Buzek on the harassment of members of "Damas de Blanco" in Cuba
President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek send his profound message of solidarity to Cuban people struggling for freedom.
President Buzek said:
"I urge the Cuban government to stop arresting people who protest for freedom. We are waiting for almost five years already to hand the Sakharov Prize to the Damas de Blanco. They are still not allowed to leave their country. Now, we found out that they have been denied their right to ask for freedom and have been arrested. Police brutality against the mothers and wives of political dissidents is outrageous and unacceptable.
Today, on the anniversary of the mass arrests in 2003, the European Parliament is calling again for the immediate release of all political prisoners. After the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo we are seriously worried about the situation of all political prisoners behind the bars. We are particularly concerned about the alarming state of the journalist and psychologist Guillermo Fariñas. We cannot afford another death in Cuba.
The Cuban government must respect fundamental freedoms, especially the freedom of expression and political association. It is a sine-qua non condition for relations with the country to improve."
Cuban police have detained yesterday 30 members of the "Damas de Blanco", wives and mothers of political dissidents, who were marching and calling for freedom of the beloved ones.
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Background note:
The European Parliament adopted last week a resolution on prisoners of conscience in Cuba, following the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo who protested against government abuses. The resolution calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. The European Parliament urges the EU institutions to give their unconditional support and full encouragement to the launching of a peaceful process of political transition to multi-party democracy in Cuba. In 2005, European Parliament awarded human rights award, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to "Damas de Blanco".
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Delia Vlase
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