2009 NED Democracy Award honors the Heroes of Human Rights and Democracy in Cuba

On Wednesday June 24, the National Endowment for Democracy honored the heroic efforts of Cuban workers, lawyers, and writers working to advance democratic values and fundamental rights within Cuba with the presentation of its annual Democracy Award. The honorees were honored in absentia.

For fifty years the people of Cuba have been denied basic political, social, and economic freedoms. Today we recognize the courage and sacrifice of five activists who are determined to reclaim those freedoms for their country. Our honorees represent the broad and vibrant spectrum of opinion and activism in Cuba today. All five are relatively young, in their 30s and 40s; three are Afro-Cuban; one is a Christian Democrat and another is a Social Democrat; one is a trade unionist and another is a women’s leader. They are united in their commitment to democratic values, a philosophy of non-violence, and the goal of a free Cuba.

Their personal sacrifices are humbling: Ferrer, Linares, and Carrillo are in prison, arrested in the 2003 “Black Spring” crackdown on democratic activists. Their combined sentences total 70 years. Antúnez himself was imprisoned for 17 years until his release in 2007.

Perez has lived under constant harassment and now, with her husband Antúnez, is under house arrest, separated from her 14 year-old son. Despite solitary confinement, beatings, the denial of medical care, and separation from family, all five have persisted in their cause, countering their oppressors with hunger strikes and organizing for the support of other political prisoners.

Antúnez has written, "Peaceful action disarms oppressors in a moral sense. They may impede some action, but never the spirit or the goal that propels these activities." Today we proudly stand in solidarity with these five in their struggle, confident that their dream of Cuba Libre will be realized.

The Democracy Awards were presented by Howard Berman (D-CA) , Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mel Martinez (R-FL) , Gregory Meeks (D-NY) , Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) , and Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL).

The award presentation was preceded by a roundtable discussion, Toward a Free Cuba: the Prospect for Democracy after 50 Years of Dictatorship. The discussion panelists include notable activists and advocates for basic rights in Cuba, including: