US asks for investigation into Cuban dissident’s death

Last updated on: August 8, 2013 at 10:32 pm by CNA Daily News

US asks for investigation into Cuban dissident’s death 2013-08-08T22:32:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Havana, Cuba, Aug 8, 2013 / 04:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, has called for an investigation into the death of the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, Oswaldo Paya, who died in Cuba last year.

Diplomatic sources said Powers spoke with the Cuban chancellor, Bruno Rodriguez, during a lunch hosted on Tuesday by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez for the delegations that took part in the U.N. Security Council debate.

News of the conversation follows claims by Spanish national Ángel Carromero that Paya was deliberately killed by Cuban secret service agents rather than in an accidental car crash.

In an interview published by the newspaper El Mundo, Carromero said that he had been in a car with Paya when another vehicle began to follow and harass them. The vehicle, which Paya identified as belonging to the Communists, then began to ram them from behind and forced them off the road.

Claims that Paya died in a car accident were “the perfect alibi to cover up the death of the only opposition figure that could have the lead the transition in Cuba,” Carromero said.

Rosa Maria Paya, the daughter of Oswaldo Paya, expressed gratitude over the news of the ambassador’s conversation with Rodriguez in a post on her Twitter account.

“Thank you Ambassador Power for your words to the Cuban foreign minister. The UN can help to put an end to the impunity of the Cuban government,” she said.

In statements to Diario Las Americas, Paya said there is will in the Cuban government to clarify the facts surrounding the death of her father, despite evidence that contradicts the official version of events, including testimony from eyewitnesses and from nurses at the hospital where Oswaldo Paya the other three men involved in the crash were taken.

She also said the government never provided her family with results from the autopsy performed on her father, despite their repeated request and the fact that such results are usually provided to families within a month.

“We trust that a serious investigation will be opened, but we understand that it is a long process that could take several months,” she added.

More than 100 world leaders recently marked the first anniversary of the death of Oswaldo Paya by joining together to call on the United Nations to carry out an independent and international investigation.

Americas

Previous Post

August 8, 2013

Before Pope's election, conclave warned of Europe's waning faith

Next Post

August 8, 2013 Bishops say confusion around CRS in Madagascar cleared up

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What happened to the golden calf?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Set up for worship Taken to Canaan Burned, ground to powder Hidden