Multitudinous manifestations throughout the world
By Cuban Democratic Directorate
March 20th, 2006 – Young people throughout Latin America and Europe have awakened to the reality in Cuba and have joined the efforts to unmask the totalitarian regime in Cuba. Hundreds of Latin American and European youth have come together in front of Cuban embassies, monuments and plazas, legislative assemblies, and other public locations throughout the world to manifest their solidarity with human rights activists in Cuba, parking the third anniversary of Cuba’s “Black Spring.”
Below is a partial list of the activities.
March 13th, 2006:
Miami, FL – Members of the free Cuba Foundation at Florida International University organized a viewing of the “Cuban Spring” documentary and hosted a lecture by Oscar Peña and Sebastián Arcos Cazabón, members of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights.
March 16th, 2006:
Chile – Students from universities and high schools throughout the region were invited to attend a documentary screening and discussion at The Catholic University of Valparaíso.
Costa Rica – Press conference at the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica with the participation of Representatives Federico Malavassi, Mario Redondo, Elvia Navarro, journalist Adriana Nuñez, Mireya Zamora, ex presidential candidate Otto Guevara, and Representative Elect José Manuel Echandi.
Czech Republic – People in Need organized a demonstration on Thursday 16th March at 17.00 outside the Cuban embassy on Sibiřském náměstí (Siberian Square) in Prague 6. The demonstration called for the release of Cuban political prisoners and expressed support for the Cuban democratic opposition. This action launched several days of events to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the political repressions carried out in Cuba in March 2003.
Germany: International Society for Human Rights, carried out a press conference concerning current situation in Cuba in Frankfurt.
March 17th, 2006:
Czech Republic - A symbolic prison cell was erected in Wenceslas Square in Prague in which participants “served time” for one of the Cuban political prisoners. In addition to the cell, a series of photographs were exhibited of the wives of activists imprisoned during spring 2003, who protest together weekly in Havana against the imprisonment of their husbands. The cell will be officially opened by the mayor of Prague Pavel Bém and the director of People in Need Šimon Pánek.
Slovakia - People in Peril Association and Pontis Foundation prepared a documentary screening called “Cuba – the Island Behind the Bars,” which took place at the Cinema Charlie Center in Bratislava.
March 18th, 2006:
Argentina – More than 50 young members of the Argentinean Chapter of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba (IYCDC) held a peaceful manifestation in front of the Cuban embassy in Buenos Aires, together with representatives of the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (Centro para la Apertura y Desarrollo de América Latina, CADAL). After the demonstration, IYCDC members prayed for those who suffer unjust prison sentences and lit candles, which they placed in front of the embassy in an act of solidarity.
Bulgaria: Volunteers in Bulgaria launched a campaign called “Speak to Cuba” in Sofia where Bulgarians expressed how they feel about Cuba. Bulgarians from several generations answer the question, “From your personal experience of socialism, what would you say to Cubans, what would you wish them?” The answers were revealed on a website dedicated to Cuba and from which the documentary can be downloaded: www.cubalibrebg.org.
Czech Republic: On Saturday 18 March the symbolic cell was be accompanied by small-scale fun activities for children, so as to enable families to take part in the event. A march from the cell on Wenceslas Square took place similar to marches carried out by the Women in White in Havana. Together participants went to the nearby St Havel‘s Church on Havel’s Square (Havelském náměstí) where there was a mass for the prisoners and their families.
Dominican Republic– Members of the Juventud Patriótica Dominicana carried out a manifestation in a public plaza and called for the liberation of political prisoners with the sound of drums and cheers in the background.
Mexico - The International Promoter of Human Rights (Promotora Internacional de Derechos Humanos ) carried out a demonstration by the Jose Marti Monument located by the Jose Marti Cultural center in Mexico City.
Netherlands: In Amsterdam, 22 well-known Dutch writers, journalists, union leaders and politicians adopted a prisoner of conscience with a similar professional background. Centered around a symbolic cell, a number of them demonstrated their support to the public by giving a speech, reading a passage of their own work, a poem, or a piece written by a Cuban prisoner. Afterwards, each participant symbolically donated a book by leaving it behind in prison while the public was requested to do so as well. The latter activity is in the framework of a larger media campaign that Pax Christi is organizing throughout 2006 to draw attention to the censorship that the Cuban regime is imposing on its civil society.
Peru – Members of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba (Comité Internacional de Jóvenes por la Democracia en Cuba) hosted a demonstration in front of the Cuban embassy in Lima, Peru.
Spain: Over 50 people carried out a demonstration in front of the Cuban embassy in Madrid. Wearing caps and sweatshirts that read, “Democracy in Cuba Now!,” they read a letter from the Ladies in White in Cuba, and the complete list of the 75 political prisoners arrested in the Cuban Spring of 2003. http://www.cubaliberal.org/Manifestacion-18-03-2006/index.html
Uruguay – Members of the Uruguayan Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba gathered in front of the Cuban embassy in Montevideo with 8 meter-long banners that read “No More Political Prisoners in Cuba” and “Uruguay Youth Awaken!”. After the demonstration, they celebrated mass in solidarity with Cuban opposition.
Uruguay – National Representative Etcheverry, who is member of the International Women’s Committee for Democracy in Cuba proposed a resolution in the Uruguayan parliament where she calls for solidarity with the opposition in Cuba. The proposal was approved by 39 uruguyana representatives.
Venezuela – – Members of the International Youth Committee for Democracy in Cuba will host a press conference to raise awareness about the human rights violations in Cuba.
March 19th, 2006:
Miami, FL – Mass was celebrated at the Ermita de la Caridad, at 8pm. Members of various local organizations were in attendance and women wore white clothing in support of the Ladies in White and the courageous men and women in Cuba. Mass was followed by a procession toward Biscayne Bay where prayers were offered for the victims of repression in Cuba.
March 20th, 2006:
Chile – Conference and dialogue in Santiago, Chile to strengthen solidarity with the Cuban people will be hosted at 6:30 at the Gabriel Mistral Cultural Center on Alameda 1460.
March 23rd, 2006:
Gainesville, Florida – University students will host a lecture series on Human Rights, focusing on the current situation in Cuba.
March 29, 2006:
Spain: Reporters without Borders and People in Need plan to host a photo exhibition and presentation of RSF report in Madrid from March 29 through- April 30, 2006.
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Cuban Democratic Directorate
