Voces de Cuba Aurea visit to Uk 2012 Final.wmv

[jonathanb9772]

Reputable human rights organisations are concerned for democracy campaigner and hunger striker Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina. He hasn't used or advocated violence. When arrested by Castro's thugs, he was pepper sprayed and manhandled into a police car in front of his 10-year-old daughter who was left alone in the street as her father was taken into custody.

Néstor says he has suffered beatings and threats from other inmates. A long sentence might beckon - dissent isn't tolerated in Cuba.

[jonathanb9772]

I note your statement about human rights made last week on your website.

[CarolynLeary1]

Voces de Cuba is a small project under the umbrella of Sheffield Socialist Choir. For further information about the Choir's activities in relation to human rights and to the proposed visit to the UK of the Aurea Choir please visit the choir website

by googling sheffield socilaist choir and to see the choir singing while a member read the UN Declaration of Human Rights in Spanish in Cuba please see the YouTube DVD Under the Stars opposite.

[jonathanb9772]

Amnesty International has criticised Cuban authorities for preventing peaceful, courageous, independent journalist Guillermo Farinas from leaving Cuba to collect an international freedom award, European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The regime detained, temporarily, many campaigners during international human rights day recently, anxious that some Cuban voices be silenced. The choir and its supporters should condemn this explicitly.

[jonathanb9772]

In May 10 I asked Sheffield Socialist Choir, using websites, & in the local paper, to condemn, prominently & unequivocally, on their own website, the well documented human rights abuses and denial of democracy in Cuba. They didn't. I hold no brief for left or right - I'm an impartial human rights campaigner.

It seems to me that until the choir carry out this simple act, nobody should feel inspired to fund this work, including the city I pay rates to, here in Sheffield.

Jonathan Bailey