Crash Survivor: Cuban secret service murdered Oswaldo Payá

Murdered by the Cuban Secret Service

Ángel Carromero, the young politician of the Partido Popular (Popular Party) breaks his silence and speaks to the Spanish media (El Mundo) on August 4, 2013 about what happened on July 22, 2012 on a road in Bayamo, on the one year anniversary of the deaths of Cuban opposition leader, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and MCL youth leader Harold Cepero Escalante.  Ángel first spoke of the events on that day to The Washington Post on March 5, 2013.

Ángel Carromero

Below is a translated excerpt from the interview in El Mundo:

Question. - What happened that July 22 in Cuba?
 
Response.-We were going to Santiago and they had already followed us on three occasions during the journey. In Bayamo, a blue vehicle begins to pursue us. Harassing us, it comes very close. So close that I could see the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror. Seeing the car, Oswaldo says, 'They belong to the communists because of the color of the license plate. Angel, continue as if nothing. "
 
Q. - Do you accelerates at that time to try to escape?
 
R. 'On the contrary. We did not want to give them an excuse to stop us. It was also impossible to go fast, the road is very winding and full of potholes.
 
Q. - And what happens next?
 
R. - The car smashed into us from behind and knocks us off of the roadway. I lose consciousness. The next thing I remember is how men put me in a van with sliding doors, such as those used by Cuban state security, and I sream, "F*+k! who are you and what the f*+ck have you done." Then I lose consciousness. I think they hit me with the butt of a gun because I have a breech in the head.
 
Q. - Did both Cuban dissidents come out of the accident alive?
 
A. - Yes, I'm quite sure. The nurses and a pastor assured me that four of us had entered the hospital.
 
Q - Was it a strong impact?
 
R. - The windows of the car did not break Aron nor I had any bruising.
 
Q. And if it was not an accident, how Oswaldo Payá died?
 
R. - The Cuban secret service murdered Oswaldo Payá. It was not the first time they had tried. Two months earlier, another car had caused their vehicle to flip.

 

June 25, 2012 Oswaldo and Ofelia in van flipped over by another car

The original Spanish text reproduced below:

Pregunta.– ¿Qué ocurrió aquel 22 de julio en Cuba?
Respuesta.–Nos dirigíamos a Santiago y ya nos habían seguido tres veces durante el trayecto. En Bayamo, un vehículo azul comienza a perseguirnos. Viene hostigándonos muy cerca. Tanto que pude ver los ojos del conductor por el retrovisor. Al ver el coche, Oswaldo me dice: «Son de la comunista por el color de la placa. Ángel, sigue como si nada».
P.–¿Acelera en ese momento para intentar escapar?
R.–Todo lo contrario. No queríamos darles una excusa para que nos dieran el alto. Además, era imposible ir deprisa, la carretera es muy sinuosa y está llena de socavones.
P.–¿Y qué ocurre después?
R.– El coche nos embiste por detrás y nos saca de la calzada. Yo pierdo el conocimiento. Lo siguiente que recuerdo es cómo unos hombres me meten en una furgoneta con puertas correderas, como las que usa la seguridad del Estado cubano, y les grito: «¡Joder, quiénes sois y qué cojones nos habéis hecho!». Luego vuelvo a perder el conocimiento. Creo que me dieron con una culata porque tengo una brecha en la cabeza.
P.–¿Salieron los dos disidentes cubanos vivos del accidente?
R.– Sí, estoy completamente seguro. Las enfermeras y un párroco me aseguran que en el hospital hemos ingresado los cuatro.
P.–¿Fue un impacto fuerte?
R.– Los cristales del coche no se rompen y ni Aron ni yo tenemos ninguna magulladura.
P.–Y si no fue un accidente, ¿cómo murió Oswaldo Payá?
R.– Los servicios secretos cubanos asesinaron a Oswaldo Payá. No era la primera vez que lo intentaban. Dos meses antes otro coche había hecho volcar su vehículo.