health and child development to international relations. While studying a BEd in foreign language teaching she joined the University Students Federation (FEU) which elects representatives to the Cuban parliament. By 1994 Kenia was responsible for the International Relations Commission of the FEU at national level.
Kenia has travelled widely, participating in a variety of internationalstudent events in the Caribbean and the United States of America where she visited 47 universities in 13 states and 28 cities. In 1995 she spoke at 16 universities around Britain. Most recently Kenia has participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students in Algeria, the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the sabotage of a Cuban air flight in Barbados and last year's World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
Kenia led the UJC's Educational, Health and Sports sector in Las Tunas. She was a contributing author to Creadores y publicos del porvenir, a book about the role of institutions in childhood development in Cuba. By 1998 she had become a member of the National Committee of UJC and two years later was invited onto the political leadership of the National Bureau. Kenia joined the Communist Party in July 2000

Nancy Coro Aguiar also graduated in Foreign Language teaching. She made her first political and organisational contributions to the UJC in Pinar del Rio province, where she was born in 1969. While following post-graduate studies in the humanities, Nancy was responsible for Pinar del Rio's role in the World Festival of Youth and Students held in Cuba in 1997, the year she joined the Communist Party.
1999 she became a member of the International Department of the UJC and since then has been involved in organising international events in Cuba, Latin America, Europe and North Africa. She was recently a Cuban delegate in a cultural exchange in Cyprus in October 2001.

Nancy and Kenia are keen to meet people who wish to know more about Cuba and will gladly answer any questions to clarify the truth about Cuba. They want, particularly, to inform people here about the campaign to free the Miami Five.

Kenia and Nancy are also visiting Britain in the spirit of solidarity with those who support Cuba's fight against imperialism. They emphasise the importance of the international unity of all progressive forces in today's conditions where imperialism is on the offensive and those in hope of a better world for all must stand together.

Events are organised up and down the country including meetings, socials and visits to hospitals, health clinics, schools, universities, youth clubs and community projects. This tour is an exciting exchange of ideas, information, discussion and debate with communities, groups, organisations and individuals!

Saturday 2 March
5pm – Meeting and Social
The Casa, 29 Hope Street
LIVERPOOL L19

Sunday 3 March
1.30pm – Dayschool
The Cross Street Chapel
Cross Street
City centre
Manchester M1

Monday 4 March
4pm – Meeting and Social
University of Central Lancashire
Fylde Road
Preston PR1

Wednesday 6 March
7.30pm – Meeting
Highfields Youth and
Community Centre
St Peters Shopping Precinct
Melbourne Road
Leicester

Thursday 7 March
4.45pm – Meeting
Forum for the Study of Cuba School of Humanities,
B Block University of Wolverhampton
Stafford Street
Wolverhampton

Friday 8 March
5pm – Meeting
Newcastle Students Union
University of Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1

Friday 8 March
8pm – Social
Architects Coffee Bar
University of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1

Saturday 9 March
1.30pm – Dayschool
Hamish Wood Building
Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow G4

Sunday 10 March
7pm – Meeting
Communication Workers Union
15 Brunswick Street
Just off Leith Walk
Edinburgh EH7

Wednesday 13 March
1pm – Meeting
G50 Main Building
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London WC1

Wednesday 13 March
5pm – Meeting
New Theatre, East Building
London School of Economics
Houghton Street
London WC2

Thursday 14 March
2pm – Meeting
The Debating Chamber
Falmer House
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1

Saturday 16 March
11am-10.30pm
National Dayschool and Social
discussion.workshops.videos
Caxton House Community Centre
129 St John’s Way
Islington London N19 3QR
Nearest tube: Archway

Sunday 17 March 1pm
Marx Walk – visit the sights of Marx’s London
Meet Piccadilly Circus tube
Subway 1 Exit
LONDON W1

From Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! 165 February/March 2002