COVER STORY

International Human Rights Day. Many dissident groups demonstrated in Cuba on International Human Rights Day but the majority of these faced fierce acts of repudiation and repression by the government, state security, and mobs of people that were organized by the government. While these acts were taking place throughout Cuba, the Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque announced that Cuba will sign onto the United Nations Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights. He also declared that “Cuba celebrated International Human Rights Day with its head held high.”
CIVIC UPDATES

MCL Thanks the European Union and Calls for its Support. December 13, 2007- With regards to the meeting with various ambassadors from the European Union in Cuba at the Portuguese embassy, the representatives of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL) Oswaldo Payá and Minervo Chil, have just informed that the following diplomatic missions participated: Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, and Sweden, as well as the representative of the European Commission in Havana, Mr. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff.
MCL in Velasco, Holguín Celebrate December 10. Holguín, Cuba, December 14, 2007 – Peaceful dissidents in different municipalities neighboring Velasco, Holguín celebrated International Human Rights Day on December 10th despite the acts of repression. According to Marco Antonio Lima Dalmau, the activity that was organized by Armando Leiva and Ezequiel, activists from the Christian Liberation Movement, took place in the town of Redención, with the participation of approximately 70 people, among them dissidents, family, and friends.

The Cuban police block a meeting of the Citizen’s Committee for Reconciliation and Dialogue.December 1, 2007- The leader of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Payá, declared on Saturday that the Cuban security forces had prevented the followers of the group from being present at the meeting of their newly formed Citizen’s Committee for Reconciliation and Dialogue in Cuba, and at the same time he urged the Spanish Government to “send a firm and transparent show of support to the opposition,” because he admitted that, “something else” was expected” with regards to Spain’s stance toward the Cuban opposition.
HUMAN RIGHTS ALERT

Birthdays of the Cuban Spring Political Prisoners still in Prison. Three political prisoners had birthdays this month. On these dates, please send a mail message of support and solidarity to the families!

INTERNATIONAL ALERTS

Oswaldo Payá speaks on the Venezuelan Referendum on Constitutional Reform. December 4, 2007- Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, the National Coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement, declared that the step taken by Venezuelans in the referendum on constitutional reform reflected what happens when the people choose their political system themselves.

Interview with Oswaldo Payá in the German Paper Tageszeitung:  “We do not want more Talk about Fidel Castro.” Interview with Oswaldo Payá in Tageszeitung. By Knut Henkel. December 5, 2007- In Cuba liberty of expression is suppressed. Opposition leader Oswaldo Payá is dedicated to the struggle for democracy and freedom. But if the regime continues to ignore the call, it could be an impossible struggle.

Editorial in ABC: Spain’s Shame. By Hermann Tertsch. Angela Merkel has begun to once again mark a clear difference from those governments in Europe, that from less of a realpolitik perspective than from a colonial and belittling Eurocentric conception, have denied the liberties of the subjects of dictatorial regimes that claim to defend their own citizens.

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