Remembering Joachim: Danish student studying Spanish in Cuba gunned down by soldier

18 years without justice ...

Joachim Løvschall: 1970 - 1997

Joachim Løvschall, a Danish student studying Spanish at the University of Havana gunned down by an AK-47 wielding Cuban soldier as he walked home on the evening of March 29,1997. The body remained hidden for days. The shooter was never identified. Ten years after his son's extrajudicial execution, Christian Løvschall spoke at a parallel forum at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva Switzerland about what had happened.

Eighteen years later he is not forgotten. Friends and family remember and honor this young man on Facebook. He was born on December 8, 1970 and was extra-judicially executed on March 29, 1997 and those responsible in the Cuban regime have not been identified or held accountable.

Joachim should have celebrated his 44th birthday back in December, but thanks to the arbitrary cruelty of Cuba's state security apparatus he perished at age 26.

Today, a prayer in his memory and for his family who still miss him.

Venezuela has not forgotten Bassil Da Costa

Today marks six months since the murder of Bassil Da Costa. Liliana Tintori remembers and demands justice. Over social media scores of Venezuelans using the hashtag #VzlaNoOlvida (Venezuela Does Not Forget) remembered 24 year old Bassil Da Costa who was shot in the head on February 12, 2014 while peacefully protesting that his mother had not gotten medical care after waiting and suffering great pain for months.

Bassil Alejandro Da Costa

Bassil Alejandro Da Costa was shot in the head in Caracas on February 12, 2014 from shots fired by a group of police men and his killing was captured from different angles on three different cameras. He was 24 years old. His last message on Facebook: "He who is here tomorrow goes out marching without fear of anything and hoping to find a better future."

 
Due to the public outrage over the killing eight government functionaries have been charged in the killing, only one of which is being held in custody while awaiting trial.


Venezuela has not forgotten Bassil Alejandro Da Costa nor have we. Justice for Bassil and all those murdered by the Maduro regime for peacefully exercising their rights in the hope of a better future for Venezuela.

One time were remaining silent speaks volumes

Remembering the Victims of the July 13, 1994 "13 de Marzo" Tugboat Massacre at FIU today

One time when remaining silent speaks volumes. 19 minutes of silence, one minute for each year that has passed without justice for the victims of the July 13, 1994  "13 de Marzo" tugboat massacre.

In the days leading up to today's protest the Free Cuba Foundation disseminated information through the social media and called for hashtags to be used to remind others of what happened on that terrible day: #RememberJuly13 a #Justiceforthe37  #13deMarzotugboat #Remolcador13deMarzo

Free Cuba Foundation members and friends of the organization gathered in silence to recall a crime and to continue the demand for justice today, July 13, 2013, at 12 noon at Florida International University(FIU) as we have done over the past nineteen years.



For nineteen minutes we listened in silence to rushing water from the Main Fountain at FIU and thought back to July 13, 1994 when 37 men, women, and children were extrajudicially executed by Cuban government agents.

The sounds of the rushing water from the main fountain led participants to imagine what the Cubans blasted by water cannons went through while that heinous crime was being committed.

Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas described it as " one of the most heinous crimes in the history of our city and of Cuba." The city of Havana was founded in 1519. 


 Unless the individuals responsible for this crime are brought to justice over the next 12 months then, if physically possible, we will be back here once again at 12 noon next year and holding a silent 20 minute protest for justice.

Justice maybe delayed but it will not be denied.

Justice for the victims of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat Massacre

"13 de Marzo" Tugboat Massacre: Justice maybe delayed but it will not be denied

"Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death!" - Thomas Carlyle

37men, women, and children killed on July 13, 1994

This Saturday will mark nineteen years that have passed since 37 men, women and children were massacred by agents of the Cuban government as they tried to find a better life in freedom. On the early morning hours of July 13, 1994 the "13 de Marzo" tugboat left Havana harbor bound for the United States only to be intercepted six miles from the Malecón by other tugs that rammed and sank it while being monitored by the Cuban coastguard.

 Over the past 19 years this day has been a time to remember and to organize actions for others to remember this crime and demand justice. This year is no different. On July 13, 2013 please join in the campaign over social media to tweet and post "13 de Marzo tugboat" or "Remolcador 13 de marzo" in Spanish along with links to videos and reports explaining and documenting the atrocity.

This is not about revenge. It is the pursuit of justice and truth through time which requires persistence and memory.

Useful video and links:

CUBA: The Sinking of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat on 13 July 1994 / Amnesty International

https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/013/1997/en/0f6d3a5e-ea51-11dd-965c-b55c1122d73f/amr250131997en.html

REPORT Nº 47/96: CASE 11.436 VICTIMS OF THE TUGBOAT "13 DE MARZO" vs.CUBA October 16, 1996 / IACHR
http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/96eng/Cuba11436.htm

Cuba: Cuban authorities should lift threats against peaceful protesters / Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/032/1996/en/fc0ad8fb-eaf1-11dd-aad1-ed57e7e5470b/amr250321996en.html