Cuba honours Canarian mother of national hero

Castro attends funeral of mother of jailed anti-terrorism agent in Havana

THE Canarian-born mother of imprisoned Cuban anti-terrorism agent Gerardo Hernández has been honoured following her death in Havana on November 2

Cuban President Raul Castro attended Ms Nordelo’s funeral in Havana on November 3

by James Tweedie

Cuban President Raúl Castro attended the funeral of Carmen Nordelo Tejera, mother of Gerardo Hernández Nordelo at Havana’s Colon Cemetery on Tuesday November 3.

Wreaths were laid on Ms Nordelo´s coffin by and on behalf of President Castro, his older brother and revolutionary leader Fidel, Mrs Nordelo’s son Gerardo and his wife Adriana Pérez and the Cuban people.

Fidel Castro devoted his latest ‘reflections’ essay the same day to Ms Nordelo and her son.

Mrs Nordelo was born in the Canary Islands on February 15 1934. She emigrated to Cuba with her family at the age of sixteen for economic reasons.

Her husband was a revolutionary and she participated in the campaign for the release of her son and his four companions Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramón Labañino from US custody until her health failed.

The “Cuban Five” are considered heroes in their own country.

They have been held in high-security solitary confinement since 1999 on charges ranging from espionage to murder after they infiltrated heavily armed anti-communist Cuban émigré groups training in Florida, exposing their activities to the government of then-president Bill Clinton.

President Castro also spoke to Ms Pérez, who was in Spain campaigning for the release of her husband, by telephone from the funeral.

The US government has repeatedly denied a visa to Ms Pérez to visit her husband in jail on the grounds that she presents a security risk to the United States.

CARMEN Nordelo Tejera pictured with her son Gerardo Hernández before his imprisonment.

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