Madrid/The opponent José Daniel Ferrerleader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), accepts his exile from Cuba. He has expressed it in a handwritten letter made public by his family in his social networks and sent from the Maria Verification, in Santiago de Cuba, where he has been since he They revoked probationon April 29, after three months released.
Before that date, when “the last assault” occurred to his house, Ferrer explains, he had already decided. “I made this decision for the safety of my family and for the frustration that caused me to confirm in prison the disunity, sectarianism and the lack of effectiveness of the opposition inside and outside Cuba, in the struggle for the freedom and well -being of our homeland,” he says referring to his months of release.
“For years I have undergone brutal beating, torture, humiliations, threats even death and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by slender and other instruments of the worst dictatorship that the American continent has known,” begins its letter. “Everything with the intention of forcing myself to abandon my country or to renounce the non -violent struggle in favor of freedom, democracy, and the human rights and well -being of my homeland.”
In recent months, those in prison, “the cruelty of the dictatorship against me has exceeded all limit”
In recent months, those that carry in prison, “the cruelty of the dictatorship against me has exceeded all limit” and lists “beatings, torture, humiliations, threats and extreme conditions”, in addition to “robberies of my food and cleaning products” and threats against his wife, Nelva Ortega, and their children. “Everything with the intention of forcing me to abandon my homeland,” he says. “Given the constant manifestations of the political police so that I left Cuba, I ended up accepting the exit into exile.”
However, he says, “since the procedures began to specify this purpose, as always happens, the regime agents have been playing very dirty: they continue with the harassment plan, threats, humiliations, robberies and extreme conditions.” As an example, he puts the pressure they exerted to make their marriage to Nelva the “Day of the Birth of the deceased dictator”, on August 13, and “Videos and recordings” that Ferrer said that they took “with the intention of making publications that question our commitment to the fight for the freedom of Cuba.”
He also says that they wanted to force him to make statements and ask the Catholic Church to mediate between Havana and Washington, a dialogue, defines, “that leads to the shameful negotiation of other times: release of political prisoners in exchange for lifting sanctions and other facilities to the dictatorship.”
The opponent clarifies: “If my life and that of my family depends on asking such things, I prefer my death in this Nazi -style concentration camp and even the sacrifice of my family.” And he adds, without clearing if his departure can be realized in the short term: “From Cuba I only leave with my dignity and honor at high and not for a long time.”
“It deserves a welcome worthy of a hero and will receive it,” said Cuban American congressman Mario Díaz-Balart
Nelva Ortega, who confirmed to Martí News The authenticity of the letterhe reiterates that the decision to accept exile “was taken after months of torture, beatings and extreme conditions of seclusion” and that “it was the only way out to protect the family and prevent, in such inhuman circumstances, it would end up responding violently,” but did not clarify when the exit that, according to Ferrer in his letter, would be to the United States. In his opinion, it is the only country that “maintains a firm position against the communist and truly supportive regime with the Pacific opposition and the Cuban people.”
Cuban-American congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, was pronounced in x On the decision of the opponent, calling him “hero” and expressing: “After years of imprisonment, beatings, physical and psychological torture and persecution by the murderous regime in Cuba, simply for demanding freedom, it is being forced into exile. It deserves a welcome worthy of a hero and will receive it.”
For her part, the sister of the leader of the UNPACU, Ana Belkis Ferrer told Efe that her brother “accepted the banishment, but we still do not know if it will be realized because the dictatorship wants to obtain benefits and José Daniel will not access any negotiation.”
The initial joy of the family for the possible exit of Ferrer’s prison became “something very frustrating,” reports the Spanish agency from her conversation with the activist’s sister, who said: “Not every human being would be willing to go through that: it is a constant martyrdom.”
“Not every human being would be willing to go through that: it is a constant martyrdom”
On previous occasions, Ferrer had manifested himself against leaving the country, as he offered the security of the State in exchange for not keeping him in prison and under torture. The opponent was informed of the charges that are charged-Propaganda against the constitutional order and conform to the figure of Díaz-Canel– two weeks after being imprisoned.
Ferrer was taken with violence from his house, also the headquarters of the UNPACU, in the cast of Altamira, in Santiago de Cuba, after three months of constant harassment. According to his family, the State Security Agents “completely looted the house and took the opponent, together with Nelva Ortega and the little son of both, Daniel José, although these were released hours later.
That same April 29 was also arrested Félix Navarro, during a visit he made with his wife, the lady of Blanco Sonia Álvarez, to the prison where her daughter Sayli is, in Matanzas.
Both opponents were part of the group of released prisoners, last January, by virtue of an agreement between the regime and the Vatican, and returned to prison eight days after the death of the previous Pope, Francisco.
