Cuban dissident calls for freedom

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - One of the founders of a Cuban opposition group awarded Europe’s top human-rights prize is called for freedom and democracy on the island during a trip to the U.S.

Berta Soler made the remarks Saturday at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami.

Soler is a co-founder of the Ladies in White, a group of wives and mothers formed in 2003 after the arrests of 75 government opponents.

The Cuban government has detained the women from time to time and sent pro-government crowds to shout at them. But their demonstrations proved successful. All of the political prisoners arrested in the crackdown a decade ago have since been released.

Soler and other members accepted the European Union’s Sakharov Prize on Tuesday, eight years after receiving the award.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 04/28/2013

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