Santiago de Chile, Sep 2 (Prensa Latina) Outstanding US lawyer Leonard Weinglass stated Tuesday that the five Cuban antiterrorists still prisoners in the United States enjoy "good health, a lot of optimism and tremendous dignity." after 10 years of prison.

He informed that he could verify that spirit of the Five personally in visits carried out as a defense lawyer and he added that they have solid principles, defend their country and believe in the Cuban Revolution which contributes to keep themselves strong.

 The renowned lawyer compared Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez, completing long judicial sentences in jails in different regions of the United States, with South African leader Nelson Mandela ó s stoic resistance.

 When exposing the case before jurists, diplomats, academicians and university students in the Main Room of the Central University, host of the Human Rights Study Center presided  by Chilean former judge Juan Guzmán, called to double international solidarity, because "if the world is observing, then, justice will be applied appropriately", he said.

 Weinglass started his applauded master class asking for forgiveness for the participation of his country in the military coup of 1973 against president Salvador Allende and the later violation of the human rights, and said that every US citizen that Chile visiting Chile should do the same thing.

 He revealed that soon after the coup he came Chile for the first time to help looking for economist Jaime Barrios, economic advisor for Salvador Allende, arrested and missing up to date.

 Among the assistants to the conference, several social and human rights organizations leaders, as well as former political prisoners, thanked Weinglass for his words and reiterated their solidarity with the Cuban Five.

 Invited by Guzman, Weinglass offered itemized information about the arrest, the trial and the prison of the Cuban patriots and insisted on the need that their case is known much more in the world.

 He also referred to the march of the lingering one and complex judicial process, at the moment awaiting a decision of the court of appeals, but he/she insisted in the utility that the topic is more broadly disclosed in Chile and in the world.

 Cuban Ambassador to Chile, Giraldo Mazola, said that Weinglass has had to fight "against a partialized judicial system and a committed media power".

Prensa Latina 02-09-2008