PILGRIMAGE CALLING FOR A GENERAL AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS CARRIED OUT BY MOTHERS, WIVES AND SISTERS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
Santiago, Cuba, July 17th , 1998
A large group of Cuban women, all relatives of political prisoners and members of the Pedro Luis Boitel National Movement of Civic Resistance (Movimiento Nacional de Resistencia Cívica Pedro Luis Boitel) met in the city of Santiago de Cuba in order to carry out a pilgrimage towards the Church of Our Lady of Charity and to call for a general amnesty for Cuban political prisoners.
According to information provided to the Directorio Revolucionario Democratico Cubano by Marilín Lahera from the independent press agency Santiago Press, "Around 8:30 am family members of Political Prisoners in Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba gathered at the bus terminal in the city of Santiago de Cuba to wait for more family members of political prisoners who were arriving from Holguín, Camagüey, Villa Clara and Havana, in order to continue with the pilgrimage towards the Sanctuary of El Cobre where a eucharistic ceremony will be held. Two paintings will be taken there, asking for a general amnesty for the Cuban Political Prisoners."
This pilgrimage is part of a campaign for a general amnesty for political prisoners which began in early June with the collection of signatures from the Cuban people. The beginning of this campaign was announced in the city of Guantánamo by Mrs. Berta Antúnez Pernet, President of the Pedro Luis Boitel National Movement of Civic Resistance and sister of the prisoner of conscience, as recognized by Amnesty International, Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez".
The Cuban Revolutionary Democratic Directorate supports this initiative started by the Cuban women in favor of the Cuban political prisoners and exhorts the Cuban community in exile and the international community to support this valiant and dignified effort that is being carried out in Cuba.
Dated the 17th day of July of 1998.
Telephone recording available upon request.
