Throughout this week this blog will publish declarations from numerous Cuban dissidents and activists in regards to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the island which will take place this upcoming Monday, March 26th. The question they are being asked is: Regardless if one is in favor or against the visit of the Pope, it is certain that the eyes of the world will be upon Cuba during those three days. What message would you send to the world and to Pope Benedict XVI?
Response from Raul Risco Perez, activist from the Democratic Alliance of Pinar del Rio.
“To his Holiness Benedict XVI, I’d tell him to please meet with the Ladies in White of our country, with a representation of civil society, and that he come to seek the truth. And that he extract this truth not through state-run means, in other words the government functionaries with which he will meet, but instead that he seek the truth with the suffering people of Cuba”.
(Raul Risco has been reporting within the past few days that Catholic churches throughout the Westernmost Cuban province of Pinar del Rio- especially in the city by that same name- have been surrounded by regime soldiers, impeding dozens of Ladies in White and other human rights activists from attending mass to pray for the well-being and freedom of Cuba and its people)
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For more information from Cuba:
Raúl Risco Pérez – Cell Phone: +5352 -452-317 / Twitter: @RaulRiscoPerez
