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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Norwegian Freedom Award given to jailed Cuban

Norwegian Freedom Award given to jailed Cuban
CUBANET

HAVANA, May 27 (CubaNet) – Imprisoned Independent journalist Normando
Hernández has been awarded the Norwegian Writers Association's annual
"Freedom of Expression" award.

Hernández, who is in poor health, was among 75 dissidents arrested,
tried and convicted in 2003 for their interaction with the United
States. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his writings.

The writers association said this marked the first time since 1999 that
the award has gone to a Latin American. The winner that year was Yehude
Simon Munaro, Peru's prime minister. Like Hernández, he was imprisoned
at the time under the government of Alberto Fujimori.

The award carries a 100,000 kroner (US$15,646) prize.

Driver fined for picking up passengers

HAVANA, May 27 (Ana Aguililla / www.cubanet.org) - Severo Luis Brito was
fined 500 pesos, the equivalent of more than the average Cuban earns in
a month, for what he said was free rides given to people as he drove on
the Novia del Mediodía highway.

Brito was accused of illicitly charging his passengers. He was obliged
to sign a warning notice.

"They told me I was illegally charging the passengers even though they
explained that this was a friendly gesture of mine because of the
shortage of transportation," Brito said.

Norwegian Freedom Award given to jailed Cuban - Cuba Dissidents -
MiamiHerald.com (27 May 2009)

http://www.miamiherald.com/1447/story/1067826.html

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