Havana, December 17 - On the 11th anniversary of the return to the homeland of Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, and Ramón Labañino, Cuba today commemorates the reunion of the Five, as Commander in Chief Fidel Castro foretold: "They will return!"
Miguel Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, recalled the emotional moments of their arrival: the embrace of Army General Raúl Castro and their families, the popular joy, and "El Necio" sung in chorus with Silvio.
"Unforgettable welcome. Happy anniversary," concluded the Head of State in his message, marking 11 years since Gerardo, Antonio, and Ramón were released as part of a humanitarian agreement reached between the governments of the United States and Cuba.
René González and Fernando González had returned to the country in 2012 and 2014, respectively, having served their sentences.
Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the PCC, noted on the same social network that the people embraced the cause of the Five, "many voices of solidarity around the world supported it, and Raúl carried it to its victorious conclusion on a day like today."
After their arrest in 1998, Gerardo, Antonio, Ramón, René, and Fernando suffered severe sentences in the United States, supposedly for being part of a spying network in that country, when in reality they were preventing acts of terrorism against Cuba.
On June 23, 2001, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro assured that they would return to their homeland, and as the case became known, the international solidarity movement demanding justice grew stronger.
Once in Cuba, the Five were awarded the status of Heroes of the Republic and the Playa Girón Order.
Taken from the Cuban News Agency (ACN)
