Monday, June 09, 2014
To: Mr. Barrack Obama, President of the United State of America
C/o The Ambassador of United State of America in Kenya
Dear President Obama,
RE…RELEASE THE THREE REMAINING CUBAN5 FROM YOUR PRISONS TODAY!
The Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the Kenya - Cuba Friendship Society (KCFS) would again like to join the clamor expressed by a large number of people throughout the world; artists, intellectuals, parliamentarians, jurists and people of good will, who expect from you a decision of elemental justice. As a matter of fact, we have sent similar petitions every year since you were elected President of the US. We had great expectation that you would do the right thing in this regard especially taking into account your status as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Unfortunately, you have disappointed us hitherto. Nevertheless, as we have always promised, we will not get tired of sending this petition to you and your government until all the Cuban5 are out of prison and return to their country.
Three of the Cuban5 are still unjustly held in prisons in your country, for trying to protect Cuba from terrorist acts planned from U.S. territory. We are sure you are aware that Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez, Hernández Nordelo and Ramón Labañino Salazar have been convicted by U.S. authorities, falsely accused of conspiring against the United States, while in reality they actually infiltrated admittedly terrorist organizations, who have repeatedly attacked Cuba and Cuban citizens both inside and outside Cuban territory. I'm sure that you know about these cases. You should not be seen to endorse the continuity of the terrorist attacks suffered by Cuba, performed by sinister characters as Luis Posada Carriles. We believe that you also understand that each country has the legitimate right to protect itself from such barbarous crimes.
Before you finish your term as President of US, people of your fatherland, Kenya, expect you to pursue the normalization of relations with Cuba, inspired by the principle of the right of all nations to self -determination. The release of these three Cuban patriots would be a great gesture in that direction. The over 50 years hostility shown by your government against Cuba simply because Cuba chose the path of socialism and anti - imperialism is not only unjustified, violation of human rights and international norms but has also not worked and is condemned by nearly all member countries of the United Nations. Besides, Cuba does not interfere with the internal affairs of the US. It has neither imposed socialism upon your country nor undermined the leadership. Why then should the US government continue to impose the most brutal economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba just because the country is practicing the system chosen by its people? Isn’t it not time for the US to stop undermining Cuba, its people and leadership and instead normalize relations with your neighbor. Remember. Mr. Obama, history will condemn you if you finish your term as President without taking the courage to do the right thing: releasing the Cuban5 and normalizing relations with Cuba.
We are sure that you and your government know that Kenya has suffered and continues to suffer from terrorism. You are also informed that tourism is also an important sector of the economy of our country like that of Cuba. Kenyans can therefore not support terrorism anywhere in the World. Nothing can justify such a heinous crime against humanity. In fact, we expect the US to support Kenya for being victim of terrorism rather than the present practice of undermining its economy by imposing unfair and unjustified travel advisories. For the same reason we are concerned that the three Cuban5, who were dedicated to exposing terrorism and safeguarding the lives of innocent people, Cubans, Americans and the World continue to suffer imprisonment for the noble task they undertook for humanity.
Again, you must be aware that as people from a country that have known the pain of arbitrary arrests, torture, political imprisonments and violations of human rights, we appreciate the plight of the three Cuban5 still in your prisons and share with them what they and their families are undergoing. Even while we are calling for their release, we also demand their right as prisoners to be visited by their families, relatives and friends without the inhibitions the prison authorities often impose.
Finally we repeat: Please, Mr. Obama, do not finish your term as President before doing the decent thing: Release Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez, Hernández Nordelo and Ramón Labañino Salazar to their families, Cuba and the World! End the fifty year’s old brutal and unjustified financial, commercial and economic blockade the US continues to impose against Cuba that is tantamount to planned genocide upon the citizens of the country!
Letter by:
Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) &
Kenya-Cuba Friendship Society (KCFS)