Johannesburg - The five Cubans who were imprisoned in the USA for fighting terrorism attend today an official ceremony on occasion of the 60th anniversary of the proclamation in South Africa of the Freedom Charter, a significant date in the country.
Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez arrived in this South African land on June 21, invited by the ruling African National Congress, to attend the celebrations for the anniversary.

During their stay here, the Cuban Five, as they are internationally known, will tour equal number of provinces, to express their gratitude towards the people of this nation for the campaign for their return to homeland.

Gerardo, Ramon, Antonio, Fernando and Rene complied with long years of imprisonment in U.S. jails, despite the work in defense of peace and life.

The Freedom Charter was unanimously approved by the Congress of the People, held in Kliptown, near Johannesburg, on June 25 and 26, 1955, in the presence of almost 3,000 delegates of the country.

Among the signatories was the ANC, which took this document as a basis of its struggle for freedom.

Many of its members were imprisoned and charged with sedition, one of them Nelson Mandela.

One of the basic principles that raise the Charter is that South Africa is for everyone who live here regardless of skin color; it also called for equality and peace.

At that time, the signatories pledged to fight together, "sparing no effort or courage, until we have conquered the proclaimed
democratic changes."