Latin-American youth leaders protest in front of Cuban embassy in Santiago, Chile

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Latin-American youth leaders protest in front of Cuban embassy in Santiago, Chile
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

More than 200 Latin-American students and young professionals manifest their support for human rights in Cuba.

Santiago, Chile, January 30^th, 2006 – With shouts of “Cuba libre, juventud despierta” (Free Cuba, youth awaken), approximately 250 young Chileans, Mexicans, Brazilians, Guatemalans, Salvadorians, Peruvians, Uruguayans, Argentineans, and Dominicans demonstrated in front of the Cuban embassy in Santiago, Chile to denounce the human rights violations in Cuba and to pray for the liberty of that country in a symbolic vigil.

“The activity we carried out was extremely positive for us, more than 200 young people protested peacefully with the goal of manifesting our vision of what occurs in Cuba. We read a declaration in support of the youth in Cuba who cannot express their opinions freely. As young Chileans we have suffered first hand from a dictatorship and know what it is like, and we hope that Cuban youth will be able to enjoy the same liberty we have today,” stated Marcelo Chavez, president of the youth wing of the Christian Democrat Organization of America (JODCA).

According to Chavez the participants were able to observe how people at the embassy attempted to wet them and put out the candles by bringing out a water hose, but they were unable to impede the success of the activity.

“Lets begin with a prayer for the political prisoners, the prisoners of conscience who are suffering today in Cuba in violation of their rights,” said José Luis Garza from Mexico, one of the founders of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba, in front of the embassy.

The activity, initiated by JODCA and the Christian Democratic Youth of Chile, was the conclusion of the “Cumbre del Sur: Jóvenes Latinoamericanos, Humanistas, Cristianos”, a forum in which young activists from Latin-America united to discuss issues of integration and other important topics in the area. The last panel was dedicated to Cuba with the participation and political, social, and religious activists.

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