Librado Linares spent eight years in the Castro gulag, suffering the worst tortures and other abuses the regime could throw at him. Out of jail, Linares is as committed as ever to not only the cause of Cuban freedom but to educating others about how a commitment to non-violent activism can defeat the Castro dictatorship.
On Tuesday, Linares unwillingness to give up the fight got him and another prominent dissident, Luis Felipe Rojas, arrested.
Pedazos de la Isla has the details, as narrated by Rojas:
"I was on my way from Baracoa to Holguin to the home of Caridad Caballero, but upon nearly arriving the political police quickly intercepted me and Librado Linares," tells Rojas, explaining that the operation consisted of various officials and a police vehicle. "Once detained, they took us to the Pedernales Detention Center. They took all of Librado Linares’ belongings, which were materials he used for his class, including pamphlets he had given out to his students and which he had planned to continue giving." Those pamphlets explained the importance of the non-violent struggle, which according to Rojas is a very efficient method of struggle. "Those in power know that non-violence can knock down totalitarian regimes, that is why they are so fearful."
Librado Linares was deported to his home in Camaguey, while Luis Felipe was deported to his town of San German. Although this time they did not confiscate any of his belongings, the accustomed threats were not left out. "They told me I could not leave my house ... the same old story."
At his blog, Rojas writes more about Linares' "obsession for freedom":
What can be done to strengthen the civil society of a nation? Part of the answer is a polyphonic chorus among dozens of Cuban human rights activists. As this week begins, the engineer Librado Linares wraps up a course on non-violent leadership which he taught in the form of a workshop in Baracoa, Guantanamo. With daily 5 hour long sessions, the students learned of the different historical stages which non-violent struggle has gone through, both in Cuba and in the world. Some of the most notable examples of society confronting totalitarian regimes come from Serbia and Chile, while emphasis was also made on the teachings of King and Gandhi and the threats against freedom stemming from certain dark forces. It was a brief map of human will.In a repressive setting such as Eastern Cuba, Librado Linares’ approach reinforces the necessity of proactive activism on the island. It also points out just how important it is for resistance leaders to look ahead and see that the social framework is more complex than what may appear at first glance. Linares, recently released from a 20 year sentence, of which he only served 8 thanks to the pressures exerted on the Castro regime, and also member of the group of the 75, has committed himself to teaching his fellow countrymen to use tools which would implement a strategy leading to the unfolding of a peaceful change in our country. Moving from the symbolic stage we are currently at to the denominated selective resistance and from there towards an exponential scale is the desire of many. Because of this, according to the evaluations of Librado Linares, the grand strategy course should be inclusive and avoid being the contrary. It should also work with international solidarity, through the decisive exile forces, and construct, for once and for all, a civil society that is autonomous and firm.A chat, a debate enriched by experience, a determination to turn obsession for freedom into definite freedom.
Recent Comments