WASHINGTON, D.C.
Cuban democracy honorees unable to attend ceremony
A Washington democracy group honored five Cuban dissidents -- but none
can attend the ceremony.
BY BRITTANY LEVINE
blevine@MiamiHerald.com
When the National Endowment for Democracy handed out its annual
Democracy Award on Wednesday in Washington, all five recipients were
Cuban, a first.
Another first: None could attend the ceremony.
Three are in prison. Two were arrested Tuesday after holding a political
meeting in a public park, according to the nonprofit organization, which
gives money to pro-democracy causes. Cuban citizens are not allowed to
leave the country without government permission.
''Dissidents feel more alone in Cuba, and they are often seen as
obstacles to improving [U.S.] relations there,'' said the organization's
president, Carl Gershman.
The awardees represent ''a new Cuba, the Cuba of the future,'' he said.
The winners:
• Jorge Luis Garcia Pérez, known as ''Antúnez,'' who was arrested
Tuesday with his wife and fellow honoree, Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera.
García Pérez was a political prisoner from 1990 to 2007. Pérez Aguilera
has led several women's movements promoting democracy.
• José Daniel Ferrer García, a youth activist. He was arrested during
the ''Black Spring,'' a crackdown on political dissidents in March 2003.
• Librado Linares García, founder of the Cuban Reflection Movement, an
advocacy group that tracks human rights abuses and provides aid to
political prisoners. He also was arrested in March 2003.
• Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, a political prisoner, labor activist and
youth leader.
''From leading hunger strikes to neighborhood meetings, opening
independent libraries to human rights advocacy, these brave individuals
represent the regime's greatest fear: the free will of the Cuban
people,'' said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, in a statement prior
to the Capitol Hill ceremony.
Republican Sen. Mel Martinez said he hoped the fights for democracy
would ``one day soon help to bring freedom to the Cuban people.''
Last month, the Obama administration asked the island nation to resume
talks on legal migration.
Past recipients have come from China, North Korea and Rwanda. Many have
been political prisoners.
Bertha Antúnez, Pérez's sister, accepted the awards. The Miami resident
often acts as her brother's proxy here, delivering letters to
congressmen and attending pro-democracy events.
''This recognizes for the first time those inside the country who are
fighting for democracy,'' she said in Spanish. ``Because of this, those
fighting know they are not alone.''
Carrillo, in prison in Cuba, used his one monthly phone call to contact
the group and express his gratitude. Because he spoke about the award,
his phone privileges have been revoked for six months, Gershman said.
''It reminds us that we are not simply malcontents but fighters for
democracy,'' Carrillo said told the group. ``This award encourages us to
continue fighting and believing in hope, high principles and democracy.''
Cuban democracy honorees unable to attend ceremony - Nation -
MiamiHerald.com (25 June 2009)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/story/1112787.html
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