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Latin America joins Cuba’s struggle for freedom
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Young Latin-American activists demand liberty for Cuban political prisoners

Young mexicans carry out a peaceful demonstration outside the Cuban embassy in Mexico City calling for freedom for all Cuban poliical prisoners

Young mexicans carry out a peaceful demonstration outside the Cuban embassy in Mexico City calling for freedom for all Cuban poliical prisoners

 

Demonstrations outside of Cuban embassies, marches through streets, and conferences about the human rights situation in Cuba were some of the activities carried out in several Latin-American countries to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the repressive crackdown in Cuba that resulted in the imprisonment of 75 human rights activists and independent journalists in the spring of 2003.

 

Members of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba (IYCDC) carried out protests in front of Cuban embassies in Santiago, Chile and Mexico City. On March 16, over fifty young Mexicans gathered with photos of Cuban political prisoners and pro-democratic signs in a ceremony outside of the Cuban embassy where they called for freedom. The young demonstrators shouted “Free Cuba, Youth Awakened,” a slogan that has come to identify the IYCDC. On March 18, a group of about 30 young Chileans met outside of the Cuban embassy in their country’s capital, but were confronted by pro-Castro forces. The non-violent demonstrators maintained their stance amidst the screams and aggressive provocations of the totalitarian sympathizers, until both groups were dispersed by local police.

 

In Montevideo, Uruguay, a public march began in the capital’s City Hall, and proceeded to stop traffic as the young Uruguayans marched through the streets toward their destination, Liberty Plaza. Along the way, the young activists played Cuban songs and handed out leaflets with information about Cuba’s human rights violations. Many people joined the march as it passed by and supported the group’s call for unconditional liberty for Cuban political prisoners.

Members of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba march through the streets of Uruguay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young people in Venezuela also joined the IYCDC in commemorating Cuba’s Black Spring in two simultaneous events in Maturin and Caracas. A press conference was carried out in Caracas by Luis Aguilar, who recently visited the island. They remembered the repressive wave of 2003, and called on all Latin-American youth to demand freedom for political prisoners. In Maturin, a large group of young Venezuelans held a conference with the participation of the Mexican official, Arturo Flores Grande, who reiterated his solidarity with the Cuban population in their struggle for freedom. The young people present at the event in Maturin joined the growing number of members of the IYCDC”s Venezuelan chapter.

Members of the IYCDC in Venezuela carry out two simultaenous acts to commemorate Cuba's Black Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Lima, Peru, members of the IYCDC organized a half-day conference at San Martín de Porres University. Among the panelists contributing to this event were former presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano and Peruvian lawyer and human rights expert Milton Castillo Rodríguez. Additionally, Orlando Gutiérrez and Calixto Navarro of the Cuban Democratic Directorate addressed the audience of over 300 young people. To conclude the event, the Cuban flag was raised in honor of Cuban political prisoners.

Pro-democratic Peruvian youth join panelists at a conference in Lima

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 14, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Blanca Gonzalez, the mother of independent journalist and political prisoner Normando Hernández González, and Laida Carro of the Cuban American Women’s Coalition gave a presentation in the country’s Legislative Assembly. Both women were able to share their testimonies, and the event was later interrupted by a mob organized by Cuba’s communist regime in an attempt to silence the voices of the Costa Rican officials who were in solidarity with Cuba’s pro-democratic cause.

Blanca Gonzalez, mother of a Cuban poltical prisoner, is asked to stand before Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly so she can de recognized 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a group of women from the International Women’s Committee for Democracy in Cuba and other activists dressed in white attended mass at the Church of Santa Rita in honor of Cuba’s Ladies in White. During the mass, the priest offered prayers and recognized the suffering of the Ladies in White whose husbands and sons are imprisoned.

 Activists wear white in Argentina to remember the Ladies in White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 19, a press conference was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to call attention to human rights violations in Cuba and the current inhumane conditions for political prisoners on the Island. María A. Lima, from the Cuban Democratic Directorate, Hipólito Ramírez, from the Dominican Democratic Group, and Cesar Dargám, member of the Christian Democrat Organization of America, participated at the event which was very well attended by national media outlets.

A press conference in Santo Domingo calls the media's attention and highlights human rights abuses in Cuba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Directorio Democrático Cubano Cuban Democratic Directorate

 

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