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Friday, April 20, 2007

FIRM IN OUR UNITY: RESPONSE TO THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY

FIRM IN OUR UNITY: RESPONSE TO THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
2007-04-20.
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas

Havana, April 18, 2007- With certain astonishment we have read the
disinformation from the Reuters agency in Havana in the April 16 article
The Cuban opposition joins against the mediation of Spain in Human
Rights that refers to the declaration Unity For Freedom that we
circulated last Sunday April 15, signed by a group of leaders of the
peaceful democratic opposition and that is now supported by the immense
majority of groups inside and out of Cuba. The note from Reuters, after
a title that lacks any truth, continues with the same disorientation,
stating: (we cite)

The divided Cuban opposition united in its rejection of dialogue
over human rights between the Cuban government and Spain, which was
agreed to this month during a visit to the island by Miguel Angel
Moratinos, the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister. (end of citation)

I feel the responsibility of answering for all because I drafted the
declaration Unity for Freedom. It faithfully expresses the consensus of
all that signed it, although, for this reason, any of us could answer to
Reuters clarifying to the public, who always deserve the truth. We are
not going to get worn down answering this note point by point, although
it surprises us coming from Reuters which is characterized by
seriousness and that, having been present in Cuba, has experienced the
context of oppression that we Cubans suffer and knows well the
transparency of our positions. Our declaration of unity is solely and
completely positive.

The members of the Cuban opposition do not join to push back dialogue on
human rights, but to defend the human rights of all Cubans and we have
been doing this for decades in the midst of repression, exclusion and
campaigns of defamation and disinformation that are unloaded against us
by the regime and those who collaborate with the lies, abusing our
disadvantage and lack of means of communication. We are joined in the
determination to achieve a new era of freedom and peace for our people
who are compromised by the lies and repression, but not conquered
definitively.

We know that the misinformation and attempts at sowing discord and
suspicion between us will come, but this alerts us and confirms in us
the determination to stay firm in our Unity for Freedom. But also we
know that in the world there is much more good will and hearts united
for the rights of the Cuban people. All Cubans are identifying with this
manifesto because with radical Cubanness one can vindicate ones dignity.

There is a lot of love toward our people who proclaim Unity for Freedom
and that is what makes hope be reborn, which some would prefer for it to
appear lost, and feel uncomfortable, because Cubans, inside Cuba and in
the whole world are raising their stares and their hearts, because now
they know, that freedom is possible and is near.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the press release, please
contact: Francisco de Armas and Julio Hernández, International
Representatives, Christian Liberation Movement, (787) 549-1805,
fdamcl@cs.com

http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=9872

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