CADAL supports the Parliamentary Statement for Democracy in Cuba

The Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) adheres to the declaration promoted by parliamentarians for democracy in Cuba.

The Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) adheres to the declaration promoted by parliamentarians for democracy in Cuba, which is reproduced below:

Today is the first anniversary of the tragic departure of two prominent fighters for democracy in Cuba: Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero, from Movimiento Cristiano Liberación. And every day shows more evidences - including the testimony of those who were traveling with them, that show these deaths were not the result of a reckless car accident, but in fact caused by agents of the Castro regime, a murder.

Democracy in Latin America is in mourning to remember these defenders of freedom. Therefore, more than never, we must demand an international independent Investigation, which allows us to reach the truth.

Payá's family had to leave their homeland because of the multiple and constant threats against their security and life. What we political representatives of the region did? For this case, there was no emergency meetings by UNASUR, neither proclamations of the countries of ALBA and MERCOSUR. The silence tarnished the supposed democracy that many of the nations of the continent live. Meanwhile, the Cuban people are still suffering the ravages of a dictatorship that does not forgive neither a different thought, and, even kills through the hunger and misery.

Those who, in our speeches, proclaim to work with Human Rights, can we remain indifferent to such torture and persecution daily experienced by the democrats in Cuba? How not to repudiate in every forum and activity to the longest tyranny that have ever existed in Latin America? We must to stop the impunity with which the regime acts.

One year after the death of these two great Cubans,  we must all join hands to make their legacy continue, and convey our sympathy to the families and citizens who want to see a free and democratic Cuba.

To them, we say that, beyond partisanship, together, without greed that separates us, we will see very soon, that dream came truth.

Patricio Walker Prieto
Senator
Republic of Chile

Cornelia Schmidt-Liermann
National Representative
Argentina Republic

Parlamentarios por la Democracia en Cuba
www.parladem.org