CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Stories with Five reasons to be told

CUBA, March 17, 2010. - When you lack the strength to climb up the Turquino Peak, use the convictions and principles, said Santiago Vega, an Argentinean who climbed in January, along with two other youngster, the Aconcagua peak to demand the release of five Cuban heroes imprisoned in U.S. since 1998.

Vega, a radio and TV host in the southern province of Neuquén, Argentina, in a statement sent via e-mail, encouraged the members of the “From the Aconcagua to the Turquino Peak”,  who listened to his words excited before travelling to the top of Cuba.

The goal of the project was to speak out on the roof of the island, as those Patagonian youngsters, for Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, unjustly incarcerated in the U.S. for defending their people from terrorist actions of Florida-based anti-Cuban groups based.

Two days later, and with the satisfaction of having fulfil its goal, the group recalled the miles left behind with each step, the resulting hunger for having had to carry only enough food and the not so young that slowed down the ascent but never gave up.

The Argentinean brother proved himself right, when the steep path hit the physical strength the 40 members of the project, made up of relatives of the Cuban Five, as they are known internationally, journalists from the Cuban News Agency, students from the Institute of International Relations and officials from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Lourdes Gonzalez, Fernando's sister, kept her promise, “you have to be strong, you are my advanced in Turquino”, the hero had told her over the phone just hours before heading to the East of the country.

Santiago's message was embodied in this woman of 48 years of age: Lourdes came to the bust of Marti with tears in their eyes, “I did for my brother,” she only managed to say before drying her face, take her sweater with the image of the Five and ask a photographer, “Now take my picture.”

Similarly, the Argentinean's accurate words were reflected in Laura and Aili Labañino, daughters of Ramon, who on the 13th at eight o'clock in the night started to search, at over a thousand meters above sea level, some weak telephone coverage to receive a call from their father.

Ramon was able to communicate on Monday while the motorcade was traveling back to Havana, and he became interested in the health of his daughters and the rest of the group, “I heard him very excited,” said Aili and concluded “he always speaks to us like that, with great spirit”.

Labañino, who is serving a 30 years' imprisonment, invited the project members to repeat the deed along the Cuban Five when they return to their homeland.
With sore legs, and that feeling that you will never return to the historic sites of the Sierra Maestra mountain range, we all say a loud “Yes, we will be there with them sharing their strength, convictions and principles”. That’s how battles are won. (Cubaminrex – acn)

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