In a letter to Oswaldo Paya's widow backs the demand for an international and transparent investigation into the human rights defender's death.
Lech Wałęsa
The city of Gdańsk, July 31, 2012
Lady Ofelia Acevedo
Christian Liberation Movement
Havana, Cuba
Dear Madam:
Once again please accept my condolences on the occasion of the sudden death of Oswaldo. Before this tragedy, I feel that all that we have been moved, we are one family - we are united by faith in the ideas and values, whose propagator was Oswaldo. We share a concern about the works created by him, we are also joined together in the hope of that new Cuba, for which Oswaldo was struggling, to finally become a reality.
Oswaldo has done something exceptional - he has not only integrate the divided opposition, but also has convinced the public that changes are possible. I know how hard it is to overcome fear, to break the stagnation and apathy of the people living in a totalitarian country where there is no freedom. I know how hard it is to fight for ideals when in everyday life you face misunderstanding, hostility, and aggression. How easy it is to renounce one's goals when the regime proposes privileges and a comfortable life. Oswaldo never chose the easy way. Stubbornly and against the difficulties, often finding rejection and hatred, he was realizing his most cherished and only goal: a free and just Cuba, to which he wanted to arrive through nonviolent means.
I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet with Oswaldo and personally express my admiration for his courage and his extraordinary spiritual strength. But Oswaldo, although he died, in my memory he will remain alive forever. I am confident he will stay alive in the memory of all, for whom freedom and human rights are a fundamental value.
It's hard to calm the pain and be resigned to the loss of a loved one. It is difficult to understand the meaning of this suffering, when the family is denied the truth about the circumstances of the death of someone close. The lack of official information, the denial of contact with the participants of the accident, raises questions about the version of events presented in the mass media in Cuba. That is why I am supporting your efforts and those of the MCL for an open transparent investigation and to convene an international commission to investigate the circumstances of the accident.
I assure you of my prayers also.
Lech Walesa
Original in Spanish taken from the MCL website:
Lech Wałęsa
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| Lech Walesa in a letter to Oswaldo Paya's widow calls for international investigation |
Lech Wałęsa
The city of Gdańsk, July 31, 2012
Lady Ofelia Acevedo
Christian Liberation Movement
Havana, Cuba
Dear Madam:
Once again please accept my condolences on the occasion of the sudden death of Oswaldo. Before this tragedy, I feel that all that we have been moved, we are one family - we are united by faith in the ideas and values, whose propagator was Oswaldo. We share a concern about the works created by him, we are also joined together in the hope of that new Cuba, for which Oswaldo was struggling, to finally become a reality.
Oswaldo has done something exceptional - he has not only integrate the divided opposition, but also has convinced the public that changes are possible. I know how hard it is to overcome fear, to break the stagnation and apathy of the people living in a totalitarian country where there is no freedom. I know how hard it is to fight for ideals when in everyday life you face misunderstanding, hostility, and aggression. How easy it is to renounce one's goals when the regime proposes privileges and a comfortable life. Oswaldo never chose the easy way. Stubbornly and against the difficulties, often finding rejection and hatred, he was realizing his most cherished and only goal: a free and just Cuba, to which he wanted to arrive through nonviolent means.
I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet with Oswaldo and personally express my admiration for his courage and his extraordinary spiritual strength. But Oswaldo, although he died, in my memory he will remain alive forever. I am confident he will stay alive in the memory of all, for whom freedom and human rights are a fundamental value.
It's hard to calm the pain and be resigned to the loss of a loved one. It is difficult to understand the meaning of this suffering, when the family is denied the truth about the circumstances of the death of someone close. The lack of official information, the denial of contact with the participants of the accident, raises questions about the version of events presented in the mass media in Cuba. That is why I am supporting your efforts and those of the MCL for an open transparent investigation and to convene an international commission to investigate the circumstances of the accident.
I assure you of my prayers also.
Lech Walesa
Original in Spanish taken from the MCL website:
Lech Wałęsa
La ciudad de Gdańsk, el 31 de Julio del 2012
Señora Ofelia Acevedo
Movimiento Cristiano Liberación
La Habana, Cuba
Estimada Señora:
Otra vez más le ruego acepte mis condolencias con motivo de la
muerte repentina de Oswaldo. Ante la tragedia, siento que todos los que
hemos sido conmovidos, somos una familia – nos une la fe en las ideas y
valores, cuyo propagador fue Oswaldo; nos une la preocupación por la
obra creada por él; nos une también la esperanza sobre que nueva Cuba,
por la cual estuvo luchando Oswaldo, finalmente va a ser la realidad.
Oswaldo ha hecho algo excepcional – ha
logrado no sólo integrar a la oposición dividida, sinó también ha
convencido a la sociedad de que los cambios son posibles. Yo se qué
difícil es superar al miedo, romper al marasmo y la apatía de la gente
que vive en un país totalitario, donde no existe la libertad. Yo se qué
difícil es luchar por los ideales, cuando en la vida cotidiana uno
enfrenta la incomprensión, la enemistad, la agresión. Qué fácil es
renunciar a los objetivos de uno cuando el régimen propone privilegios y
una vida cómoda. Oswaldo jamás ha escogido el camino más fácil. Con
obstinación y en contra a las dificultades, frecuentemente encontrando
al rechazo y al odio, estaba realizando su objetivo más querido, único:
Cuba libre y justa, hacia a la cual quería llegar por la vía pacífica.
Lamento que nunca he tenido la oportunidad de encontrarme con
Oswaldo y personalmente expresarle mi admiración por su valentía y su
extraordinaria fuerza espiritual. Pero Oswaldo, aunque ha fallecido, en
mi memoria se queda vivo para siempre. Confío que va a quedar vivo en la
memoria de todos, para los cuales la libertad y los derechos humanos
son un valor fundamental.
Es dificil calmar al dolor y resignarse a la perdida de un ser
querido. Es difícil comprender el sentido de este sufrimiento, cuando a
la familia se le niega conocer la verdad sobre las circunstancias de la
muerte del cercano. La falta de las informaciones oficiales, el negar el
contacto con los participantes del accidente, despierta dudas sobre la
versión de los acontecimientos, presentada en los medios de difusión
masiva en Cuba. Es por esto que yo estoy apoyando los esfuerzos Suyos y
los del MCL por abrir la investigación transparente y por convocar a una
comisión internacional que investigue las circunstancias del accidente
Les aseguro también sobre mí oración.
Lech Walesa
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