We, in the name of the young Cuban exile organizations which we represent, proclaim our solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the island who at this time, in spite of suffering imprisonment and continuous oppression, have raised their voices to denounce the hypocrisy and deception of the Fourteenth International Youth and Student Festival currently being held in Havana. This festival has been anointed by the courageous young men and women of the Cuban resistance as the "Regime's National Festival of Repression against the Youth and Students."
It's ironic that the much acclaimed celebration of this event has been preceded by a wave of repression against the pro-democracy leaders of youth organizations in Cuba; and while the regimen in Havana welcomes the delegations participating in the event, the police attempts to smother the alternative voices of a new Cuban generation resisting to live in darkness and oppression.
Nevertheless, despite being jailed and persecuted throughout the island, these honorable young political prisoners have coincided in their desire to protest the wrongly classified festival by declaring a period of fasting during the length of the event.
From Guantanamo, Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, president of the Young Cuban Pro-Democracy Movement, the political prisoners Pedro Luis Boitel in the maximum security prison of Kilo 8, as well as others in jails throughout the country, have initiated this fast. Simultaneously, the Cuban Reflection Movement, another dissident organization, has demanded the right of the opposition youths to openly participate, debate and expose their believes in this festival which has been designed to exclude the majority of the youth who do not support the system imposed by the tyrannical regime.
As free Cubans, it is our duty to direct the attention of the often indifferent international public opinion, toward these young people who struggle within the means at their reach, for democratic change in Cuba.
Therefore, we call upon all Cuban exiles to work together to observe a " A Week of Solidarity in Support of the Pro-Democracy Youth in Cuba " from today, Wednesday July 30th to next Tuesday August 5th.
During this time, we ask the exile organizations to unite and join in a vigil of support for these dissident young Cubans to be held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (la Ermita de la Caridad del Cobre) next Tuesday August 5th at 9:00 p.m.
We also request all with family in Cuba or those who are visiting the island, to spread the message that in Cuba's prisons and on the streets, the pro-democracy youth is resisting!
As usual, we turn to the loyal support of the radio stations, mass media and Cuban exile personalities to assist us during this week.
Lastly, we ask our exile community that on this 5th of August, the third anniversary of the popular uprising in Havana's Malecon, a green ribbon be worn as a living symbol of our undaunted hope which inspires the best of the youth on the island in their struggle for a free, democratic and prosperous Cuba.