In an interview with Supercanal television (Channel 33, which also broadcasts to the United States), Cuban Ambassador Juan Astiasaran Ceballo talked about the five Cuban antiterrorists unjustly held in U.S. prisons for 12 years.
The release of the Cuban Five, as they are known, who have beautiful professional and personal histories, is a priority for their people, Astiasaran told journalists Marco Herrera and Miossotis Grullon. He explained how they had infiltrated U.S.-based terrorist groups to alert Cuba to their plots and actions.
Information obtained by the Five Heroes, as they are known in Cuba, about anti-Cuba activities was supplied by the Cuban government to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to stop those actions on time.
Instead, U.S. authorities arrested the Five, who were trying to prevent a rise of terrorism, instead of arresting the real terrorists, Astiasaran noted.
The Cuban ambassador pointed out that Rene Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez were victims of a rigged trial in Miami, the most inappropriate venue, because it is the city that shelters anti-Cuban and terrorist elements.
They were sentenced to unjust and disproportionate prison terms, and it is known today from recently declassified documents that the government even paid journalists to distort the truth and create a favorable environment for their sentences.
The Cuban ambassador also spoke about the high educational level of Cubans, whose country has the highest proportion of its people enrolled in higher education, according to statistics released this week by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Astiasaran also referred to the high quality of public health in Cuba, where last year's infant mortality rate was 4.7 deaths per every 1,000 live births.
The Cuban diplomat also spoke about Washington's media campaigns, its blockade and its aggression against Cuba for more than 50 years.