Distributed by CubaNet
By Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez Amaro, Independent Press Agency of Cuba (APIC).
HAVANA, September 25, 1996. (APIC).- This island's government is very mistaken to think that, by jailing the members of the opposition, they will renounce to their ideas of freedom. For many fighters, this (idea) is precisely found by taking a stand and remaining firm. It matters not that his mistreated body, through beatings and malnutrition, is behind a dark and humid prison cell. Ideas cannot be jailed. On the contrary, while more repressive resources are used, the more resistant they become. It's like an immunization through the forces of good against evil.
Upon leaving prison, many men and women rejoin the active struggle, since within it they can denounce all the violations of human rights which take place, even as this brings about the ire of their jailers and takes them to punishment cells in remote areas and under worse conditions.
"Prison is useful to reorganize your ideas and polish projects, which will turn into a strong attack on the government", this is the assured and concise expression of tireless defender of human rights Lazaro Gonzalez Valdes, vice-delegate of the Cuban Council, who is presently serving an unjust sentence of 15 months loss of freedom for the alleged crime of contempt.
The political prisoner spends his time by studying and spreading to the common prisoners the ideas of defending a just cause, earning their respect and consideration, in addition to their joining of the struggle, because the struggle for democracy concerns us all, without distinctions of race, religion or sex. The motherland gives to all the opportunity to fight for her, and that is why many more join the struggle each day.