Which response from Cuba?

A new strong sign coming from Europe, so that Cuba may undertake the road of democracy and freedom. This is the interpretation given across the Old Continent to the 2010 Sacharov Prize awarded to Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas, the third recipient of the EU Parliament award created in recognition of individuals’ and/or associations’ commitment for the freedom of speech and human rights, representing opposition to the regime led by the Castro brothers.“I would like to shake his hand”. The winner was announced by the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The ceremony is due to take place in the same city on December 15. The prize comes with a cash award of 50 thousand euro. “Guillermo Fariñas didn’t hesitate to risk his health and his live in order to exert pressure on the government and bring about changes in his Country”, Buzek said, adding that he looks forward “to shake the hand of the Cuban dissident”, on the day of the award ceremony. But there are very little hopes that Havana will grant authorization. Buzek added: “I also hope that also the ‘Ladies in White’ – Damas de Blanco – winners in 2005, will be able to collect the prize in person”, since at the time they were denied an exit visa. In 2002 the same recognition went to Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas. Buzek asked for “the immediate release” of all political prisoners in Cuba. Over 11 years in prison. As is often the sad case under totalitarian regimes, Guillermo Fariñas has had a tough past. The accompanying statement drawn up by the EP, explains: “He is a former soldier, joined the opposition in 1989, giving up his membership of the Young Communist League”. A qualified psychologist and journalist, he set up the “Cubanacán Press”, an independent press agency. The agency has now been closed down by the government. “Fariñas has been always committed to raising world awareness about the fate of political prisoners in Cuba”. The 48-year-old dissident went on 23 hunger strikes. “A proponent of non-violence, he has spent 11 and-a-half years in prison and has chosen the hunger strike as a way of raising awareness about oppression in Cuba. He went on hunger strike in 2006 to protest against internet censorship, calling for freedom of access to the internet for all”. For this, he was awarded the Reporters Without Borders Cyber-Freedom Prize in 2006. In July Mr Fariñas ended a hunger strike that lasted more than four months – it began 24 February, one day after the controversial death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a prisoner of conscience.When rights are trampled upon. The winner was voted by a large number of MEPs, although some pointed out that the EU recognizes the situation in Cuba, thus neglecting or de-emphasizing – as claimed in the Assembly – other world regions where rights are being violated. To this regard MEPs brought up situations in Africa, China, Russia, the Middle and Far East. In fact, the nine 2010 Sacharov prize candidates show that fundamental rights, human dignity and freedom of speech clash against some form of violation across all continents. These are the other eight candidates this year, whose “battles” the European Parliament wishes to recall. “Access” is a citizens’ movement that helps human rights defenders to protect themselves and their communications on line. It also provides technological help to enable access to information despite censorship by repressive regimes. Haytham Al-Maleh is a prominent Syrian human rights lawyer and activist who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on 4 July 2010. Peace, democracy and religious freedom. “Breaking the Silence” is an Israeli NGO established by former Israeli soldiers and veterans who collected “testimonies about their experience” of war. Aminetu Haidar, A Sahrawi human rights advocate and political activist for the independence of Western Sahara. Dawit Isaak, An Eritrean journalist with Swedish citizenship, Mr Isaak has been a political prisoner since 2001. Birtukan Mideksa, an Ethiopian politician and former judge, she was sentenced to life imprisonment. Fr. Thadeus Nguyên Van Ly is a Vietnamese priest who uses only non-violent struggle as means to promote universal human rights. “Open doors” is an organization currently active in more than 45 countries supporting Christians persecuted in places where they form a religious minority.