Gerardo Hernandez, one of the five Cuban anti-terrorist fighters unfairly imprisoned in the United States, expressed gratitude for the support he has received after the death last Monday of his mother Carmen Nordelo.

Sentenced to double life imprisonment plus 15 years, Gerardo sent a message of gratitude on his and his family's behalf for "all expressions of support he has received in so difficult moments," Granma newspaper reported Thursday.

According to the text, sent by activist Alicia Jrapko from California, "the best homage to my mother will be to maintain our struggle for justice, and one day, as she wished so much, the Five will return home."

Cuba's President Raul Castro headed last Tuesday the burial ceremony of Carmen Nordelo Tejera, who died on Monday afternoon.

Nordelo Tejera had a prominent role in the Cuban people's battle for truth and justice for the release of the Five, as they are internationally known.

Gerardo, together with Fernando Gonzalez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez were detained on September 12, 1998, for monitoring violent groups of Cuban-American involved in terrorist actions against Cuba from Florida.

After a biassed trial in Miami under a virulent anti-Cuban atmosphere, they were sentenced to severe punishment.

Legal evidences and testimonies by US high-ranking military officers proved that none of them put that country's security in jeopardy.