ANC Statement on the Release of the Cuban Five by President Barack Obama

The ANC welcomes the decision of President Barack Obama to release the remaining three of the Cuban Five, Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero and Ramón Labañino, wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment in the US.

The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who was wrongly imprisoned, since 12 September 1998, by the United States government for committing espionage and conspiracy against the US government. However, the actions of these men had not been directed at the United States government but rather infiltrated terrorist organisations in Miami who was planning attacks on Cuba.

The families of the Five, the Cuban people and its government over the past 16 years left no stone unturned in mobilising international global committees and solidarity groups, parliaments, institutions, personalities who made strenuous efforts to demand for their release. All these efforts should be commended and the ANC expresses its gratitude to all that was committed to this now realised objective.

The highest recognition and respect is given to President Barack Obama for this act of bravery.

The ANC also commends the Cuban government who in return released Cuban spy Alan Gross, who was a US citizen, on humanitarian grounds.

These acts shows progress and a slight improvement in diplomatic relations between the Cuba and the United States of America.

The ANC remains committed in solidarity with the Cuban people and further calls on President Barack Obama to take a further decisive step in the sanctions against Cuba by lifting the 52 year economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba. A decision in which 188 out of 193 countries voted in favour of at the United Nations General Assembly held in October 2013.

Statement issued by Jessie Duarte, ANC Deputy Secretary General, December 18 2014

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