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South Journal, March 22–In a spontaneous meeting with journalists upon his arrival in Havana, on Sunday, Calle 13 musician Rene Perez told reporters that he supported the release of the Five Cuban antiterrorist fighters held in US jails for over 10 years now.
“I hear from them (The Cuban Five) through my dad; he tells me about them because he learned about them. The case is quite difficult; there are Five there (in the USA), so we have to see what we can do to get an agreement that brings them back,” said Rene Perez in conversation with Cubadebate.
Rene Perez and Eduardo Cabra arrived in Havana onboard a Copa flight coming from Venezuela. Perez said “we are very happy and we are eager to enjoy with the Cuban people and learn from the people and take a tour here on the streets…I want to meet people, brother, and I want to see this country”
He said his family loves Cuba and he noted “My dad came back in the 1980´s, my sister who is around here, came to work here at solidarity camps. We have always had a connection with Cuba through music and cinema. We are just right there, very near.”
The band leader said that they are scheduled to visit the Carlos Muñiz Varela elementary school in the locality of San Antonio de los Baños, “because Carlitos Muñiz was a friend of my family. You know, my name is Rene but I was going to be named Carlos after Carlos Muñiz, because he was one of my dad’s closest friends. My dad has a friend called Rene and I was finally named Rene. There is a close relationship between my family and Carlitos´; we always follow the work of Carlitos´ father.
Carlos Muñiz, a Cuban who migrated to Puerto Rico, was murdered in the capital San Juan on April 28, 1979 by the Omega 7 terrorist organization, which was opposed to any relationship between Cuban émigrés with their country. His murderers are still unpunished.
Rene also said that he opposes all blockades, including the economic, commercial and financial blockade maintained by the United States against Cuba. “Blockades are negative in all their aspects. We Puerto Ricans are not affected, except for traveling here; however, there are worst things affecting us in Puerto Rico,” Rene said.
He said they decided to give their concert at Havana’s Anti-Imperialist Tribune because the place “has a poetic, historic meaning and it is in front of the sea. I will enjoy its aesthetic and physical aspect. The concert will take place in the afternoon, so it is going to be good.”
The Calle 13 concert will take place March 23 at 5 pm. The band is made up of 25 members who will be joined by Cuban Kelvis Ochoa.
The Puerto Rican band was invited by the Cuban Music Institute. The visitors will stay for four days in Cuba and will later travel to Miami, where they will give another concert: “I have many Cuban friends there. We bring our music to many parts of the world, but Miami is the place where we have not played our music that many times.”
They will also meet with Cuban and other Latin American artists at Havana’s Casa de las Americas cultural institution, and will visit the International TV and Cinema School, in San Antonio de los Baños
