During the meeting, Rubio expressed his admiration for Ferrer’s bravery and resilience in the face of the repression of the Havana regime.
MIAMI.- The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubioheld a conversation this Wednesday with the Cuban opposition Jose Daniel Ferrerwho recently arrived in Miami as a political refugee after leaving Cuba.
During the meeting, Rubio expressed his admiration for Ferrer’s bravery and resilience in the face of the repression of the Havana regime, the threats against his life and the treatment suffered by both him and his family. The head of US diplomacy recognized the years of persecution and imprisonment that the opposition leader faced for his activism in defense of human rights. Ferrer spent 12 years in Castro’s dungeons.
Both spoke about the serious humanitarian situation in eastern Cuba after the passage of the Hurricane Melissawhich worsened the conditions of poverty and scarcity in the region. Ferrer stressed the importance of international aid reaching the population directly, without mediation by the regime, and proposed strengthening cooperation with the Catholic Church to guarantee a more transparent distribution of assistance.
According to a note of the State Department, Rubio reiterated the commitment of the United States Government to the Cuban people in their search for democracy, prosperity and fundamental freedoms. He stressed that the work of dissidents like Ferrer continues to be essential for the pro-democracy movement within the island, and assured that Washington will continue to promote accountability of the Cuban regime for its human rights abuses.
José Daniel Ferrer, founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) and former political prisoner, arrived in the United States in October as an exile with his family.
Secretary Rubio emphasized that Ferrer’s sacrifice and resistance represent the spirit of those who continue to fight for freedom in Cuba, and reaffirmed that US policy will continue to focus on directly supporting the Cuban people and human rights defenders on the island.
