Oswaldo and Harold: Six months later...

 "I have been told that I am going to be killed before the regime is over but I am not going to run away."- Oswaldo Payá, August 4, 2006

Rosa Maria Payá Acevedo tweeted this photo of her dad, Oswaldo Payá with Harold Cepero today with the text below

"Today, six months since the deaths of my father and Harold Cepero, remains the certainty of two full lives, free, dedicated to love." - Rosa Maria Payá Acevedo, over twitter, on January 22, 2013

The Christian Liberation Movement posted the above embedded video playlist on twitter along with the text: "Remembering Oswaldo and Harold six months after they snatched them from us."

Six months following their untimely deaths the evidence mounts that their deaths were not the result of a tragic car accident but based on the regime's behavior to a government conspiracy.

Today is also a good moment to reflect on the importance of these two men and what their loss means to Cuba.

At the same time, people of good will need to agitate for justice and the Christian Liberation Movement has provided a mechanism to do just that. Sign an online petition demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Oswaldo's and Harold's deaths. Their friends and families are asking for help.

Let others know about their legacy as nonviolent human right defenders and the need to have the circumstances of their deaths cleared up.

Dear members and prospective members of the Free Cuba Foundation over the next month a number of important anniversaries will present themselves: February 23, 2013 is the third anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and February 24 will be the 17th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown. Now, tragically February 22 will mark the seven month anniversary of the deaths of Oswaldo and Harold.

In one week, it would have been Harold Cepero's 33rd birthday. He was born on January 29, 1980. We should rally around that date to celebrate his life and demand truth in the circumstances surrounding his death.

Please send us via e-mail or post in the comments section below ideas for activities to coincide with these three back to back dates. 

Three things you can do right now in solidarity with Oswaldo, Harold and the Christian Liberation Movement:

1. Sign the petition and let others know about it. (Its in English and Spanish)

2. Follow the Christian Liberation Movement and Rosa Maria Payá on twitter.

3. Generate your own blog entry about Oswaldo and Harold and send us your ideas for future actions.

 

Remembering Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas in Film

Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas 1952-2012

Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas spoke out for human rights and freedom inside of Cuba for decades challenging the Stalinist regime that has ruled over the country for 54 years. Over the course of that struggle Oswaldo's courageous stand was documented and recognized the world over.

Below are a few, of the many, highlights found in two documentaries: Dissident: Oswaldo Paya and The Varela Project and The Cuban Spring. The first was done by a U.S. based non-governmental organization (NGO) and the second by a Czech based NGO.



Although not directly titled, Oswaldo appeared extensively in the documentary: The Cuban Spring



Finally, Oswaldo had the opportunity to travel the world in 2002 when he recieved the European Union's Sakharov Prize and spoke at the London School of Economics. Its in Spanish without subtitles but its Oswaldo unfiltered expounding his views.



Oswaldo died under suspicious circumstances on July 22, 2012 with Harold Cepero and family members are demanding an international investigation and have an online petition underway.

Friday Mass for Innocent Cuban Martyrs

Harold Cepero Escalante and Mario Manuel de la Peña

The Cuban Democratic Directorate and members of the exile community are offering a Mass officiated by Father José Luis Menéndez to pray for the souls of Harold Cepero Escalante and Mario Manuel De la Peña on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 8pm at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church located at 3220 NW 7th Avenue Miami, FL.

December 28 is the Day of the Holy Innocents and is a religious holiday named in honor of the young children slaughtered by order of King Herod around the time of Jesus’ birth. These young victims were called“Holy Innocents” because they were too young and innocent to have committed any sins.  

Tomorrow we will pray for two young men whose lives were taken before their time who dedicated themselves to serve others and make the world a better place dedicated to defending human rights and saving the lives of others. 

On Friday, December 28, 2012 Mario Manuel de la Peña, who was born in the United States in the township of Weehawken, New Jersey in 1971, should have been 41 years old.

One month and a day later on January 29, 2013 Harold Cepero Escalante, who was born in Cuba in the municipality of Chambas in the province of Ciego de Ávila in 1980, should be celebrating his 33rd birthday.

Sadly, neither young man will have the opportunity to do so. 

Mario Manuel de la Peña was one of four men shot down by Cuban MiGs on February 24, 1996 while searching for Cuban rafters in the Florida Straits in international airspace. Mario was 24 years old when he was killed.



Harold Cepero Escalante was a youth leader in the Christian Liberation Movement and died under suspicious circumstanceswith its founding leader Oswaldo Paya Sardiñas on July 22, 2012. Harold was 32 years old at the time of his untimely death. Family members are demanding an international investigation into the deaths of Harold and Oswaldo.

Although the Free Cuba Foundation is not organizing this event, it does call on members to attend and honor these two young men who gave their last full measure in the defense of human rights and dignity.

Father denounces daughter's persecution on Human Rights Day

Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and his daughter Martha Beatriz Ferrer

How did officials of the regime in Cuba observe international human rights day on December 10, 2012 in a local school? Officials celebrated the dictator who ruled the island for the past half century as a human rights champion while at the same time targeting a young girl for refusing to participate and threatening her friends. Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia described over twitter the campaign government officials are waging against his 15 year old daughter:

Martha Beatriz Ferrer, my daughter of 15 years, was the victim yesterday of deception, harassment and ill-treatment at her College Prep school in Palmarito de Cauto. Cuban communist party leaders in the Mella municipality harassed Martha Beatriz for refusing to participate in a political action for Human Rights Day. In the political act that my daughter refused to participate in they began claiming that Fidel Castro was a champion in the defense of human rights. The actions against my daughter Martha Beatriz at school are increasing. Because of her charisma and courage she greatly concerns the political police. The political police, Cuban communist party and education leaders pressured Martha Beatriz's classmates not to involve themselves with her.

They are pressuring parents of the classmates of my daughter Martha Beatriz. Students from the College Prep school have been threatened with measures in their school record if they visit our home in Palmarito de Cauto. The campaign against Martha Beatriz intensifies so that her friends not attend her 15th birthday.

 The original Spanish is available below:

Martha Beatríz Ferrer, mi hija del 15 años, fue víctima ayer de engaño, acoso y malos tratos en Pre-Universaritario de Palmarito de Cauto. Dirigentes del PCC en el municipio Mella acosan a Martha Beatríz por negarse a participar en acto político por Día de los Derechos Humanos. En el acto político que mi hija se negó a participar comenzaron afirmando que Fidel Castro era un paladín en la defensa de los d. humanos. Las acciones contra mi hija Martha Beatríz en su escuela van en aumento. Por su carisma y valor preocupa grandemente a la policía política.  La policía política, dirigentes del PCC y Educación presionan a compañeros de aula de Martha Beatríz para que no se relacionen con ella. Presionan a padres de los compañeros de clases de mi hija Martha Beatríz.

 A los alumnos del Pre-Universaritario le han amenazado con medidas en su expediente escolar si visitan nuestro hogar en Palmarito de Cauto.  Se intensifica la campaña en contra de Martha Beatríz para que sus amigos no asistan a su 15 cumpleaños.

Take Action on International Human Rights Day

The human rights situation in Cuba is grim and getting worse. Women are being beaten up and detained for exercising their rights. The United Nations ignores the violence committed by agents of the Cuban government. A young girl was repeatedly knife attacked for defending these women. Opposition leaders have been murdered in actions organized by State Security and covered up. Meanwhile another prisoner of conscience is being denied water by prison officials in an effort to either kill him or break his spirit on day 29 of a hunger strike. An American and a Spaniard are held hostage and used to blackmail the United States and Spain. A cholera outbreak that threatens countless lives is downplayed by the dictatorship.

This is Cuba in 2012.

What are you willing to do about it?

Can you take two minutes of your time and demand justice, freedom and an end to the repression of human rights defenders in Cuba?

Then take action and do it:


Justice:

Petition Demanding International and Transparent Investigation into the deaths of Paya and Cepero
http://cubanexilequarter.blogspot.com/2012/07/petition-demanding-international-and.html

Freedom: 

Government of Cuba: Free Calixto Martínez Arias, and Stop Harassing Journalists and Dissidents
http://www.change.org/petitions/government-of-cuba-free-calixto-mart%C3%ADnez-arias-and-stop-harassing-journalists-and-dissidents

End Repression: 

Protect Human Rights Defenders in the Americas
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/AmericasHRDs

Norway's Sexiest Woman was Bitten by a Cuban Diplomat in 2010

Alexandra Joner voted the sexiest woman in Norway in 2012 was bitten by a Cuban diplomat in Oslo in May 2010 while nonviolently witnessing a protest in remembrance of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who had died on hunger strike in Cuba on February 23, 2010. She was across the street with a camera video taping her mom and a small group of demonstrators when she was confronted by a Cuban diplomat who hurled insults at her and bit her hand.

Alexandra is a model, actress, and singer and has songs that have been hits in Norway. Her latest video is posted below. Lets demonstrate our solidarity with this accomplished young woman by purchasing her music.

Amnesty International issues urgent action for Antonio Rodiles

Antonio Rodiles

DOCUMENT - CUBAN MAN TARGETED FOR GOVERNMENT CRITICISM

UA: 333/12 Index: AMR 25/026/2012 Cuba Date: 15 November 2012

URGENT ACTION

Cuban man targeted for government criticism

Government critic Antonio Rodiles has been charged with “resisting authority”. It is believed the charges may be used to punish and prevent his peaceful criticism of Cuban government policies.

A coordinator of a civil society initiative calling on the government to ratify international human rights treaties, Antonio Rodiles, has been charged with “resisting authority” (resistencia). He has been placed in pre-trial detention (prisión provisional), but no date has been set for his trial.

Shortly after the arrest of the independent lawyer and journalist Yaremis Flores on 7 November, Antonio Rodiles, his wife and several other government critics went to the Department of State Security headquarters, know as Section 21 (Sección 21) in the neighbourhood of Marianao in Havana, to enquire after her whereabouts. Before they could reach the building they were approached by 20 people, all plain-clothed, as two officials from the Ministry of the Interior looked on. Antonio Rodiles was reportedly knocked to the ground and pinned down by four men. Several of the other activists were also manhandled and were forced into a police vehicle and sent to various police stations around Havana. All were released by 11 November, except Antonio Rodiles.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office (fiscalía) informed Antonio Rodiles’ wife on 14 November that he was being charged with “resisting authority” but a formal charge document has yet to be issued.

Antonio Rodiles is one of the coordinators of Citizen Demand for Another Cuba (Demanda Ciudadana Por Otra Cuba), an initiative calling for Cuba to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which the country signed in 2008. Amnesty International believes the charges against him may be being used to punish and prevent his peaceful activities as a government critic and is gathering further information on his case and treatment.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

Calling on the Cuban authorities to release Antonio Rodiles immediately and unconditionally if they are unable to substantiate the charges against him, and to investigate reports that he was ill-treated during his arrest;

Calling on them to immediately cease the harassment of all other citizens who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 27 DECEMBER 2012 TO:

Head of State and Government

Raúl Castro Ruz

Presidente de la República de Cuba

La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +41 22 758 9431 (Cuba office in Geneva); +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban Mission to UN)

Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)

Salutation: Your Excellency

Attorney General

Dr. Darío Delgado Cura

Fiscal General de la República, 

Fiscalía General de la República, Amistad 552, e/Monte y Estrella, 

Centro Habana,

La Habana, Cuba

Salutation: Dear Attorney General

And copies to:

Interior Minister

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra

Ministro del Interior y Prisiones

Ministerio del Interior,

Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba

Fax:             +1 212 779 1697       (via Cuban Mission to UN)

Email: correominint@mn.mn.co.cu

Salutation: Your Excellency

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION

cuban man targeted for government criticism

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Journalist Yaremis Flores was held for 48 hours before being released without charge. During her detention she and was threatened with charges of “disseminating false information against international peace” (difusión de noticias falsas contra la paz internacional), which carries a prison sentence of one to four years, if she continued her work as a journalist.

Antonio Rodiles has been charged under Article 143 of the Cuban Criminal Code. This covers the offence of resistencia, which refers to resistance to public officials carrying out their duties and is often used to deal with alleged cases of resisting arrest. Article 143 is broad enough to encompass non-violent forms of resistance; it is sometimes used in ways that unlawfully restrict freedom of expression.

On 20 June, Citizen Demand for Another Cuba handed in a petition with 500 signatures to the National Assembly of People’s Power (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) – Cuba’s legislative body located in Havana – calling on the government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these covenants constitute the International Bill of Rights and are the key international human rights instruments. Since Cuba’s signing of both covenants in 2008, Amnesty International has called on the authorities to ratify them in order to bring them into force and begin their implementation.

Antonio Rodiles is also the coordinator of State of SATS (Estado de SATS), a forum which emerged in July 2010 to encourage debate on social, cultural and political issues.

Name: Antonio Rodiles

Gender m/f: m

UA: 333/12 Index: AMR 25/026/2012 Issue Date: 15 November 2012

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/026/2012/en/170bffe5-5755-4b42-80d0-6b7df7ad1843/amr250262012en.html