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The African National Congress hails the formal parliamentary resolution
calling for the release of the remaining prisoners of the Cuban 5 who
were arrested in 1998 for allegedly being involved in espionage against
the United States of America. We believe that these compatriots did not
target the USA but infiltrated Cuban elements that wanted to engage in
terrorism to overthrow the Cuban government using Miami in the USA as a
spring-board.

This is a historic and ground breaking move by the South African
parliament. This resolution has elevated the issue of the Cuban five to a
national issue  thus joining many progressive countries who have resolved
to challenge this injustice against the state of Cuba.

The ANC has embraced international solidarity as one of its pillars in
the fight against apartheid and it managed to place the injustice of
apartheid firmly on the international agenda.  True to our
internationalist outlook, this resolution will serve as a national
platform to continue in our quest to pledge solidarity with our
compatriots in Cuba who also paid dearly with their lives in fighting the
erstwhile apartheid government.

We salute all the parties who stood up to be counted on this issue except
for the DA that abstained from voting owing to their commitment to
imperialism that ravaged the world with impunity.

We call on all spheres of government  and the people of South Africa to
join in placing this issue firmly on the national agenda in solidarity
with our friends in Cuba and in unison with our friends the world over.
Let us not allow this injustice of the American state security apparatus
bully a Cuban sovereign state.