Statement issued Wednesday by President Barack Obama:
One year ago today, the selfless and tragic death of Orlando Zapata
Tamayo galvanized the world's attention to the ongoing mistreatment of
those unjustly held by Cuban authorities for (bo) bravely standing up
for the rights of the Cuban people.
The attention brought to the plight of Cuba's political prisoners by
Zapata's courageous act and by the peaceful protests of Las Damas de
Blanco has helped free a number of his fellow activists through the good
offices of the Catholic Church in Cuba.
Today, I join the Cuban people in marking this anniversary by again
calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political
prisoners in Cuba.
Sadly, the harassment and detention by Cuban authorities of Zapata's
mother, Reina Luisa Tamayo, and others across Cuba, as they sought to
commemorate her son's death, underscores how much of his dream remains
unfulfilled.
Since taking office, I have reached out to the Cuban people to support
their desire to freely determine their future and enjoy liberty and justice.
Today and every day, the Cuban people must know that their suffering
does not go unnoticed and that the United States remains unwavering in
our commitment to defend the inalienable right of the Cuban people to
enjoy the freedoms that define the Americas and that are universal to
all human beings.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2011/02/obama-on-anniversary-of-zapatas-death.html
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