Democracies must press for immediate release of political prisoners held by Cuban regime

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Democracies must press for immediate release of political prisoners held by Cuban regime
By Financial Times

Fifty-five years ago, on Dec. 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It stated in its preamble:

• Recognition of the inherent dignity and of equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

• Disregard and contempt for human rights resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind [and] the advent of the world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief, and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.

• It is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.

With these plain and indeed self-evident truths in mind, we, both Cubans and non-Cubans living in the democratic world, would like to express our solidarity with all brave men and women of Cuba still struggling for their inalienable rights and human dignity under the difficult conditions of an oppressive, totalitarian regime.

Our thoughts and prayers go first to the political prisoners sentenced to long terms in prison just for their commitment to the universally recognized rights and freedoms, and to their families. We call on all democratic governments of the world to express their strongest possible condemnation of these inexcusable acts of repression, blatantly violating international obligations of Cuba and urge them to ask the Cuban government for their immediate release.

We share the conviction that the time of dictatorship in Cuba is coming to an end. There will be no succession after Fidel Castro, no cosmetic changes of totalitarian system after he is gone, but the genuine return of Cuba from the totalitarian captivity to the family of the world's democracies.

We are committed to do our best to support your noble cause. Let us work together, inspired by the ideals of José Martí, a genuine revolutionary and voice of Cuba within the community of nations. Cuba must not and will not remain a forgotten remnant from the Cold War, a kind of open-air museum of a system that discredited itself and failed. We believe that the dreams you inherited from Martí will come true sooner than your jailers and persecutors would wish, and you and all Cubans will be free.

Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State, USA
Harriet Babbitt, former Ambassador, USA
Elena Bonner, human rights leader, Russia
Marek Edelman, leader of Warsaw Ghetto uprising, Poland
Jan Figel, MP, Slovakia
Bronislaw Geremek, former Foreign Minister, Poland
Andre Glucksmann, philosopher, France
Vaclav Havel, former President, Czech Republic
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, former Ambassador, USA
Jacek Kuron, former dissident, Poland
Mart Laar, former Prime Minister, Estonia
Cecilia Malmstrom, Member of European Parliament, Sweden
Markus Meckel, MP, Germany
Adam Michnik, journalist, Poland
Dana Nemcova, human rights activist, Czech Republic
Martin Palous, former dissident, Czech Republic
Tomas Pojar, People in Need, Czech Republic
Elsa Tio, Puerto Rican poet
Ricardo Bofill, Cuban Committee on Human Rights
Frank Calzon, Center for a Free Cuba
Sebastian Arcos Cazabon, activist
Manuel Jorge Cutillas, entrepreneur
Himilce Esteve, professor
Joe Garcia, Cuban American National Foundation
Orlando Gutierrez, Directorio Democratico
Angel de Fana, Plantados por la Libertad
Carlos Franqui, writer
Guillermo Cabrera Infante, novelist
Sylvia Iriondo, Women against Repression in Cuba
Huber Matos, Cuba Independ and Democratic
Carlos Alberto Montaner, Union Liberal Cubana
Eduardo Perez, entrepreneur
Oscar Pena, Cuban Committee on Human Rights
Jesus Permuy, Unidad Cubana
Diego Suarez, Cuban Liberty Council
Alina Fernandez Revuelta
Zoe Valdes, novelist