A Cuban Labor Activist's Courage

A Cuban Labor Activist's Courage
Friday, June 26, 2009

The Post criticized President Obama for not inviting to the White House
Bertha Atúnez, who accepted the Democracy Award, which honored five
Cuban leaders of the pro-democracy movement who are imprisoned in Cuba
["A Dissident Deflected," editorial, June 25]. I share your outrage.

But the Post failed to mention a most courageous honoree, a leader of
the Cuban independent labor movement, Iván Hernández Carrillo, who is
serving a 25-year prison term since his arrest in 2003. Mr. Hernández
Carrillo is imprisoned for the "crime" of organizing unions not beholden
to the communist-controlled Cuban Labor Confederation.

Mr. Hernández Carrillo is one of seven other labor leaders imprisoned
for the same "crime."

The Post should have acknowledged that labor activists in Cuba also risk
their lives for freedom.

JACK OTERO

Secretary
Committee for Free Trade Unionism
Washington

A Cuban Labor Activist's Courage - washingtonpost.com (26 June 2009)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062503904.html