Wag iboto si Migz Zubiri, kaaway siya ng mga katutubo

Who is Congressman Migz Zubiri to the IPs?

NO TO MIGZ ZUBIRI FOR SENATOR: VIOLATOR OF IP'S FPIC RIGHTS

Ang mga Katutubong Mamamayan o Indigenous Peoples isa sa mga marginalized sector at hindi masyadong nabigyan-pansin nga ating pamahalaan ng Pilipinas. Ayon sa 1995 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples o NCIP Census, mayroong humigit kumulang 110 ethnolinguistic groups o tribu sa boong bansa na kung saan umaabot sa 12.8 milyon ang kanilang kabuung populasyon. Sila ang sector ng ating lipunan na madalas biktima ng development aggression sa loob ng kanilang mga Lupang Ninuno gaya ng MINING, LOGGING, COMMERCIAL PLANTATIONS, BIOPROSPECTING AT BIO-PIRACY sa usaping Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Reservations, PROTECTED AREAS at marami pang iba. Dahil karamihan sa kanila ay hindi nakapag-aral sa mataas na antas kumpara sa ibang sector ng Lipunan, naaabusu din sila sa pamamagitan ng paggamit nga kanilang kultura sa pamamagitan ng ng mga programang Pangturismo ng Pamahalaan. Ang kanilang mga tradisyon, sining at makulay na kultura ay madalas na ginagamit at kinuko-commercialized sa pamamagitan ng mga Festivals at kung ano-anong mga celebrasyon. Ang kanilang pagka-inosenti o kakulangan ng kaalaman sa takbo makabagong panahon o modernisasyon ay madalas ring ginagamit at inaabusu ng mga malalaking Politiko lalo na sa panahon ng eleksiyon.

Ayon sa Art. XIV, Sec. 17 ng 1987 Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, nakasaad doon na "the State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of the indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of NATIONAL PLANS AND POLICIES".

Ang probisyong ito ng ating Konstitusyon ay pinagtibay at ipinatupad sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act 8371 o ang tinatawag na Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 o ang Batas na IPRA.

Ang Batas na IPRA (R.A.8371), sa pamamagitan ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples o NCIP ay gumawa ng mga GUIDELINES kung paano mapoprotektahan ang karapatan ng mga katutubong mamamayan, isa na dito ang karapatan na "Free, Prior and Informed Consent o FPIC" na makukuha hindi sa pamamagitan ng ordinaryong mga konsultasyon o maging plebisito man.

Ang FPIC ayon sa batas na IPRA ay isa sa pinakamahalagang karapatan ng mga katutubo dahil ito ay binansagang "THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' TOOL FOR EMPOWERMENT IN ANCESTRAL DOMAIN GOVERNANCE". Nakasaad sa batas na IPRA na walang sino man o ano mang ahensiya ng Gobyerno o Pribadong indibdiwal o grupo ang pwedeng magpatupad ng kahit anong gawain, programa, prohekto o polisiya sa loob ng katutubong teritoryo (ancestral domain territories) kung walang consensus na pagpayag ng lahat ng mga katutubong mamamayan.

Sa isyung ito, laking gulat ng mga kumakatawan ng "constitutionally at culturally aware" na mga Lider ng Katutubong Tribu sa Bukidnon noong marinig at makita sa balita na kinumpirma ni Congressman Juan Miguel Zubiri ang kanyang pagtakbo sa Senado. Siya pa nga ang pinaka-unang nag-file ng COC sa COMELEC.

Si Congressman Migz Zubiri may malaking nilabag na karapatan ng mga Katutubo sa Probinsiya ng Bukidnon sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pag-akda ng HB 3312 o "Bill Creating the Province of Bukidnon del Sur". Sa totoo lang po, ang Probinsiya ng Bukidnon kung saan ibinotong Congressman si Juan Miguel Zubiri sa pangatlong Distrito (3rd District) ay kinikilala sa kasaysayan ng Probinsiya bilang Ancestral na Teritoryo ng Pitong (7) Katutubong Tribu gaya ng Manobo, Talaandig, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Matigsalug, Umayamnon at Tigwahanon . Ito ang pinaka batayan kung bakit ang ginawang HB 3312 ni Congressman Miguel Zubiri na hatiin ang Probinsiya ng Bukidnon sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng bagong "Bukidnon del Sur" ay kailangan ng Free, prior and Informed Consent o FPIC galing sa lahat ng mga Katutubong tribu sa Bukidnon at HINDI SA PAMAMAGITAN LANG NG ORDINARYONG MGA KONSULTASYON AT SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ISANG PLEBISITO. Pero ang probisyong ito ng Batas na IPRA o R.A. 8371 ay hindi kinikilala ni Congressman Migs Zubiri sa pamamagitan ng pagporsegi sa Senado na magkaroon na ng Plebisito sa Probinsiya ng Bukidnon na kung saan ay nasisiguro na niya at ng kanyang kampo na talagang "YES" ang mananalo sa pamamagitan "majority rule" dahil na rin sa maraming migrants o dayong naninirahan at hindi nabibilang sa mga katutubong tribu sa Bukidnon.

Ang HB na ito ni Congressman Zubiri ay pumasa na sa mababang kapulungan ng Kongreso at ngayon ay nakasalang na sa Senado. Ito rin ang isang dahilan kung bakit malaki ang pagnanais ni Congressman Zubiri na maging Senador upang sa mabilisang paraan ay maisulong na ang Plebisito sa paghahati ng Probinsiya ng Bukidnon.

Sa totoo lang, may iilang konsultasyon na ang ipinatawag tungkol dito. Una ay ang Hearing sa Senate Committee on Local Government sa pangunguna ni Senador Alfredo Lim, ang Chairman ng nasabing Komitiba. Ito ay idinaos mismo sa gusali ng Senado sa Maynila. Ang konsultasyong ito ay sinundan pa ng isang Senate Hearing Noong buwan ng Agosto 4, 2006 sa Cagayan de oro City sa pamamagitan din ni Senador Nene Pemintel. Nong panahong ito, umani ng negatibong na reaksiyon galing sa mga "Culturally at Constitutionally Aware" na mga leader ng ibat-ibang tribu mula sa ilang lungsud ng Bukidnon ang nasabing House Bill.

Pagkatapos noon, ibinalik ang naturang Bill sa Senado. Subalit dahil sa isyu ng mga katutubong karapatan, mula sa Senate Committee on Local Government ay inilipat ito sa Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, sa pamumuno ni Senadora Jamby Madrigal. Malaking pasalamat namin dahil ang Komitiba ni Senadora Madrigal ay malalim ang pagkakaintindi sa karapatan ng mga katutubo, partikular sa isyu ng Free, Prior and Informed Consent o FPIC. Ang ginawa ng kanyang Komitiba ay pagpapatupad lamang nga Republic Act 8371 o Batas na IPRA.

Subalit, ang ginawang ito ni Senadora Madrigal pabor sa aming mga lumalaban na Katutubo ay umani naman ng violenting reaksiyon mula kampo ni Congressman Zubiri, sa kanyang mga taga suporta at sa kanyang ama na si Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. Dahil dito, ang kampo ni Congressman Zubiri ay gumawa pa ng isang OPEN LETTER TO ALL SENATORS sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 13, 2006 issue kung saan kinu-question nila ang hindi daw patas na pagtanaw ni Senadora Jamby Madrigal sa naturang Bill. Ang nasabing OPEN LETTER ay pinipirmahan mga Local Government Officials at politikong ka-alyado ng mga Zubiri, mga sector, pati na rin ang iilang leader ng tribu sa Bukidnon na kung saan ang iilan ay "SCANNED SIGNATURES" lamang at hindi genuine signatures.

Kahit pa nga ang Indigenous Peoples' Provincial Consultative Body o PCB na kumakatawan sa pitong tribu ng Bukidnon na kung saan nakasaad sa batas na IPRA ay limitado lamang ang kanyang function bilang Advisory Body ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (Hindi advisory Body ng LGU at mga Politiko) ay ginagamit din ng Kampo ni Congressman Zubiri upang ma-justify na suportado na "RAW" ng mga katutubo ang kanyang Bill na hatiin ang Probinsiya ng Bukidnon sa dalawa. Higit sa lahat, ginagamit din Congressman Zubiri ang Cultural Identity at sagradong tradisyon ng mga katutubo ng Bukidnon sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pagpapa-adopt at pagpakakasal ayon sa customary law ng mga katutubong Bukidnon. Sa naturang seremonya at selebrasyon, ipinatawag at ginastohan niya ng libre upang gawing batayan na PUMAYAG NA TALAGA ang mga Katutubong mamamayan ng Bukidnon sa kanyang Bill na gagawa ng bagong probinsiya ng Bukidnon del Sur.

Sa totoo lang po at ayon na rin sa mandate ng Akta Republika 8371 o batas na IPRA, ang Free Prior and Informed Consent ay hindi pweding magmumula lamang sa iilang leader ng tribu kundi ito ay galing talaga sa CONSENSUS na proseso ng lahat ng mga apektadong membro nga mga katutubo. Kaya nga ipinasa ang batas na IPRA noong Oktobre 29, 1997 upang maituwid ang maraming pagkakamali sa kasaysayan (Historical Mistakes and Injustice) na nagawa ng maraming leader ng tribu sa lumipas na mga panahon sa pamamagitan ng kanilang MISREPRESENTATION sa usaping karapatan ng mga katutubo sa loob ng kani-kanilang mga pamayanan.

Bilang mga katutubong mamamayan ng Probinsiya ng Bukidnon mula sa tribong Manobo, Talaandig, Higaonon, Bukidnon, Matigsalug, Umayamnon at Tigwahanon na may sapat na kaalaman sa aming mga karapatan sa loob ng aming mga Lupang Ninuno o ancestral territories, kami ay taos pusong nananawagan ha HUWAG IBOTO ang mga Politikong hindi marunong kumikilala at lumalabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga Katutubo.

Kaya nga nananawagan kami sa buong bansa, sa lahat ng mga katutubong mamamayan, mga sector at mga suportang grupo ng mga katutubo na HUWAG IBOTO SI MIGZ ZUBIRI. Hindi na nga niya nagawang kumilala sa karapatan ng mga katutubo sa probinsiya ng Bukidnon ngayong Congressman pa lang siya, paano na kaya pag siya'y nasa mataas na posisyon na bilang Senador ng Bansang Pilipinas? Mangangahulugan ba itong ang 110 katutubong tribu sa boong Pilipinas na kumakatawan sa kabuuang populasyong na 12.8 milyon ay maging biktima rin balang araw sa paglabag ng karapatang pantao pag nagiging Senador na si Migz Zubiri?

KAYA HUWAG KALIMUTAN, HUWAG IBOTO si MIGZ ZUBIRI!

SANA PO AY SUPORTAHAN N'YO. MARAMING SALAMAT PO AT MABUHAY!!!!! !!!!

Sumasainyo,

The Council of Elders of:
Bukidnon Unified Tribal Development Council of Elders (BUTRIDCE)
Tulugan, Lumalambung, Sumpong, Malaybalay City

Contact Person:
Datu Umpongan Romando Sambile
President

Inday Grecil

Inday Grecil
Ni Frankie del Rosario

Saksi ang naulilang sapa
Noong lumisan ka.
Ang kanilang mga balak
Ang nagpaitim sa tubig
Kaya't doo'y di ka na nakapaglaro.

Tumakbo kang papalayo sa sapa
Pabalik sa niraratrat na dampa.

Nag-alala ka.

Di mo nabatid,
Wala na roon ang iyong ama't ina
Wala na rin doon ang iyong mga kapatid.
Di mo na sila naabot ng iyong yakap.
Di na rin nila nayugyog ang iyong
pag-aalala.

Sapagkat bumaon sa lupa
ang iyong mga yapak.
habang ang mga punglo
ay humagibis sa iyong siko
at ang isa'y dumurog
sa mura mong bungo.

Inday Grecil,
Noong bago ka tuluyang paslangin,
Walang nakarinig sa impit mong daing
Maliban sa kanila.

Sila na may maitim na balak,
Mga berdugong nag-piyesta sa iyong bangkay
Isang ripple ng M-16
na halos kasintaas mo
Ang sa iyo'y pilit pina-angkin
Upang ituro ka bilang salarin.

Inday Grecil,
sakali mang dumaing ka
Bago ang bungo mo'y pasabugin
Walang nakarinig sa impit mong daing
Maliban sa kanila.

Ngunit, ayaw nilang mabuhay ka.

Dahil saksi ka laban sa kanila
mga berdugong humihiklas ng hininga
at pumapaslang ng mga pangarap
Ng maraming Ama at Ina
At ng gaya mong bata.

Inilathala ng Bulatlat

Si Grecil Buya ay siyam na taong gulang noong siya ay paslangin ng mga militar ng 67th Infantry Battalion ng AFP sa Purok 5, Brgy. Kahayag New Bataan, Compostela Valleynoong ika 31 ng Marso, 2007. Ilang araw lang ito pagkatapos ng kanyang recognition sa Grade 2 sa Simsemin Elementary School kung saan siya kinilala bilang isa sa pinakamahusay na estudyante at Most Neat. Ngunit ayon sa militar, siya diumano ay isang batang mandirigma na kasapi ng New People's Army (NPA). Patunay nito, ayon sa militar, ang isang M16 na itinutok sa kanila ni Grecil kaya nila ito binaril.

Nabalaka mi kay karon ako na pod ang gihimo nilang NPA kuno---Grecil Galacio's father

26 April 2007

WITH GEN. HOLGANZA’S PRE-JUDGEMENT
GRECIL’S FAMILY FEARS JUSTICE WILL BE DENIED

Hopes for an honest and independent investigation regarding the killing of 9-year old Grecil Buya, were dashed by Army Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza’s statement that virtually exonerated the government troops responsible for her death. Buya was branded as a “child soldier” by the members 28th IB and 67th IB who were accused of indiscriminately firing at the house, killing Grecil. Holganza said the military would not claim accountability for her death because she was allegedly killed in crossfire.

“The investigation we are demanding will establish the weight of the military’s accountability. Fact is, a 9-year old girl is dead and the bullet that ended her bright future came from the military’s side. If only for that, they should be held accountable,” said Alphonse Rivera, Spokesperson of the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns.

The group is also calling for an autopsy to be done by an independent forensic expert. “With the recent turnaround of the military from its previous statement that brazenly, recklessly and falsely accused Grecil of being a “child soldier” to a more tongue in cheek statement that she was caught in the crossfire, the military has already proven that they are not inclined to know that truth at all. This is why an independent autopsy is needed,” Rivera added.

Rivera also said that the immediate statement released by the military that Grecil was a “child soldier” further established their guilt. “They are sending the message that it is okay to kill a 9-year old girl because she is a member of the New People’s Army without having proving so.”

Gregorio Galacio, Grecil’s father denied that he was not cooperating with the military investigation. “Sobra tulo ka oras ako ginakuwestiyon sa military bag-o ko nila gitugutan nga makuha ang lawas sa akong anak nga gibilad nila sa init sa araw atubangan sa PNP station didto sa amo-a. Mao ba ang wala nag-kooperar?” Galacio said. (For over three hours, I was questioned by the military before they even allowed me to claim the body of my daughter who was exposed to the heat of the sun in front of the PNP station in our place. Is this what they call non-cooperation?”)

He also dismissed Holganza’s statement that the family was forum-shopping. “The family is seeking justice for the death of their eldest child. This is a very good form of psychological coping for victims. And with the current atmosphere of intimidation Gen. Holganza’s statement has created, it is but appropriate that the family ensures that justice will be done.”

Gen. Holganza’s threat to file charges of rebellion and illegal possession of firearms to Gregorio should the family decide to file charges against the military, has made them fear for their lives and their children’s security. “Tablahon kuno nila ako kung magkaso mi. Nabalaka mi kay karon ako na pod ang gihimo nilang NPA kuno,” Galacio added. (They will get back at me should we decide to file charges. We are worried because now I they are accusing me of being an NPA.)

The CRC and Salinlahi, together with Karapatan Alliance for Human Rights are set to accompany the family tomorrow at the Ombudsman to file administrative charges against 2nd Lt. Francis John Gabawa, platoon commanding officer and other military personnel involved in the incident. “We will continue to help them in their quest for justice. We want to reiterate the message that killing children deserves punishment,” Rivera concluded. ###

"Child Soldiers" Label used by the Military to Escape Accountability over Cases of Children Victims of Human Rights Violations

SALINLAHI Foundation for Children's Concern
April 16, 2007

'Child Soldiers' Label Used by Military to Escape Accountability

"Child Soldiers" Label used by the Military to Escape Accountability over Cases of Children Victims of Human Rights Violations

Obedient, playful and fun-loving. These are characteristics typical of rural children like Grecil Buya Galacio, 9 years old. She had cherished the start of the summer vacation because this meant days of helping her mother in her house chores, playing with her younger siblings, and swimming in the nearby creek. But on that fateful day of March 31, 2007, Grecil's childhood had ended. Members of the 28th and 67th Infantry Brigade based in Compostella Valley had shot Grecil during an encounter with members of the New People's Army in Purok 6, Barangay Kahayag, New Bataan. With no remorse, the military immediately branded Grecil as a "child soldier" of the NPA as if labeling their victim as such could exenorate them from the accountability of such a gruesome act.

As an alliance of organizations concerned with the rights and welfare of children, Salinlahi issues the highest condemnation against this act by the government military troops especially since this is not the first time that they used the excuse of children being "child soldiers' in violating children's human rights.

In February last year, the military arrested 12 youths, 2 of them minors, who were bound to watch a rock concert in Baguio City. The youths were detained for months and were charged with rebellion.

* A 14 and 15 -year old High School students, Aileen and Marjorie were shot in their thighs and injured in Baggao, Cagayan by members of the 21st IB PA. They were also branded as "NPA amasona's" and charged with rebellion. They now fear that they could not continue their studies with a case filed against them.

* 3 youths, Jefferson, Kennedy and Joey, all 15 years old, were gathering coconuts when they were chanced upon by members of the 76th IB PA in Lopez, Quezon. They were tortured to force them to admit that they were members of the NPA. They were also charged with rebellion.

* 5 minors have been arrested and placed in the custody of the DSWD for being in a house where alleged NPA leaders were caught in Eastern Visayas

* 11 minors were arrested in Basilan while tending their farms. They were branded as Abu Sayyaf members and were detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan for more than 3 years now.

These cases make up only part of the hundreds of cases of children victims of human rights violations since Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came into power in 2001. There are 54 cases (49 of which are well-documented) of children killed by the military during operations. Till now, justice for these children has not been served.

We cannot help but conclude that these acts are intentional and systematic rather than isolated. These are acts consistent with the AFP's Malacanang-approved counterinsurgency plan known as Oplan Bantay Laya 2. The government chooses to hide behind the distorted concept of "child soldiers" against the children they have victimized. Instead of protecting children, this concept exposes children all the more to violence and makes them vulnerable targets of human rights violations.

For a government who is signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and boasts of laws and policies that promotes the best interest of the child, this is utter hypocrisy. Pres. Arroyo, a woman and a mother, continues to ignore the issue of blatant human rights violations and instead chose to heap praises on military officials who are accused as perpetrators.

We challenge the Arroyo government to show its sincerity in upholding children and human rights by dropping all rebellion charges against children and minors. We hold it accountable for the destruction of these children's lives and future.

We urge child rights advocates, including politicians running for office, to condemn this brutal act and join us in our actions on the case. We will support the family in their pursuit for justice as they file a case in a proper regional trial court. Likewise, we will also file a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights and the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the CAHRIHL and present the case to the Geneva Committee on the Rights of the Child and to Mr. Philip Alston, the UN Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killing.

We urge all decent and peace-loving Filipino family to support our call for JUSTICE FOR GRECIL and all other children and minors who are deceitfully branded as child soldiers. Let us not tolerate the rampant violation of children's rights, especially by the very institutions that vow to protect them. Let us instead be instruments in building a just and peaceful future for our children.

JUSTICE FOR GRECIL AND ALL CHILDREN VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!

PUNISH ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATHS AND ARRESTS OF SO-CALLED CHILD SOLDIERS! PROTECT CHILDREN'S LIVES AND UPHOLD THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS!

US News: Terrorist Posada Released on Bail! Extradite Posada -- Free the Cuban Five!

Terrorist Luis Posada Released on Bail!
Extradite Posada -- Free the Cuban Five!

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition condemns in the strongest terms, the release of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles from U.S. jail this past Thursday, April 19.

Posada, mastermind of the murders of dozens of people, while acting on behalf of the CIA for more than 40 years, was freed from a New Mexico jail and flown to Miami, despite worldwide protests. His freedom on bond is until May 11, when his trial on immigration-fraud charges begins. But a dangerous precedent is already in place, with Posada being allowed to fly into Miami to meet and strategize with other terrorists, those who have helped finance his bombing campaigns.


A powerful display in memory of Posada's victims in front of U.S. diplomatic mission, Havana

The move to free him is widely known to be the result of a blatant refusal by George W. Bush and administration officials to declare Posada a terrorist. Without such a declaration or prosecution for his terrorist crimes, federal judges have ruled that a detainee cannot be held indefinitely in immigration jail.

Right now U.S. authorities have only charged Posada with immigration fraud. But Posada is not simply an immigrant. He is an avowed terrorist who never renounced his crimes. Although convicted in the past for some of his crimes in other countries, he has always managed to escape and carry out more torture and killings.

In the meantime, other notorious anti-Cuba terrorists in Miami have been caught with massive arsenals of weapons but only received extremely light sentences for their crimes. One, Santiago Alvarez, actually brought Posada into the United States illegally, on boat, in March 2005. He was caught with weapons caches but was only sentenced to four years and promised an even lesser sentence if he reveals the whereabouts of all his weapons.

Posada’s release is a green light to U.S.-directed terrorism against Cuba.

---

Luis Posada Carriles's history

Posada, Cuban-born, was recruited into the CIA soon after the Cuban revolution in 1959. At Ft. Benning, GA, he was trained extensively in explosives and sabotage in order to try to debilitate—through the means of terrorism—the new socialist society that the Cuban people were building.

Posada’s terrorist history spans four decades. He is most notorious for the Oct. 6, 1976 bombing of a Cuban jetliner, which killed 73 people. The two mercenaries whom he paid to plant the bomb, Freddy Lugo and Hernán Ricardo, confessed immediately afterwards that they were working with the CIA, and Posada was their boss. Posada’s favorite method is to pay mercenaries to do his dirty work. But he always procures the explosives and builds the bombs.

Not coincidentally, George Bush Sr. was head of the CIA in the 1970s when the plane bombing and many other terrorist attacks by Posada took place. In 1990, when Posada’s direct accomplice in the plane bombing, Orlando Bosch, was about to be deported from the United States, George Bush Sr. intervened to cancel his deportation, granting him permanent residence in the U.S.

Because the plane bombing was plotted by Posada and Bosch in Venezuela, the government of Hugo Chávez has demanded his extradition to Venezuela. But so far Washington has refused. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has the authority and obligation to begin extradition proceedings, but he has remained silent and refused to act decisively against Posada during the two years that he has been detained in a El Paso, Texas jail.

This coddling of Posada and other Miami-based, anti-Cuba terrorists flies in the face of the hypocritical claim by Bush that he is fighting a war against terrorism.

The most outrageous example of the double standard is the U.S. government’s imprisonment of the five Cuban men who infiltrated the Miami terrorist groups for the sole purpose of monitoring those organizations and reporting on imminent terrorist attacks, in order to stop them.

But instead of arresting Bosch and many other Miami terrorists, the FBI went after the Cuban Five with a vengeance. They were charged with the completely unsupported allegation of espionage conspiracy, failure to register as foreign agents, and other charges.

The Five were tried in Miami and convicted and sentenced to four life sentences and 77 years collectively, in a politically-motivated trial that is part and parcel of U.S. hostility against Cuba.

Free the Cuban Five anti-terrorists from U.S. prisons! Extradite Posada to Venezuela!