Cuban activists meet with Nelson

Group renews calls for investigation into death of dissident Oswaldo Payá

September 13, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group of Cuban activists made the rounds on Capitol Hill Thursday to renew calls for an independent investigation into the death of Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá.  

The group, the Christian Liberation Movement, met with Florida’s senior U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).  Nelson has been an outspoken supporter of the Liberation Movement’s mission to obtain freedom of speech and assembly, private business and an end to one-party rule in Cuba.

Payá was killed in a car accident on July 22, 2012.  The Payá family does not believe the crash was an accident, and the Liberation Movement is asking for an investigation. 

Another Cuban dissident, Harold Cepero, also died.  The driver, Angel Carromero of Spain, and the front passenger, Jens Aron Modig of Sweden, both survived.  According to media reports, Carromero was charged with vehicular homicide and his trial is expected to begin shortly.  

Nelson introduced a resolution honoring Payá’s life and legacy after the accident.  It passed the full Senate in late July.  The resolution called on the Cuban government to allow an impartial, third-party investigation into the death of Payá.

During today’s meeting, Sen. Nelson restated that the international community must keep up the pressure.  “We all want the truth,” he said.  “The Cuban people, indeed all freedom-loving people of the world, have lost a great advocate for tolerance, civil liberties and democracy.”

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