Havana, Dec 28 (AIN) The Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association recognized the Cuban Five, held as political prisoners in the US, for their services to humanity by fighting against terrorism and racism.

When presenting diplomas to their relatives on Monday, Namibian Ambassador to Cuba, Claudia Grace Uushona, called Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, René González, Gerardo Hernández y Fernando González symbols of devotion to the most noble causes of humanity.

The Cuban Five were arrested in 1998 on false charges that they endangered the national security of the United States. Their 2001 trial in a biased Miami courtroom resulted in harsh sentences ranging from 15 years to double life imprisonment.

The diplomat also highlighted the earlier contribution of Fernando, René and Gerardo during the fulfillment of their mission as internationalist fighters in Angola. She said that thanks to Cubans like them, she survived the massacre of Cassinga, committed by the racist forces of South Africa during the apartheid years.

Ricardo Alarcón, president of the Cuban Parliament, compared the Cuban Five with Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, President of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, who was a political prisoner for 16 years for fighting for the independence of that African nation.

The event took place at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples in Havana, and besides Alarcon, Uushona and the families of the Cuban Five, was also attended by Jorge Risquet Valdés, member of the Communist Party Central
Committee.