World renowned German novelist
Günter Grass adds his voice for the Cuban Five
http://www.voicesforthefive.com/news/article/63/world-renowned-german-novelist-g%C3%BCnter-grass-adds-his-voice-for-the-cuban-five
Friday, 24 January 2014
Günter Grass is one of the endorsers of the International Commission of Inquiry into the Case of the Cuban Five. He wrote us a personal message, in which he supports our initiative and explains his involvement in the case of the Cuban Five.
Germany’s most famous living writer, became widely known by his book ‘The tin drum’. He was the voice of his generation, growing up in Nazi Germany during the World War. Besides novelist, he is also involved with poetry, illustration, sculpture, etc.. In 1999 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
In 2009, he and nine other Nobel laureates wrote an “amicus curiae”, a legal letter to the court in which they demand the release of the Cuban Five. Through he’s support to the International Commission of Inquiry, he confirms his advocacy for the release of the Cuban Five.
Below you can find the translation of his letter:
Dear commission members and members of the “Cuban Five” solidarity community,
Since, in all likelihood, I will not be able to come to the hearing of the European Inquiry Commission in spring 2014, I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to you in writing.
For many years I have been following this scandalous case of politically-motivated injustice, which has been successfully kept out of the mass media’s headlines. During all this time my respect for the five men has been increasing, as they are continually denied a fair trial while suffering fifteen years of imprisonment.
Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, as well as their family members, are the brave representatives of the Cuban people, who are continually threatened in their living conditions by an economic blockade and by terrorist attacks. To me, they personalize — despite permanent harassment by their powerful neighbour –the ideals and human accomplishments of their island, which they readily share with all discriminated nations.
This case is further evidence for me of how much we should insist not only on obeying our respective constitutions, but also on complying with international law, the greatest accomplishment after the grievous experiences of World War II; and on the other hand, we should unmask the double standard of the “War against Terror” on behalf of “Democracy and Human Rights”.
I wish the European Inquiry Commission on the case of the “Cuban Five”, “Miami Five”, respectively, much success so that it may decisively contribute to the release of the Five, enabling them to return to their homeland and their families.
Günter Grass
Günter Grass adds his voice for the Cuban Five
