Women in White: Cuban people await freedom

Havana, Cuba, May 4, 2007 / 11:10 am

A group of women resisting the oppression of the Cuban government through non-violent means, continues to agitate for the release of those imprisoned by Fidel Castro’s government.They are called the “Women in White” because they wear white clothing for their protests.  

According to statements by Berta de Moya, wife of Cuban prisoner of conscience, Angel Moya, the silent protest of the Women in White, who meet each week at the Church of St. Rita of Casia to publicly pray for their imprisoned family members, is encouraging more people to publicly speak out in Cuba.

“By pressuring the government we can get what we want,” Berta explained in a recent interview published online.  “These men,” she explained in reference to the family members of the Women in White, “are not killers, they are not violent, they are peaceful men.  We have the truth in our hands.”

“What we have in Cuba is a totalitarian government that wants us to think and act like it says we should.  But there are men and women who are not blind and see beyond things.  They want freedom and they will not stop until they get it.  And moreover I am sure that with the solidarity of the world, of the people, and with action, we can get it (freedom),” Berta added.

She also expressed her confidence that change would soon come to Cuba.  “The situation is bad for the people and for the government.  This silence…there is a lot of uncertainty, we don’t know anything…We have Raul Castro who is worse than Fidel Castro.  There is no change, no improvement and increased repression.  And on top of it all there is not enough money; many elderly sell peanut shells or coffee because they can’t make ends meet, and to make matters worse the police make them leave and go home.”

Repression in Cuba, Berta said, “is not only levied against the opposition but against the entire nation.  The nation is tired, we want change.  When they see that breach open, 60% of Cubans will come with us and the government will not have it easy.”

Berta said the Women in White have given an important example despite threats and attacks, because “we remain united, because we respect each other, and when we get together we only struggle for their (the political prisoners’) freedom.”

“Here we talk about the prisoners and we are united by the same suffering, by one thing: their liberation.  And therefore I assure you we will continue forward.  Those of us who are here now will continue this in the future, or maybe we won’t be here anymore.  But what is certain is that some of us will continue to be the Women in White.  The Women in White will never die because others will come after us since we have taught the people, family members how to struggle for freedom with dignity and truth and our principles,” Berta said in conclusion.