Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Crime

Marco Rubio Calls on IACHR to Finish Investigation of Death of Cuban Human Rights Advocate

Rubio joined U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ben Cardin, D-Mary., Bob Menendez, D-NJ, Mark Warner, D-Va., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to complete its investigation of Cuban human rights advocate Oswaldo Payá, who died nearly nine years ago, without further delay.

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter
Rubio joined U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ben Cardin, D-Mary., Bob Menendez, D-NJ, Mark Warner, D-Va., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to complete its investigation of Cuban human rights advocate Oswaldo Payá, who died nearly nine years ago, without further delay.

This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ben Cardin, D-Mary., Bob Menendez, D-NJ, Mark Warner, D-Va., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in urging the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to complete its investigation of Cuban human rights advocate Oswaldo Payá, who died nearly nine years ago, without further delay.

An early critic of the Castro regime, Payá founded the Christian Liberation Movement (Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, or MLC for its initials in Spanish) in 1988 to promote democracy and civil liberties through non-violent resistance. A decade later, the organization established the Varela Project, which sought to advance democratic reforms by exploiting a provision in the Cuban Constitution allowing the public to introduce legislation.

In July 2012, the Cuban regime’s persecution against Payá culminated in his car being rammed from behind by a tailing government vehicle. Tragically, this resulted in Payá’s death as well as the death of youth activist Harold Cepero. The Cuban dictatorship has yet to provide a credible explanation to account for this tragic incident.

Rubio is the ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Panszi:

Congratulations on your recent appointment to lead the Commission – a timely selection amid troubling democratic and human rights backsliding in Latin America.  In 2013, several of us sent the included letter to previous Commission Executive Secretary Emilio Icaza urging the Commission investigate the suspicious death of Cuban political reformer Oswaldo Payá.  With the ninth anniversary of this troubling event soon approaching and a refusal of the Cuban government to allow or provide for a credible investigation into the matter, we once again urge the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to advance its efforts on this case without further delay.

As you likely recall, in 2002 Payá started the Varela Project that sought greater political freedom in Cuba through a peaceful petition drive and referendum process as allowed for in the Cuban constitution.  Not only did the Cuban government reject the historic effort and brazenly change the constitutional provision allowing such public avenue for change, but also began a decade of shameful harassment of Payá and his movement.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

In July 2012, this persecution culminated in his car being rammed from behind by a tailing government vehicle, resulting in the death of Payá and fellow passenger and youth activist Harold Cepero.  The Cuban government has yet to provide a credible explanation, accounting, or justice for this tragic incident.  In fact, shortly after his death the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Payá’s work which also called on the “Government of Cuba to allow an impartial, third-party investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas.”

We hope the Commission’s unique role in such matters will help advance such an accounting and continue to stand ready to assist with this important matter.

Author

  • Florida Daily

    Florida Daily offers news, insights and analysis as we cover the most important issues in the state, from education, to business and politics. View all posts

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter

Follow Us on Social Media

Related Stories

Florida Politics

As communities across Florida’s Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Helene, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott are meeting with...

Senator Marco Rubio

The Office of the Surgeon General announced a public advisory warning of alarmingly high levels of parental stress. The advisory and the Surgeon General’s accompanying op-ed, offered a...

Foreign Affairs

Florida’s Senior U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R), Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, demands the Biden administration to guard domestic chip technology...

Business

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) recently contacted executives at John Deere, highlighting the need for patriotic companies to prioritize American workers and their families. Deere...

Foreign Affairs

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of...

Healthcare

Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) joined fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and 17 of their colleagues in urging Department...

Florida Politics

In response to former President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts during his hush money trial in New York, Florida leaders...

Immigration

With the 2024 Presidential Election less than six months away, a recent poll shows that most Americans (52%) prefer a candidate who supports mass...