Cuban-American scholar Nelson Valdés urged US President Barack Obama to release four anti-terrorist Cuban fighters held in US prison for 15 years now for preventing the implementation of violent actions by Miami-based terrorist groups against Cuba.
In a letter addressed to Obama, Valdes asked him to pardon Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labanino, who were arrested in 1998 and unfairly given harsh sentences in a trial full of irregularities.
These Cuban men, along with Rene Gonzalez, are known worldwide as The Cuban Five. Rene is already in Cuba after serving his sentence and giving up his US citizenship.
"An unbiased analysis of their case and of the highly politicized circumstances under which the trial took place, would conclude that our justice system failed to operate in a right way in this particular case. Political and partisan considerations functioned against balanced proceeding," he said.
In his opinion, Obama can end the anti-terrorist fighters imprisonment, thus taking a first step to normalize diplomaic relations with Havana.
"It would mean a deep breakup with past policies. You would realize that most Cuban-Americans in the United States would welcome and support such initiative," wrote Valdes, who was one of the seven US scholars of Cuban origin who lodged an appeal before the Supreme Court in favour of The Cuban Five.
With his letter, he joins the world campaign for these men immediate, unconditional release.