Return of anti-terrorist fighters remembered in Cuba

Havana, December 17 (RHC)-- The return to Cuba of the last three of the Cuban Five -- fighters against terrorism, locked up in U.S. prisons -- is remembered today as one of the broadest actions developed at the international level for justice and self-determination of the people of the Caribbean nation.

On this day in 2014, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez and Ramón Labañino Salazar were released from the prisons of the Empire and returned home to Cuba.  Previously, René González Sehwerert and Fernando González Llort had returned home after serving long and unjust prison terms. 

The Five, as they were popularly known, are considered heroes by Cuba for their systematic work to monitor and prevent terrorist actions against the island from U.S. territory.

On his Twitter account, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez recalled on Friday the words of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, who said: "Everything can be bought with money except the soul of a people who never got on their knees".

For his part, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero referred to Fidel Castro's confidence in the victory of the efforts for the liberation of the five heroes: "In June 2001 Fidel said: "I only tell you one thing: They will return!"

The release of the anti-terrorists was announced by Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama, who also unveiled the decision to resume diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States at the beginning of a slow normalization of bilateral ties.

That process, which achieved some progress during the Obama administration, was paralyzed during the presidency of Donald Trump with the application of more than 240 measures, most of which are still in place, to reinforce the blockade against Cuba, which continues to be the main obstacle to the improvement of those relations. (Source: Prensa Latina)