The 1986 Nobel Literature laureate Wole Soyinka of Nigeria and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia Mc Kinney joined the demand for U.S. President Barack Obama to free the five Cuban antiterrorists imprisoned in the United States.
The two prominent figures added their signatures on Friday to those of various U.S. artists and intellectuals on a petition asking Obama to free Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, held for the last 12 years in U.S. prisons.
The initiative is part of actions undertaken worldwide to achieved the release of the Cuban Five - as they are known internationally - through the executive powers of the U.S. president. The day before, others who joined the campaign were Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañon, actor and singer Miguel Bosé, and Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro.
Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and Rene were arrested in Miami in September 1998 after infiltrating violent anti-Cuban organizations. They were given sentences of up to double life imprisonment plus 15 years.
The petition to the U.S. president is part of a campaign in many countries that will last until October 8 and includes actions such as climbs to very high peaks, marches, and demonstration in different areas.