October 26, 2005
Women in White win Sakharov Prize
Via our dear friend Stefania, (who's got a lot of photos posted) we learn this welcome development from Europe:
Sakharov Prize to Ladies in White on Cuba
- It is fantastic good news that Damas de Blanco gets the Sakharov Prize. The publicity that this prize is bringing is unvaluable for theese brave, peaceful ladies supporting their inprisoned husbands. In their situation they need all the support from the outside world they can get. This again shows that the situation on Cuba is extremely serious and that the EU has to take action.
This was said by Cecilia Malmström (ALDE), member of European Parliament´s foreign affairs committee and liberal spokesperson on human rights, engaged in the situation on Cuba. The conference of Presidents in the European Parliament today decided that the Ladies in White on Cuba will receive the Sakharov Prize, together with two other candidates. Ladies in White is a group of women who stand up for the rights of Cuban political prisoners by protesting peacefully, every Sunday, dressed in white as a symbol of peace and the innocence of their husbands. The prize will be handed out at a formal ceremony in the chamber of the European Parliament in December this year.
The Sakharov Prize was instituted in 1988 and is handed out once a year by the Foreign affairs committee in the European Parliament to a person or an organisation which is defending democracy, human rights and the freedom of press. Former prizetakers have among others been Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Oslobodjene, Oswaldo Payas and the Belrusian organisation for journalists.
The press release is here.
Stefania also has important news about a huge Cuban chorus - more than 20 people - defecting as a group this week in Toronto here.
UPDATE: Lucy suggests this article on the Toronto defection as the best one here.
UPDATE: Our friend Kathleen at Blog for Cuba, our friend Juan Paxety at Paxety Pages and our friend Damien at Daimnation have much more on the Toronto incident here, here and here.
UPDATE: More fine commentary by our friend Boz can be found here.
Posted by Mora at October 26, 2005 01:54 PM
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Comments
This group definitely deserves to get more recognition.
Posted by: Fielding at October 26, 2005 02:49 PM
They should also be given the Nobel Peace Prize, but that award is so politicized by the left that they will probably never get it.
Posted by: delacova at October 26, 2005 03:18 PM
There's a better article on the Toronto Defection at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051026/CUBANS26/TPNational/Canada
It's a little more indepth than the Toronto Sun one.
Posted by: Lucy at October 26, 2005 05:00 PM
this is WONDERFUL news for the entire community and to put their fight a la luz publica of the international community. I am very happy for them, and overjoyed for the recognition of their fearless work
Posted by: Adriana at October 26, 2005 05:22 PM
Lucy's article says el Che founded the choir in 1959.
Won't be seeing them wearing them t-shirts, me thinks.
Posted by: Fausta at October 27, 2005 08:38 AM
As of this writing, 10/28, it's been 3 days since the Women in White won the Sakharov Prize, and we're still waiting [though not holding our breath!] for the New York Times to mention it! I guess that they don't [ah-uh] consider it newsworthy! HOWEVER, yesterday [10/27], they did publish the following story:
"Maradona Tells Cuba He'll Lead Anti - Bush March"
And then they get all bent out of shame whenever anyone says that they're pro-Castro!
Posted by: Ray at October 28, 2005 10:47 AM
