Numerous Cuban political prisoners and Women in White have signed the petition drawn up by political prisoners from the East Co-ed (Combinado del Este) penitentiaryin La Habana, in May of 2010, directed to the Committee of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Oswaldo Payá was nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian parliamentarian Dagrun Eriksen, vice-president of the Christian Democratic Party
To the Norwegian Committee of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, on the behalf of the candidacy of engineer Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas, National Coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement (Movimiento Cristiano Liberación)
The Cuban civic leader Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas is a democrat with a clear conviction against cultures of violence and hate. He has consistently worked with reserved heroism, selfless patriotism and inspiring sacrifice, for the respect, protection and integrity of the human race and for peaceful changes in Cuba through non-violent action.
When he was only a student, Payá raised his voice publicly and peacefully, as an honorable vindication of Cuba and Cubans, against the invasion of the Soviet military in Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1968. For this, he was sentenced to three years in forced labor camps.
As a layman committed to his Catholic faith, Payá defended the right to religious freedom in the National Cuban Ecclesiastical Meeting of 1986 and was persecuted and silenced for decades. At the end of the eighties, he produced an independent bulletin “People of God” (“Pueblo de Dios”) at the same time as he organized the Cuban Christian Thinkers Movement (Peña Cristiana del Pensamiento Cubano).
In 1988 he founded the Christian Liberation Movement (Movimiento Cristiano Liberación) to promote the restoration of and demand civil and human rights, advocate for the democratic exercise of liberty, and promote peace and reconciliation among Cubans. The Movement educates people on individual responsibility and the solidarity of all in establishing the rule of law
Since 1989, Payá has led civic campaigns such as the National Dialogue (Diálogo Nacional), the Transitional Program (Programa Transitorio) and the Varela Project (Proyecto Varela), which were welcomed and supported by hundreds of thousands of Cuban citizens. He also began the Cuban Forum, (Foro Cubano) along with other advocacy and dialogue initiatives.
He has received wide international recognition, including the “Homo Moninis” award from the People in Need Foundation in the Czech Republic, the Averall-Harriman award from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in the United States, and the 2002 Sajárov Award from the European Parliament. He has received Honorary Doctorates from Columbia University and the University of Miami, and he has been a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize on several occasions.
He has shown unconditional solidarity with all Cuban political prisoners on both a political and human level, as well as with all people in the world fighting for their inalienable rights.
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas’ public and private decency distinguishes him.
Before your committee we request that in recognition of his lifelong dedication to justice and peace and his commitment to the causes of liberty, reconciliation, and peace for all Cuban people, the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to our brother in the fight for civil rights, Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas.
In appreciation of your consideration,
1.- Regis Iglesias Ramírez. Chrisitan Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
2.- Ricardo González Alfonso. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
3.- Ángel Moya Acosta. Human rights activist. Cuban political prisoner.
4.- Arturo Suárez Ramos . Human rights activist. Cuban political prisoner for 23 years.
5.- Rafael Ibarra. 30th of November Democratic Party (Partido Democrático 30 de noviembre) Cuban political prisoner for 16 years.
6.- Julio César Gálvez. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
7.- Antonio Díaz Sánchez. Christian Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
8.- Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta. Youth for Democracy Movement (Mov. Jóvenes por la democracia). Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
9.- Catalina Cano Vergara. Women in White. Exiled.
10.- Yamilé Velázquez Batista. Women in White. Exiled.
11.- Omar Rodríguez Saludes. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
12.- Arturo Pérez de Alejo. Human rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
13.- Jesús Mustafá Felipe. Christian Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
14.- Omar Pernet Hernández. Human Rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
15.- Dr Marcelo Cano Rodríguez. Human Rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
16.- Marlene González. Women in White. Exiled.
17.- Adolfo Fernández Sainz. Liberal Current (Corriente Liberal). Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
18.- Fabio Prieto Llorente. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
19.- Manuel Ubals Gonzalez. Human rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
20.- Juana Mercedes Mustafá Elias. Women in White. Exiled.
21.- Mercedes Elías. Women in White. Exiled.
22.- Jorge Luis González Tanquero. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
23.- Melissa González González. Women in White. Exiled.
24.- Antonio A. Villarreal Acosta. FDI. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
25.- Silvia Aguado. Women in White. Exiled.
26.- Irene Viera Filloy. Women in White. Exiled.
27.- Mayelin Bedia González. Women in White. Exiled.
28.- Yamilka Velázquez Batista. Women in White. Exiled.
29.- Ada Moraima león Sabina. Women in White. Exiled.
30.- Blas G. Reyes Rodríguez. Christian Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
31.- Jose Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernández. Independent journalist. Former Cuabn political prisoner. Displaced.
32.- Alfredo Manuel Pulido Lopez. Christian Liberation movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
33.- Celia T. (Shelyn) Rojas. Independent journalist. Exiled.
34.- Gisela Sánchez Verdecia. Women in White. Exiled.
35.- Lester González Pentón. Human rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
36.- Eduardo Diaz Fleitas. Human rights activist. Cuban political prisoner.
37.- Alejandro Gonzalez Raga. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
38.- Berta Bueno Fuentes. Women in White. Exiled.
39.- Efren Fernández Fernandez. Christian Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
40.- Ysel M. Acosta Obregon. Women in White. Exiled.
41.- Alida Viso Bello. Women in White. Exiled.
42.- Normando Hernández. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
43.- Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos. Union member. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
44.- Luis Milan. Human rights activist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
45.- Lisandra Laffita Hernández. Women in White. Exiled.
46.- Mijail Barzaga Lugo. Independent journalist. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
47.- Belkis Barzaga Lugo. Women in White. Exiled.
48.- Belinda Barzaga Lugo. Women in White. Exiled.
49.- Gladys Lugo. Women in White. Exiled.
50.- Jose Luis Garcia Paneque. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
51.- Ricardo Silva Gual. Christian Liberation Movement. Former Cuban political prisoner. Displaced.
52.- Manuel Vazquez Portal. Former Cuban political prisoner
This petition was written in the East Co-ed penitentiary in La Habana, Cuba, and was presented with the signatures of political prisoners Regis Iglesias, Arturo Suarez, Ricardo González, Rafael Ibarra, Ángel Moya and Julio Cesar Gálvez on May 10th, 2010. It was later signed by the rest on August 25th, 2010.