Today concluded the re-sentencing process for Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Ramón Labañino in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, ordered by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Fernando Gonzalez’s original sentence (19 years) was modified to 17 years plus 9 months in prison, and Ramón Labañino’s (1 life term plus 18 years) was reduced to 30 years in prison.
Antonio Guerrero’s hearing was held on October 13, 2009. His original sentence (1 life term plus 10 years) was reduced to 21 years plus 10 months and 5 years of supervised release.
The sentences of Gerardo Hernandez (2 life terms plus 15 years) and René González (15 years), having been ratified by the Court of Appeals, were excluded from this re-sentencing process.
Gloria la Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
confirmed the determination of thousands of people in the United States
and around the world to fight for the immediate freedom of the Cuban
Five heroes.
Following is the statement issued by Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and Ramón Labañino on December 8, 2009:
Dear Sisters and Brothers from Cuba and from all over the World:
We have already served more than 11 years in prison and there is still no justice at any level of the American legal system.
Three of us have come to the Miami Court to be re-sentenced due to an order from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined that our sentences had been erroneously imposed.
Our brother Gerardo Hernandez, who is serving two life terms plus 15 years, has been arbitrarily excluded from this re-sentencing process. His situation remains the principal injustice in our case. The U.S. Government is well aware of the falseness of the accusations against him and the unfairness of his sentence.
This has been a complex process, difficult and much discussed in every detail, in which we participated along with our counsels. We did not give an inch in our principles, decorum and honor, always defending our innocence and the dignity of our Homeland.
Just as it did at the moment of our arrest and at other occasions during these long years, the U.S. Government proposes now that we collaborate to obtain more benevolent sentences. Once again, we have rejected such proposals, something that we never will accept under any circumstances.
Present in the results of these re-sentencing hearings are the work of the legal team and the indestructible solidarity of all of you.
It is significant that the US Government, for the first time in 11 years, was obliged to recognize that we did not cause any damage to its national security.
Also, for the first time, the prosecutor publicly recognized the existence of a strong international movement in support of our immediate freedom, a movement that affects the image of the U.S. judicial system in the eyes of the international community.
Once again the absolute political character of this process is confirmed.
We the Five are punished for accusations that never have been proved. Although three of our sentences were partially reduced, the injustice remains for all of us.
The Cuban-American terrorists continue to enjoy total impunity.
We reiterate: The Five are innocent!
We feel profoundly moved and grateful for the permanent solidarity that you give us, so crucial in this long battle for justice.
Together with you, we will continue until the final victory, which only will be reached with the return of the Five to our Homeland.
Antonio Guerrero
Fernando González
Ramón Labañino
Miami, December 8, 2009
