Christian Liberation Movement statement on 32nd anniversary since its founding

1988-2020 XXXII Anniversary of the Christian Liberation Movement.

 

Statement by the Christian Liberation Movement

Today marks 32 years since the founding of the Christian Liberation Movement, our thanks and admiration to its founding fathers, and many congratulations to all the brothers who during these years have remained firm and consistent with the principles and values ​​of Liberation.

These years have been hard: persecution, repression, jail, exile, isolation, murder of our leaders; but also fruitful, there are the Varela Project, The Peoples Path (El Camino del Pueblo), the Heredia Project, Once Cuban one Vote (Un Cubano un Voto), among others; formidable expressions of citizen mobilization in order to demand the rights that the regime denies to the Cuban people.

We use nonviolence as a method of struggle to subvert oppression, and as a rational and civilized response to intolerance and hatred.

For the people a message of faith and hope, with the certainty that change is possible if all Cubans of good will work for that purpose.

Freedom for Cuba, enough of injustices and oppression!
 

Freedom for all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience!

Long live Oswaldo and Harold!

Long live the MCL!

 

Original text in Spanish below:

1988-2020 XXXII Aniversario del Movimiento Cristiano Liberación.

Hoy cumple 32 años de fundado el Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, nuestro agradecimiento y admiración a sus padres fundadores, y muchas felicidades a todos los hermanos que durante estos años se han mantenido firmes y coherentes a los principios y valores de Liberación.

Estos años han sido duros: persecución, represión, cárcel, destierro, aislamiento, asesinato de nuestros lideres; pero también fecundos, ahí están el Proyecto Varela , El Camino del Pueblo, el Proyecto Heredia, Un Cubano un Voto entre otros; formidables expresiones de movilización ciudadana en aras de exigir los derechos que el régimen niega al pueblo cubano.

Empleamos la no violencia como método de lucha para subvertir la opresión, y como respuesta racional y civilizada a la intolerancia y el odio.

Para el pueblo  un mensaje de fe y esperanza, con la certeza que el cambio es posible si todos los cubanos de buena voluntad trabajamos por dicho propósito.

¡Libertad para Cuba, basta ya de injusticias y opresión!

Libertad para todos los presos políticos y de ¡conciencia!

¡Vivan Oswaldo y Harold!

¡Viva  el MCL!

 Eduardo Cardet.

Coordinador  Nacional  del MCL

http://www.oswaldopaya.org/es/2020/09/08/1988-2020-xxxiii-aniversario-del-movimiento-cristiano-liberacion-por-eduardo-cardet/

Cuban prisoner of conscience released on parole after 2 years 5 months and 4 days unjustly imprisoned

Cardet paroled on conditional liberty.

Eduardo Cardet Concepción paroled after 2 years 5 months and 4 days jailed.

Christian Liberation Movement spokesperson Regis Iglesias released a transcript of the first statement made by Eduardo Cardet Concepción upon his parole on Saturday, May 4, 2019 that is translated here to English:

"Right now I am at home under the terms of what is called conditional liberty, early release. Supposedly my unjust and arbitrary conviction should end on September 30 of this year.

"We are here, by whatever means. Although it is in these ambiguous and unjust terms, it fills us with joy to be here at home, with family, with friends, with brothers. "

"In the first place, I would like to thank so many people of good will who have always been aware of [this case], who have given us all possible support ... I do not want to mention people specifically because there have been many people and, most importantly, I think that It was the recognition of the just cause that we have always followed.

"For a matter of principle, I have been in prison for around two and a half years, but here we are, and we're on our feet, full of life, full of desires and hoping for the best for everyone, especially for our people who are in such a difficult situation right now."

Eduardo Cardet Concepción spent two years five months and four days arbitrarily detained in Cuba by the Castro regime. On Saturday, May 4, 2019 he was paroled under "conditional liberty."  He had been provided a furlough to visit his family for the second time. The first furlough had been in early April 2019.

In a later interview with 14ymedio Dr. Cardet declared: "What I received is what they call anticipated freedom or conditional liberty." ... "It is a half-hearted freedom, it's not a favor of course, but rather a way for them to ease the tensions they have."

There has been a non-stop international campaign for the release of Dr. Cardet since November 30, 2016.  Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience on January 31, 2017 and followed his case. Amnesty International chapters around the world campaigned for his release.

United Nations Watch campaigned for the release of Eduardo Cardet filing a successful petition in July of 2018 that was upheld by the working group months later. 

In November 2018 the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a quasi-judicial panel of five experts, found that Cuba arrested Dr. Cardet without a legal basis. The UN panel called on Cuba to immediately release Dr. Cardet and grant him reparations.

On March 26, 2019 human rights lawyer Juan Carlos Gutierrez outlined Eduardo Cardet's case and plight at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in Geneva, Switzerland.

In addition, the Spanish Senate, members of the U.S. Congress, international human rights gatherings, civil society and the Christian Liberation Movement had all called for his immediate release.


This international mobilization on his behalf is important but it is also important to remember and provide context to what was done to Dr. Cardet.

Eduardo Cardet Concepción is a medical doctor, a husband, and a father of two small children. He is widely respected in his community. He is a person of impeccable moral character. Despite all of this, he was beaten up and arrested in front of his wife and children on November 30, 2016.  In March of 2017 he was subjected to a political show trial and sentenced to three years in prison. Dr. Cardet was beaten up again in prison, was stabbed with a sharp object repeatedly, and denied family visits because they were campaigning for his release. 

What led to this mistreatment? 

Following Fidel Castro's November 25, 2016 death, Dr. Cardet explained to a foreign journalist that "Castro was a very controversial man, very much hated and rejected by our people." On November 30, 2016 when he returned home to Cuba he was beaten up in front of his wife and children by Cuban state security and jailed. Amnesty International has recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.

Eduardo Cardet is the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement. [His predecessor, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, met with a suspicious death along with  Harold Cepero Escalante on July 22, 2012.]  

Amnesty International observes that as long as Dr. Cardet has been released under conditional liberty and is subject to certain conditions, he remains a prisoner of conscience. 

The campaign for his full freedom continues.

Cuban prisoner of conscience marks 803 days in prison.

"I regret that the EU does not require Cuba to stop being a totalitarian regime." - Eduardo Cardet, over twitter on September 19, 2016

Prisoner of conscience Eduardo Cardet has spent 803 days unjustly imprisoned

Dr. Eduardo Cardet has spent 803 days unjustly imprisoned and separated from his family. Eduardo is a medical doctor, a husband, a father of two small children, and the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL). MCL is a nonviolent movement that has sought civic means to achieve democratic change in Cuba.

Fidel Castro died on November 25, 2016 while Cardet was outside of Cuba. He was interviewed by international media and gave a frank assessment of Fidel Castro's political legacy and said that there was nothing positive.

Two days after Fidel Castro's death was announced Eduardo Cardet described events as follows: “There are few people in the streets, and lots of police presence. Lots of controls and restrictions. Castro was a man hated and rejected by the Cuban people.”

He returned to Cuba and was beaten up and arrested in front of his wife and children on November 30, 2016. Since that day he has been arbitrarily and unjustly detained by the Castro dictatorship.


Refusing to mourn Fidel Castro's death is punishable by prison in Cuba, and offering a nonviolent political alternative to the existing system is grounds for a prolonged prison sentence.

In March of 2017 he was sentenced to three years in prison, and Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.

The Spanish Senate, members of Congress, international human rights gatherings, civil society and the Christian Liberation Movement have called for his immediate release.

Today, his plight is not forgotten and in the United Kingdom calls for his freedom continue.

After talk on human rights in #Cuba, Amnesty Southampton & Romsey groups demand freedom for POC Dr Cardet! ⁦@AIUK_NAMCAR⁩ ⁦@AICaribbean⁩ ⁦@AmnestyUK⁩ @MCL ⁦@DiazCanelB⁩ ⁦@sarahrainsford⁩ ⁦⁦@reuterssarah⁩ ⁦@ShefAmnesty⁩ pic.twitter.com/jPEnrhyJL1

— sue bingham (@sue4cuba) February 11, 2019

Cuba's Orwellian Dystopia: Where artists and doctors are jailed for defending human dignity and freedom

"If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” George Orwell, 1984

No to Decree 349

Three artists were arrested on Monday, December 3, 2018 outside Cuba’s Ministry of Culture when they protested against the enactment of Decree 349, which places strict limits on artists and the distribution of art. Tania Bruguera, Michel Matos and Amaury Pacheco were arrested.

Michel Matos, Amaury Pacheco and other artists protesting Decree 349 in Cuba

Tania was released earlier today, according to EFE, but Michel Matos and Amaury Pacheco remain detained. The whereabouts of Luis Manuel Otero y Yanelys Núñez are unknown. 

Being jailed for expressing yourself is a common occurrence in Cuba.

Eduardo Cardet Concepción marked two years in prison on November 30, 2018.  Eduardo is a medical doctor, a husband, and a father of two small children. He is widely respected in his community. He is a person of impeccable moral character. 

Despite all of this, he was beaten up and arrested in front of his wife and children on November 30, 2016. He has spent 735 days in captivity, continued to suffer beatings in prison, and was repeatedly stabbed with a sharp object. Both he and his family have been additionally punished, and visits and calls denied for months at a time.

Eduardo Cardet

Eduardo Cardet is a democrat, a human rights defender, and speaks his mind openly. Because of this he had been a victim of regime harassment in the past.

When Fidel Castro died on November 25, 2016, Cardet was outside of Cuba. He was interviewed by international media and gave a frank assessment of Fidel Castro's political legacy and said that there was nothing positive.

This is why he is rotting in a Cuban prison and not seeing his family, or patients.

Cuba is a dystopian nightmare where artists and doctors are jailed for defending human dignity and freedom.

This needs to change.

Free Eduardo Cardet: Prisoner of conscience marks two years (731 days) unjustly imprisoned in Cuba

"The oppressor dies and he is forgotten, the free man is jailed and he is mentioned everywhere." - Waleed Abu al-Khair

Eduardo Cardet Concepción marks two years in prison today in Cuba.  Eduardo is a medical doctor, a husband, and a father of two small children. He is widely respected in his community. He is a person of impeccable moral character. Despite all of this, he was beaten up and arrested in front of his wife and children on November 30, 2016. He has spent 731 days in captivity, continued to suffer beatings in prison, and was repeatedly stabbed with a sharp object. Both he and his family have been additionally punished, and visits and calls denied for months at a time.

In March of 2017 he was sentenced to three years in prison, and Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.

The Spanish Senate, members of Congress, international human rights gatherings, civil society and the Christian Liberation Movement have called for his immediate release.

The obvious question that arises is what did this good man and his family do to receive all this punishment?

The answer is simple, but hard to believe if one does not understand the nature of the government in Cuba.

Eduardo Cardet in addition to everything outlined in the second and third sentence of the first paragraph of this essay is also a democrat, a human rights defender, and speaks his mind openly. Because of this he had been a victim of regime harassment in the past.

Fidel Castro died on November 25, 2016 while Cardet was outside of Cuba. He was interviewed by international media and gave a frank assessment of Fidel Castro's political legacy and said that there was nothing positive.

Refusing to mourn Fidel Castro's death is punishable by prison in Cuba, and offering a nonviolent political alternative to the existing system is grounds for a prolonged prison sentence.

This is why Eduardo Cardet Concepción is a prisoner of conscience who has observed his 49th and 50th birthdays in a Cuban prison.

Let us make sure that this innocent man's name is mentioned everywhere.

#FreeCardet

Cuban opposition group releases statement on 30th anniversary of its founding

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Charity and Patron of Cuba and the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of Cuba's Christian Liberation Movement (MCL). On Friday, September 7, 2018 Rosa Maria Rodríguez, member of the Coordinating Council of MCL, was interrogated and threatened for eight hours by the police because the Christian Liberation Movement had requested that a park in Havana be named after Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas. Last year at this time Hurricane Irma was pounding Cuba. Today the Castro regime continues its dictatorial rule over the island, but Cubans continue to fight for freedom. Below is the MCL statement on the thirtieth anniversary of their founding.

CHRISTIAN LIBERATION MOVEMENT: 
30 YEARS FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF CUBANS

On September 8, 1988, a small but courageous handful of Cubans, composed of Oswaldo Payá, Ramón Antúnez, Dagoberto Capote, Santiago Cárdenas and Fernando Arvelo, inspired by their faith, the strength of their ideals and love for our country, founded the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL), to work for the recovery of popular sovereignty and national reconciliation. 

 "Liberation is our purpose, liberation carried out by the people, who will not be a spectator of the moment in which their destiny is decided. We do not call all against each other, but all for a new Cuba. We reject violence, offense, lies and destruction as means of struggle. We do not believe that the end justifies the means. Our goal is to achieve freedom, justice and this is achieved only moved by love. Freedom is true only if it emanates from love. "

 Since then, many Cubans have joined the Christian Liberation Movement and have given their best for their Homeland. Some are no longer physically with us. Others have chosen different paths. Most of them have remained faithful to the principles and values ​​on which the MCL is based.They have spent 30 years walking together with the people. 30 years working hard for freedom and the rights for all Cubans. 30 years suffering persecution, imprisonment, exile and even the murder of their leaders.

Members of the Christian Liberation Movement in Hialeah, FL

Today, like 30 years ago, the future of Cuba appears dark. The Cuban regime, in a great political marketing maneuver, playing with the longings of change of the Cuban society, tries to make believe to the Cubans themselves and to the international community, that in Cuba a process of changes has been initiated. But they only seek to institutionalize the fake-change so often denounced by the Christian Liberation Movement, which has already cost the lives of its founder Oswaldo Payá and the youth leader Harold Cepero, as well as the imprisonment of its current National Coordinator Eduardo Cardet. 

We take this opportunity to call attention to the situation of Eduardo Cardet, who in 2014 was elected by the Coordinating Council of the MCL as Oswaldo Payá's successor to lead the Christian Liberation Movement. Cardet was detained 2 years ago with extreme violence in front of his wife and children, and once in the dungeon they continued to beat him while they kept him in handcuffs.

MCL: Regis Iglesias, Tony Díaz Sánchez, jailed leader Dr. Eduardo Cardet

In prison he has been attacked by common inmates, he was even the object of an assassination attempt encouraged by State Security itself. Eduardo is not given the medical attention he requires and he has also been banned from family visits for 6 months, as well as phone calls, for maintaining a firm position and not give up on his principles. In this way they also punish his family for reporting his situation. We also thank all the expressions of solidarity with Eduardo Cardet and his family received mainly from the international community.

 The majority of the Cuban people know that the political-military-financial oligarchy that governs the destinies of Cuba only seeks to apply make up to the existing reality to perpetuate itself in power. That is why the only horizon that many visualize is to escape from Cuba, to any place, in any way. Cubans are tired of being asked for sacrifices, while they lead a life of millionaires. "We Cubans are simple and we only want a life of love and peace, but we can not, we do not know and we do not want to live without freedom."

No more "rectification of errors". No more "updating" of the socioeconomic system. No more "experiments." Cubans are not laboratory rats. We are human beings, and as such we deserve respect for our dignity. "We Cubans have a right to rights."

It is time for Cuban society to demand and make the changes it wants and needs. And changes mean, in the current context, freedom and all rights for all Cubans. "We do not believe the erroneous and fatal omen that there is no other way but to lead a false and unworthy life. Faced with the fatal conjuncture of Socialism or Death, we proclaim the alternative of Freedom and Life. "

We reaffirm that it is up to Cubans and only Cubans to define and decide freely and democratically the future of Cuba, as an independent and sovereign country, without interventions or foreign interference, neither from the North, nor from the South, nor from the East, nor from the West.

Founding member of MCL Ramon Antunez recognized.

We remind the international community, with respect but also firmly, that sovereignty resides in the people, not in the government; and that the rights are held by the citizens, not the rulers. And as Oswaldo Payá expressed before the European Parliament, on the occasion of receiving the Andrei Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Conscience 2002, "dictatorships are not left or right, they are simply dictatorships". If some countries or groups of countries prefer, by promoting their own interests or geopolitical positions, to align themselves with those who for 60 years have oppressed and discriminated against their own people; we, the Christian Liberation Movement, as proclaimed by our founders 30 years ago, "will fight for our freedom, even alone, as in 1868 and 1895, even with the world against us. We do not need anyone's license in this world to claim the freedom that God gave to man. "

Once again, as we did 30 years ago, "we proclaim before the world our determination to conquer the freedom and full dignity of man, the sovereignty for the people and to build a new nation for all."

"All Cubans, all brothers and now freedom!"
September 8, 2018

XXX Anniversary of the Christian Liberation Movement

Original Spanish text here.

Free Cuban prisoners of conscience Dr. Eduardo Cardet Concepción and Dr. Ariel Ruiz Urquiola.

120 identified political prisoners: spotlight on two prisoners of conscience

The Cuban Commission of Human Rights and National Reconciliation reported in June 2018 that there were 120 political prisoners in Cuba with some the longest serving in the Western Hemisphere. Twenty one of them have served between 15 and 27 years in prison.

In this entry will focus on two political prisoners who are recognized by Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience. A prisoner of conscience is anyone imprisoned for the non-violent exercise of their beliefs.  Their names are Dr. Eduardo Cardet Concepción and Dr. Ariel Ruiz Urquiola.
Cardet is a doctor of medicine and Ruiz is a PhD in biology.

Dr. Cardet in addition to being a medical doctor is also the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement. He has been arbitrarily detained since November 30, 2016 under conditions that qualify as cruel and unusual treatment. He has been subjected to beatings, denied medical treatment and family visits.

On June 21, 2018 the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) reported that "despite the fact that the result of the biopsy was already done, they have not yet informed Eduardo Cardet or his family. Neither did he [Cardet] have knowledge of the denial of his parole, he learned about it through his family in a call today." MCL has a campaign underway on social media to send messages demanding Eduardo Cardet's immediate and unconditional release.

Freedom for #EduardoCardet
Send an email to President #Cuba
IT TAKES LESS THAN ONE MINUTE
Subject: Immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Eduardo Cardet to: cuba@un.int, correominint@mn.mn.co.cu
Copy to: info@oswaldopaya.org https://t.co/Gm3vX4s5P1

— MCL (@oswaldopaya) June 23, 2018

Dr Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, a former university professor and an environmental activist, was arrested on May 3, 2018 and sentenced in Cuba to one-year imprisonment for contempt when he asked two forest rangers to show him their identification. The officials left the area and later in the evening three police officers came with a warrant, arrested and took Ariel to the police Station in Viñales. 

The case of Dr. Ruiz has taken on a new urgency for two reasons.  First the Cuban biologist is on the seventh day of a hunger and thirst strike demanding that he be freed. He is already hospitalized and refusing an intravenous feed. Secondly, there are concerns that his sister suffering from cancer is not being provided proper treatment. There is a social media campaign using the hashtag #FreeAriel underway on twitter.

Rosa María Payá over twitter anounced the stakes in the plight of the biologist and his sister. "The Dictatorship tries to eliminate Dr. Ariel Ruiz Urquiola. Ariel is in critical condition at the Abel Santamaría hospital, under harassment from the political police who keep coercing his sister Omara, a cancer patient."

#SOSAriel #Cuba
La Dictadura intenta eliminar al Dr. Ariel Ruiz Urquiola

Ariel se encuentra en estado crítico en el hospital Abel Santamaría, bajo hostigamiento de la policía política que se mantiene coaccionando a su hermana Omara, paciente de cáncer.#LiberenAAriel #FreeAriel pic.twitter.com/iKPrjxKU77

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) June 23, 2018

Cuban prisoner of conscience denied visits for six months

Visits to Eduardo Cardet are suspended for 6 months.

Yaimaris Vecino and Eduardo Cardet

The Cuban regime has suspended visits to prisoner of conscience Eduardo Cardet, leader of the Christian Liberation Movement who has been in prison since November 30, 2016. Yaimaris Vecino, the wife of Eduardo Cardet protested:

"Today, May 26, we went to the prison in Cuba Si, it was the visit that Eduardo's mother, his sister, my children and I scheduled, and they prevented us from seeing him, the prison authorities alleging  that Eduardo has given "false information" that according to them, the family is spreading and in retaliation suspended visits for six months." Yaimaris went on to say that "this is a new arbitrariness against Eduardo and I seriously fear for his physical integrity."

Background
Eduardo Cardet Concepción, successor to martyred founding leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, and unjustly jailed since November 30, 2016 was badly beaten, subjected to a political show trial, sentenced to three years in prison on March 20, 2017, and stabbed twice by three prisoners on December 19, 2017. This attack was most probably engineered by Castro's State Security in order to permanently silence him. The seriousness of the attack was only learned on January 15, 2018 when his wife was finally able to visit him in prison and see the extent of his injuries.  His health has been worsening and he has been refused religious assistance. It is feared that an injury on Eduardo Cardet's nose may require surgery because it could be cancer.

Cuba's UPR record is a shameful indictment: A regime that beats and imprisons doctors who dissent

"Facts are difficult things."  - John Adams

Prisoner of conscience Dr. Eduardo Cardet

Cuba will undergo its third Universal Periodic Review from 2:30pm to 6:00pm on May 16, 2018 Geneva time. The propaganda machine has already started up, but facts are difficult things.

The regime in Cuba calls itself a medical superpower and boasts of its medical doctors, but these health care professionals are not free, and not entitled to their opinion. Take a moment and review the case of Eduardo Cardet MD.

Medical doctor, beloved by his community, husband, and father of two. Today his life hangs in the balance in Cuba. On November 30, 2016 in front of his wife and kids he was beaten up by Castro's political police and taken away.  Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience. He was sentenced to three years in prison on March 20, 2017 in a political show trial that violated international norms. He was badly beaten and stabbed twice by three prisoners on December 19, 2017 most likely on orders of regime agents. Family fears that he has a carcinoma on his nose that is not being treated. 

Eduardo Cardet continues to suffer this injustice in Cuba today. He is the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement, a Cuban opposition movement that mobilized tens of thousands of Cubans to peacefully petition the Castro regime for democratic change. When members of his movement, on April 5, 2018, attempted to turn in a petition signed by 10,000 Cubans they were detained for 24 hours and the signatures seized by the political police. There are fears that those who signed will be persecuted.

This is the reality that the Castro regime is trying to hide behind an avalanche of propaganda. Dr. Eduardo Cardet should never have been jailed. He is a prisoner of conscience and should be free. 

He is not the first doctor imprisoned for what he thought. Decades earlier Dr. Armando Valladares would spend many years in prison for his dissenting opinion. Dr. Desi Mendoza imprisoned because he spoke out about a dengue epidemic. There have been others whose names we do not know.

Update on the plight of Cuban prisoner of conscience Eduardo Cardet and the campaign for his release.

Christian Liberation Movement demands release of Eduardo Cardet and questions seizure of 10,000 signatures.

Eduardo Cardet Concepción and Rosa María Rodríguez Gil

Rosa María Rodríguez (MCL) presents the case of Eduardo Cardet in the offices of the Council of State

On April 26, 2018 at 8:30 am Rosa Maria Rodríguez Gil, member of the Coordinating Council of the Christian Liberation Movement, presented herself at the offices of the  Council of State where she had arranged an appointment.

She was received by Felicia Martínez Suárez who explained that she is the one who attends to citizens for the Council of State.

Rosa Rodríguez explained that on April 5th she and her husband Alejandro Febles were detained for 24 hours and they seized 10,000 signatures for the freedom of Eduardo Cardet that the MCL had collected and precisely planned to deliver at this meeting.

Update. 04/26 
The situation of Eduardo Cardet remains unchanged. He can only call 5 minutes a week, without privacy so it is very difficult to know his real state.

Update 04/17 
Eduardo Cardet received a visit from his wife yesterday.  He was not allowed to deliver letters addressed to his children and his mother, this for no reason, another unjust imposition. The lawyer informs that the application for parole is going through the "corresponding channels" but there are still no answers. In relation to his health, a specialist in maxillofacial surgery, indicated a biopsy and thinks that in all probability his case requires surgery even a skin graft is probable.

Eduardo Cardet Concepción's health is deteriorating

Background
Eduardo Cardet Concepción, successor to martyred founding leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, and unjustly jailed since November 30, 2016 was badly beaten, subjected to a political show trial, sentenced to three years in prison on March 20, 2017, and stabbed twice by three prisoners on December 19, 2017. This attack was most probably engineered by Castro's State Security in order to permanently silence him. The seriousness of the attack was only learned on January 15, 2018 when his wife was finally able to visit him in prison and see the extent of his injuries.  His health has been worsening and he has been refused religious assistance. It is feared that an injury on Eduardo Cardet's nose may require surgery because it could be cancer.

Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero were murdered on July 22, 2012 and Rosa María Payá is in Havana seeking justice for them

"...[W]hile others remain silent we will not be silenced, and we will not stop seeking the truth even if it means remaining alone." - Rosa María Payá, August 1, 2012 

A pesar de la represión, a pesar del despotismo, a pesar de la obscenidad de ser la tiranía más larga de América, hay esperanza para quienes trabajamos por una Cuba sin Castros: súmate al Plebiscito @CUBADECIDE.#IDEAesPremioPaya#MasCastrismoParaQue @JuventudLAC pic.twitter.com/AfllbbKNEQ

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 8, 2018

Every time Rosa María Payá returns to Cuba I find it difficult to sleep and worry about her safety, and admire her courage. Yesterday she was told to report to the Ministry of Justice to receive a response to the appeal she introduced last November concerning the murder of her dad Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas. In the tweet below Rosa stated, "Judith, Director of Criminal Matters @ the Ministry of Justice (she refused to give me her last name), cited me today to return tomorrow to MinJus to receive a response to the claim I filed last November, about the murder of my dad Oswaldo Payá in Cuba on 7/22/2012."

Judith, Directora de Asuntos Penales de Ministerio de Justicia (se negó a darme su apellido), me citó hoy para regresar mañana jueves a MinJus a recibir respuesta de la reclamación que introduje en noviembre pasado, sobre el asesinato de mi padre Oswaldo Payá en Cuba el 22/7/2012 pic.twitter.com/9mixbVK68L

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 14, 2018

In a second tweet yesterday, the daughter of the martyred Cuban opposition leader reported, "I have an appointment tomorrow, Thursday 10:00am, with Dr. Jorge Bodes of Criminal Matters, Cuban Ministry of Justice to respond to my claim for review of the sentence, for the farce of a trial carried out for murder of my dad Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero. Be attentive please."

Tengo cita mañana jueves 10am para que Dr. Jorge Bodes de Asuntos Penales de Ministerio de Justicia cubano responda a mi reclamación de revisión de sentencia, por la farsa de juicio realizado por el asesinato de mi padre Oswaldo Payá y Harold Cepero. Estemos atentos, por favor! pic.twitter.com/6nLnIP1fPb

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 14, 2018

This morning she went to the Ministry of Justice and described the scene that she observed upon arrival. "Great presence of agents of the political police while I now enter the Ministry of Justice to receive a response for the review of sentence in the case of the murder of my dad Oswaldo Payá in Cuba, on Sunday, July 22, 2012 in a state attack."

Gran presencia de agentes de la policía política mientras entro ahora al Ministerio de Justicia para recibir respuesta por la revisión de sentencia en el caso del asesinato de mi padre Oswaldo Payá en Cuba, el domingo 22 de julio de 2012, en un atentado de Estado.

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 15, 2018

She exited the Ministry of Justice and delivered the difficult but not surprising news that the "Department of Criminal Matters of the Ministry of Justice becomes an accomplice of my father's assassins refusing to review the sentence to analyze the forensic evidence of the car of the accused that was not presented at trial," and ended with the hashtag #EnoughOfImpunity.

Departamento de Asuntos Penales del Ministerio de Justicia se convierte en cómplice de los asesinos de mi padre negándose a revisar la sentencia para practicar las pruebas periciales al auto delnatentado que no se expusieron en el juicio.#BastaDeImpunidad pic.twitter.com/fjiTlYUJkM

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 15, 2018

She explained over another tweet how, "Jorge Bodes, Head of the Department of Criminal Matters of the Ministry of Justice, denies that its necessary to review expert evidence because he didn't see in photos that the car "was impacted by another vehicle." She posts it with a photo of the car that shows it was hit from behind by another vehicle. She concludes that " [Bodes] becomes an accomplice who hides evidence."

Jorge Bodes Jefe del departamento de Asuntos Penales del Ministerio de Justicia, niega que sean necesarias practicar pruebas periciales porque él no vio en las fotos que a ese auto "lo impactó otro vehículo"
Se convierte en cómplice quien esconde evidencia.#BastaDeImpunidad pic.twitter.com/YaUfJMiID7

— Rosa María Payá A. (@RosaMariaPaya) March 15, 2018

The Payá family has refused to be silent and continues in their efforts for justice for Oswaldo. They have remained true to their commitment made on August 1, 2012 when Rosa María Payá Acevedo read a statement that sadly remains relevant today.

My father faced the power of a state, a totalitarian state with 53 years experience. And that state is dropping all its force against a family, my family for many years now. Once more I fear for the lives of my brothers, my mother and my whole family. I reiterate that I hold the government responsible for the physical integrity of the members of my family.

We have the support of many within and outside Cuba, we thank you deeply. On the other hand, we know that these events have become a matter of state and we know that sometimes between states there are pacts and silence, but while others remain silent we will not be silenced, and we will not stop seeking the truth even if it means remaining alone.

Six long years will have passed this upcoming July 22, 2018 and the silent complicity of many of the governments in the world is deafening, and further proof of the international decline in human rights standards, but the steadfast effort by friends and family of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, and Harold Cepero Escalante continue to demand justice for their loved ones murdered on July 22, 2012.

Last year Rosa and a network of Latin American youth organized the first edition of the Oswaldo Payá Prize and held the award ceremony in Havana, but the Castro regime engaged in a crackdown and refused entry to Latin American world leaders.

This year the cycle of repression was repeated with new Latin American leaders denied entry to participate in the Oswaldo Payá Prize. Last year Rosa María Payá placed a plaque on the wall of her home in remembrance of her dad. It was quickly torn down by regime agents. This year she placed the plaque behind iron bars on the window of her home.

It is also important to recall that Dr. Eduardo Cardet, the man who was elected to succeed Oswaldo Payá as the national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement has been falsely imprisoned since November 30, 2016 and will serve out a three year sentence as a prisoner of conscience. However he has been brutally assaulted by state security and by inmates, most likely also on the orders of prison officials.

People of good conscience must accompany the Payá, the Cepero, and Cardet families in their struggle for justice and freedom.  We must show them our solidarity.

The European Union, Cuba and Iran: Abandoning solidarity with the oppressed to appease dictatorships?

 The European Union's values crisis

Castro's Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto with EU's Federica Mogherini

We are witnessing through acts of omission and commission in Iran and Cuba by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a profound crisis in the values that the European political project was founded upon: "respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law."

The European Union's High Representative visited Cuba and focused more on trade opportunities with the 58 year old Castro dictatorship while criticizing U.S. economic sanctions. She has not met with dissidents or directly challenged the regime's dismal human rights record. Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez tweeted today the image above and pointed out that "[y]esterday Federica Mogherini met with the current Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, one of the ringleaders of the Acts of Repudiation against civil society activists in Panamá during the Summit of the Americas in 2015." The EU High Representative gave a speech that failed to address the main obstacle to a free and prosperous Cuba, in other words the Castro regime, and instead echoed much of the same propaganda put out by the dictatorship.

"I know very well that right now some are trying to isolate Cuba. We Europeans, want to show, on the contrary, that we are closer to you than ever" @FedericaMog pic.twitter.com/iSCFvtsF2Q

— EU External Action (@eu_eeas) January 4, 2018

In her speech she highlighted that the European Union had engaged in a human rights dialogue with the Cuban government since 2015. The same year that Sirley Avila Leon was brutalized in a machete attack for trying to keep a school open in Cuba by agents of the Castro regime.

Day 7: At least 22 people killed, more than 1000 people arrested and internet disrupted. Regime stages rally in support of itself. Iron fist is out. Where is the world media? #IranProtests

— Nazanin Boniadi (@NazaninBoniadi) January 4, 2018

Prior to leaving for Cuba, Ms. Mogherini drew attention because of her silence for four days, drawing international scrutiny and criticism, as the regime in Iran cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrators.

4th day of #IranProtests and you know who hasn't said a single word or shown any solidarity yet? @FedericaMog or #EU!

Your silence and refusal to stand on the side of those demanding their basic human rights & freedom is deafening! #Iran pic.twitter.com/7T5GAbD2sS

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) January 1, 2018

Unfortunately, the statement on January 2, 2018, was worse than tepid, a case of moral equivalence at a time when clarity is required. Regime violence against demonstrators has been escalating with scores killed by the Iranian regime, more than a thousand arrested, and the European Union's High Representative declared "[i]n the spirit of frankness and respect that is at the basis of our relationship, we expect all concerned to refrain from violence and the right of expression to be guaranteed, also in light of the statements made by the Iranian Government."

 This is a continuation of a long retreat from the fundamental values of the European project. Consider the following previous actions.

On July 5, 2017 a majority of the European Parliament continued their retreat on human rights to advance a commercial relationship with the Castro regime. By a vote of 567 votes to 65, with 31 abstentions, European Parliament members backed the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) between the EU and Cuba. Previous rapprochements with the dictatorship in Cuba coincided with a worsening human rights decision and the death of high profile dissidents.

On December 6, 2016 the European Council of the European Union abandoned Cuban democrats when it "repealed the EU 1996 Common Position on Cuba. The main objective of EU's 1996 common position on Cuba was to encourage transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people." 

The Common Position on Cuba provided moral support to Cuban democrats and achieved positive results some of which are highlighted below.

Former British ambassador to Cuba Paul Webster Hare described in 2010 how the EU Common Position on Cuba in 2003 responded to a brutal crackdown on nonviolent dissidents by imposing "diplomatic sanctions on Cuba and invited the dissidents and their families to their parties, alongside members of the government. Fidel Castro was furious, staging massive rallies against the Spanish and Italian embassies and freezing diplomatic contacts. The British embassy received a bomb threat. The solidarity which the EU fostered helped the formation of the Damas de Blanco group. They and Oswaldo Paya have both won EU Parliament prizes. All this was under the Common Position."

Sadly the tide began to change according to Ambassador Hare when Spain's socialists took over and Foreign Minister "Moratinos came to office in 2004 and proposed a radical shift in EU policy. He questioned the purpose of the sanctions, arguing the Common Position stood in the way of `a serene and confident relationship' between the EU and Cuba. Moratinos set about negotiating the sanctions away."

This was part of a larger trend by Europe of rejecting a foreign policy that put human rights first.

In 2014 Czech deputy foreign minister Petr Drulák argued that a "foreign policy with its stress on human rights was wrong and harmful." This abandonment of human rights is not solely confined to Cuba. In February of 2015 the European Union lifted sanctions on the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. This was followed in February of 2016 with lifting sanctions on the Alexander Lukashenko regime in Belarus. This is the continuation of a decline in human rights around the world that has been going on for over a decade. 

There has been a long struggle underway in the European Union. Back on November 23, 2009 the European Union Commissioner Karel De Gucht told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that Europe needed to place less emphasis on human rights in Cuba. 

The late Czech President, Vaclav Havel, in a November 11, 2009 address to the European Parliament in Brussels issued a challenge that the European Union has failed to live up to and warned of the consequences of failure:

"Above all, clear and unequivocal solidarity with all those confronted by totalitarian or authoritarian regimes wherever they are in the world. And economic or other particular interests should not hinder such solidarity. Even a minor, discreet and well-intentioned compromise can have fatal consequences– even if only in the long term, or indirectly. One must not retreat in the face of evil, because it is in the nature of evil to take advantage of every concession. Besides, Europe has already had its own unfortunate experience of appeasement policies. 

On the other hand Havel understood that living up to the challenge of unequivocal solidarity with those resisting totalitarian regimes would have unexpected positive consequences, not only in those countries living under dictatorship, but also lifting up the moral values of those true to themselves by practicing the values preached.

"Our support can help open-minded people or outspoken witnesses to the situation in North Korea, Burma, Iran, Tibet, Belarus, Cuba or anywhere else, much more than we think. But it will help us too. It will help us build a better world and also to be more true to ourselves; in other words, to put into practice the values that we proclaim in general terms."

Eduardo Cardet M.D., national coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement, on January 19, 2014 advised the European Union that "[i]t is critical to put full respect for human rights before any kind of dialogue."  Sadly, the European Union did not heed his advise. Today Dr. Cardet is a prisoner of conscience jailed since November 30, 2016 for offering a critical assessment of Fidel Castro and the dictatorship in Cuba.

Yoani Sanchez, a Cuban independent journalist mentioned earlier, tweeted on January 3, 2018 regarding EU engagement with the Castro regime in Spanish explaining that "the rapprochement between the European Union and the Plaza of the Revolution can also be read as a gesture of legitimization, an act of support and solidarity with the Cuban ruling party."

Sin embargo, el acercamiento entre la #UE y la Plaza de la Revolución también puede ser leído como un gesto de legitimación, un acto de apoyo y de solidaridad cómplice con el oficialismo #cubano. https://t.co/gwMHQhrP81 pic.twitter.com/HHb6IOcELj

— Yoani Sánchez (@yoanisanchez) January 3, 2018

Empowering, legitimizing and appeasing dictators had terrible consequences in the 20th century as Havel alluded to in the quote above and this mistake is being repeated now by the European Union.  The case of North Korea should be a cautionary warning for those advocating this approach in Cuba and Iran.

I miss Vaclav Havel.