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Monday, May 08, 2006

Cuban democracy activist invited to NYC's Columbia University

Cuban democracy activist invited to NYC's Columbia University

5/1/2006, 8:42 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) — A Cuban pro-democracy activist has been invited to receive an honorary degree at Columbia University's commencement this month, the university said Monday.

Oswaldo Paya said he was honored by the invitation and hoped the Cuban government would let him travel to New York for the May 17 event.

"As a Cuban, I feel proud," said Paya, the lead organizer of the Varela Project, a petition drive calling for a popular vote on issues including freedom of speech and private business ownership. "This is a recognition of our people and their rights."

Paya was to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Columbia's New York City campus, the university said in a statement. He was chosen because he represents "civic activism, and is a model for non-violent human rights advocacy," said Columbia Professor Gustavo Perez-Firmat.

Perez-Firmat, a Cuban professor of Spanish American literature, said the committee that selected Paya was hopeful Fidel Castro's government would let the activist travel.

"It's not about Castro or Cuban exiles, it's not a political statement," he said. "It's a recognition of his human rights work."

The activist was allowed to travel to Europe in December of 2002 to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the EU's top human-rights award. But since then, several requests to attend conferences abroad or receive prizes have been turned down by Cuba's communist government, Paya said.

http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1146530955202520.xml&storylist=simetro

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