Empty chair as Cuban dissident Farinas given EU prize

Source: BBC

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas has been represented by an empty chair at a ceremony to award him the EU's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Mr Farinas was not allowed to leave Cuba to collect the award.

In a written message to MEPs, he said he accepted the prize "because I feel myself to be a tiny part of the rebellious spirit that nourishes the people I am proud to belong to". He also urged them "not to give in to the claims of the Cuban ruling elite".

Echoing the response of the Nobel Committee to China's refusal to let Liu Xiaobo attend last week's peace prize ceremony, the European Parliament left the Sakharov Prize on a chair draped in a Cuban flag.

"This empty chair demonstrates just how much this award was necessary," said the parliament's president, Jerzy Buzek.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12003791

when you been accused of a physical altercation with a female co-worker and but more importantly are also suspected of being a paid agent of the United States.

"Cuba will not accept pressure or blackmail, important Western media groups are again calling attention to a prefabricated lie. It is not medicine that should resolve a problem that was created intentionally to discredit our political system -- but rather the patient himself, unpatriotic people, foreign diplomats and the media that manipulates him. The consequences will be their responsibility, and theirs alone."
— Granma, March 8, 2010 <6>

The Cuban state newspaper Granma stated that Fariñas's legal troubles began "because of a physical altercation with a female co-worker - not politics" and described him as "a paid agent of the United States" and employee of the U.S. Interests Section.<6>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_Fari%C3%B1as

If you rummage back you'll loads on this subject of this person ? in the Latin Forum. here on DU.

flamingdem (1000+ posts) Thu Nov-11-10 01:56 PM
Original message
A Political Prize, Unjustly Awarded

~snip~
In fact, Fariñas has a serious criminal history. In 1995 he was sentenced to a term of three years parole and fined 600 pesos after violently assaulting a woman, a work colleague at the institute of health where he held the position of psychologist, causing her multiple wounds to the face and arms. He then carried out his first hunger strike.

~snip~
In 2005 Fariñas began another hunger strike and demanded that the Cuban government install internet access in his home. He met with the US diplomatic delegation in Havana, the US Interests Section, which finances his activities. Fariñas readily acknowledges this fact. The French daily Libération writes that "Fariñas has never denied receiving 'donations' from the US Interests Section to obtain a computer and to exercise his profession of 'independent journalist' on the internet."

But Guillermo Fariñas really became a media sensation as of February 24, 2010, when he began a hunger strike at his home that lasted until July 8, 2010, to demand the freeing of those he identifies as "prisoners of opinion," in reference to those opposition figures sentenced for accepting financing from the United States. Indeed, in this regard, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency of the federal government, admits that it finances the Cuban opposition. According to USAID, the amount of assistance destined to the Cuban dissidents increased to $15.62 million in fiscal year 2009. "The vast majority of this money is intended for individuals on the ground in Cuba. Our objective is to maximize the amount of support that benefits Cubans on the island."

The government organization also emphasizes the following point: "We have trained hundreds of journalists over a ten year period whose work has appeared in major international news outlets." This admission destroys the statements about the independent nature of opposition journalists in Cuba. Trained and financed by the United States, these journalists respond first and foremost to the interests of Washington, whose objective is, as official State Department documents state, "regime change" on the island.
o
More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=405&topic_id=44253

http://farm3.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/2742/4422713300_8b11b6c536.jpg
http://cubamatinal.es.nyud.net:8090/__oneclick_uploads/2010/07/damas-de-blanco-y-farinas1.jpg http://static.noticiasdenavarra.com.nyud.net:8090/images/2010/07/04/farinas_3.jpg

http://partidoarcoprogresista.org.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/pietacuba.jpg

On the 32nd page of straight "hunger strike Guillermo Farinas",
THIS triumph of towering lunacy appears: an attempt to draw a
comparison between yet another trip to the Cuban hospital, and
the Virgin Mother holding the dead body of her son, the Pieta
by Michelangelo.

This is some cheap political theatrical crap designed to catch headlines, and gull the unsuspecting. For anyone who doubts this has been one political stunt man, please take the time to go to a search engine's "images" and get a GOOD look at the huge number of online photos there are of this guy hungerstriking. It's amazing! "Guillermo Farinas."

I recall the discussions in the L.A. Forum when the issue of the award was first mentioned.

He also appears to guilty of the equally serious offence of impersonating Pablo Picasso. :rofl:

but he's an impersonator, too.

http://relationary.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8090/2008/12/pablo-picasso.jpg

like that's never happened before

and if his assault on his co-worker was so serious, why was he only given a sentence of 3 years probation and a fine?

.

It's doubtful it would have gotten a harsher sentence here, too, unfortunately.

He should have been handed an opportunity to fast handed to him which was beyond his discretion.

~~~~~
November 11, 2010 / machetera
The inconvenient truth about Guillermo Fariñas

http://media.naplesnews.com.nyud.net:8090/media/img/photos/2010/11/12/20101112vs_LA_CubaFarina_t607.jpg

~snip~
In 2002 in the city of Santa Clara, in the province of Las Villas, Fariñas assaulted an old man with a cane. The old man, severely injured, was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to remove his spleen. After this crime, Fariñas was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison. He again carried out a hunger strike and on December 5, 2003, was granted an early release for health reasons. 7

~snip~
But Guillermo Fariñas really became a media sensation as of February 24, 2010, when he began a hunger strike at his home that lasted until July 8, 2010, to demand the freeing of those he identifies as “prisoners of opinion”, in reference to those opposition figures sentenced for accepting financing from the United States.11 Indeed, in this regard, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency of the federal government, admits that it finances the Cuban opposition. According to USAID, the amount of assistance destined to the Cuban dissidents increased to $15.62 million in fiscal year 2009. “The vast majority of this money is intended for individuals on the ground in Cuba. Our objective is to maximize the amount of support that benefits Cubans on the island.”12

The government organization also emphasizes the following point: “We have trained hundreds of journalists over a ten year period whose work has appeared in major international news outlets.” This admission destroys the statements about the independent nature of opposition journalists in Cuba. Trained and financed by the United States, these journalists respond first and foremost to the interests of Washington, whose objective is, as official State Department documents state, “regime change” on the island.13

From a legal point of view, this reality places those dissidents who accept the inducements offered by USAID in the position of agents in the service of a foreign power, which represents a grave violation of not just the Cuban penal code, but that of any country in the world. Questioned about this, the Agency limited itself to pointing out that “no one is required to accept or take part in any United States Government programs if they don’t want to.”14

More:
http://machetera.wordpress.com/

Not only did this clown assault a female co-worker, who was undoubtedly completely blindsided by his attack, and unprepared to put up a powerful defense, he also ATTACKED AN OLD MAN. From flamingdem's Huffington Post article:

From the article:
~snip~In 2002 in the city of Santa Clara, in the province of Las Villas, Fariñas assaulted an old man with a cane. The old man, severely injured, was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to remove his spleen. After this crime, Fariñas was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison. He again carried out a hunger strike and on December 5, 2003, was granted an early release for health reasons.

Slimy? Underhanded? Backstabbing? Dirty? You tell me!

What a filthy joke. Anyone trying to push this crap tells a lot about himself.

Yes - a really nasty piece of work that one.

Off topic. The expression Empty Chair reminded me of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Mis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJnjcX8skXk

Fortunately Cuba's Revolution faired better. :thumbsup:

Also forgot to say :hi:

Tears in eyes.

Hilarious time to bring up something as intense as this amazing song in the same thread. Sublime!

I can tell from the sheer number of people on stage with the symphony orchestra behind them that that was the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in 1995. Michael Ball recreated the role of Marius which is if anything in only the third main lead in the production the main two being Jean Valjean and Javert the policeman in that order. They've just done the 25th Anniversary concert at the O2 Arena which was the infamous Millenium Dome in London - just bought the DVD of that.

When you've the time , a bit a time , got here and watch/listen to whole the lot : http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=10th+anniversary+les+miserables&aq=0

http://www.fulcrumgroup.co.nz.nyud.net:8090/userfiles/image/Happy%20computer%20user.png
:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

copy of the trial transcript?

do you have any independent evidence that he was in fact guilty of this crime?

I'm not saying he's not but up to this point, he had a history of opposing the Castro dictatorship so he certainly wasn't a favorite

I have to question the source of the HuffPo article posted by flamingdem or whoever it was

the author seems to be a Castro/Cuba apologist; wonder how impartial he is towards to dissidents

You will find the article here (in English). It is worth reading.

http://machetera.wordpress.com/

he not be allowed to attend.