Suddenly, and without justification, five Cuban political prisoners being held in US prisons were thrown into solitary confinement on March 3.
Prison authorities have not given the official reason for the illegal confinement in "the hole", but apparently it follows a decision from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, and has the markings of a directed act of political repression against the "Cuban Five".
Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Antonio Guerrero, Rene Gonzalez and Fernando Gonzalez have been imprisoned since September 1998, when they were arrested by the FBI on trumped-up charges of espionage. In reality, they were prosecuted for defending their country from US-sponsored and supported terrorists. They had lived in Miami since the early 1990s, where they monitored anti-Cuba terrorist groups to prevent attacks against their country. More than 3400 Cubans have been killed by anti-Cuba violence.
Supporters of the Cuban Five are asked to write immediately to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington at 320 First Street, NW, Washington DC 20534. The telephone number is +202-307-3198. Also contact director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, by phone at +202-307-3198, fax at +202-514-6620 or email at <webmaster@bop.gov>.
From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
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