letter of june to Obama

Mr President Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.

Washington DC 20500

USA

Mr President,

René González, one of the “Cuban Five”, had finished serving his sentence since 2011. After having spent 13 years in prison, he had been released on parole for three years. He lived his last 19 months of this conditional liberty in Florida and, on May 3rd 2013, was authorized to finish it in Cuba, under the condition of renouncing his American citizenship. There is surely no doubt in your mind, Mr. President, that this news was received by all the friends of the Cuban Five, all over the world, with an immense relief.

René is free, but his four companions Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and Ramón Labañino, are still imprisoned in your country. For them, to know that René’s family is finally reunited, after having been separated for more than fourteen years, is immensely comforting and hopeful, but René will not be truly free until the Cuban Five are all free.

As Ramón Labañino so well expressed, in the name of his four comrades still imprisoned
– « (…) Above all, we feel very relieved that our comrade is no longer in danger of his life, not having to stay one second more in that scenario surrounded by the threats we all know of.
With him, we four also feel a bit freer. It is as if a part of us is already at home, with our families and friends, in the heart of our people, with our sisters and brothers of the world.(…) We are filled with joy and with the optimism that love and truth always win over injustices! »

What humanity in his words, Mr. President! Nevertheless, these patriots have endured such incredible injustices! There is not the least bitterness in their words, but rather great brotherhood, after so many years of being locked up.

Gerardo Hernández’s new lawyer, Martin Garbus, introduced on August 31st 2012, a new affidavit, a document 82 pages long where this lawyer denounced the fact that the public prosecutor had minimized, in a surprising way, the impact of the reporters’ corruption. He demanded the Justice Department to work towards “having the hope that such a thing will never again happen in the United States”. August 31st was a long time ago. Nine months have gone by and there has still not been the slightest official reaction! In any other democracy, such a document would have unleashed a huge wave of protestation against this corrupt press. But nothing happened!

What happened to the collateral appeal that Gerardo Hernández’s lawyer demanded, following these revelations? No response! The same thing, by the way, for all the other collateral appeals for the other Cubans. This is really not normal!

For how much longer are the five Cubans going to be suffering such injustice? Don’t you think, Mr President, that the time has come to add a little morality to your justice system?

A new approach by the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, was proposed last May 6th at Brasilia. He wishes for a serious discussion with the United States in order to find a solution for the case of Alan Gross. Such a discussion would be an integral part of the liberty rendered to the four Cubans.

You know, Mr President, how to seize the opportunity of such an exchange, because Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, and Ramón Labañino must be liberated. The Cuban Five’s mission was not to impair the security of your country, but was actually to protect their country against the incessant attacks and violent acts carried out by the anti-Castro groups in Florida. In the 20,000 pages of the minutes of their trial, you will not find a single sentence containing hate for your countrymen, nor the slightest intention to cause the least harm to your country.

By rendering their liberty to the Cuban Five, you will also render the possibility of liberty for your compatriot Alan Gross, and you will mark the history of your two countries. Mr President, to have such political courage would do you credit. High officials such as the ex-Attorney General of your country, Ramsey Clark, and the director general of Human and Constitutional Rights in Los Angeles, Peter Schey, ask you to do this.

While hoping that this “Cuban Five” affair finally ends with an outcome which will restore favor to your justice system, please receive, Mr President, the expression of my most sincere humanitarian sentiments.

Jacqueline Roussie

Translated by William Peterson

Copies sent to: Mrs. Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Kathryn Ruemmler, Janet Napolitano, to Mr.. Joe Biden, John F. Kerry, Denis MacDonough, Harry Reid, Eric Holder, Pete Rouse, Rick Scott, and to Charles Rivkin, United States Ambassador in France.