November 2nd marked the first anniversary of the death of Carmen Nordelo, mother of Gerardo Hernandez, one of the five Cubans imprisoned in the United States for fighting terrorism.

A deep sorrow went through all of us that morning when we knew that Carmen had died without receiving the kiss and the tenderness of Gerardo, the only son of her three children.

A searing grief for Gerardo, whom the US government prevented from having the comfort every human being needs when his mother dies.

Months before the unjust arrest of Gerardo and his four comrades in struggle 12 years ago, her older sister died in a tragic accident. His father, Gerardo Hernández Martí, had died a few years before.

The arbitrary arrest of Gerardo, who at that time was a 33 year-old man, profoundly affected the life of his family and especially Carmen’s health. Her boy, as she called him, was the victim of a terrible injustice and was sentenced without evidence to two life imprisonments plus 15 years. All the hatred of the Miami terrorist mafia and the evil cruelty of a system fell upon his shoulders.

For her heroism, like the mothers of Antonio, Fernando and René, she was granted the Mariana Grajales Order. Despite all the blows she received in life, Carmen actively participated in the campaign to make the world know the truth and demand justice and freedom for his son and his four brothers in the same cause, brutally condemned U.S. for preventing terrorist attacks against Cuba.

"If there’s some nobility and goodness in me, no doubt I inherited them from her," Gerardo wrote in his book El Amor y el Humor todo lo pueden (Love and humor can do everything.) "To Mamucha, from her baby" asked Gerardo to write on the ribbon placed on the wreath in the shape of a heart that covered his mother’s mortal remains.

In May, months before Carmen’s death, we went to visit her, she could not speak and barely moved, but when we said we were Gerardo’s friends, a tear ran down her face.

During all these years, due to the evil manipulation of the entry visas and her poor health, Carmen could pay only a few visits to Gerardo. After one of the first ones she made following his conviction, she pointed out: "When we saw each other (...) I do not know where I got strength from. He said, 'Mom, I'm proud of you'. That encouraged him, because in his present condition, if he sees me crying he would be more afflicted ... In all his letters he expresses his concern about me and asks me to take care, the same things he used to say when his father was alive ... He is very affectionate with everyone. And more so with me ... He constantly tells me ‘Mom, you take care, because the worst thing that could happen to me here is to hear that something happened to you.’ *

On that occasion, in April, 2002, she could make only five visits during the10 days she spent in the U.S., the last one of three hours plus an additional one. "When he entered the room, dressed in his beige uniform, I stood up and hugged him with all my strength. I took his hands on the table; I was caressing them with affection when someone made a sign to me so I let go of them."

Mother's Day was close; the journalist asked Carmen what she would tell mothers in the U.S. if she had the opportunity of having her message published by the US corporate media: "First, I would congratulate them on such a nice day, like all Cuban mothers. I would ask them to cooperate so justice is served."

Carmen died without seeing her son or justice done. The U.S. mainstream media never interviewed her or echoed her request, or gave her the possibility of sending her short message to the US mothers. Gerardo received the worst news of his life completely alone in a maximum security cell, and one year later he has not been able to place flowers on his mother’s grave.

The relatives of The Five continue without receiving regular entry visas to visit their sons and husbands in prison. The visas for Adriana and Olga, the wives of Gerardo and Rene, respectively, have been denied for more than a decade, as denounced by Amnesty International on its letter to the Attorney General on October 4.

The world is wondering how long will we have to endure such violation of the rights of prisoners, family law and human rights. Until when will we have to bear the double standards of a country that keeps five innocent men in prison while it shelters, protects and finances confessed terrorists like Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles and allows tributes to them?

"... You can not fool all of the people all of the time," said Fidel Castro on November 3, 2009, and added: "Not only will we lay flowers on the grave of Carmen Nordelo; we will continue fighting tirelessly for the release of Gerardo, Antonio, Fernando, Ramón and René, unmasking the infinite hypocrisy and cynicism of the empire, defending the truth!

"Only in that way we will honor the memory of the legion of mothers and women like her, who have sacrificed in Cuba, for the Revolution and Socialism, the best and most valuable of their lives."

In memory of Carmen and of all Cuban mothers, we demand Obama: End injustice!  Freedom Now!

* Interview with Carmen, May 12, 2002, Juventud Rebelde newspaper.

Source: International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5

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