Death of Oswaldo Payá: we pay tribute to a tireless crusader for democracy.

Following the news that Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, one of the most respected names in the Cuban dissident movement and a European Parliament Sakharov prize winner, was killed in a car crash on Sunday afternoon in eastern Cuba, under circumstances to be clarified, the Chairman of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul, and Jaime Mayor Oreja, Vice-President of the Group, stated:

"We pay tribute to a tireless crusader for democracy in Cuba who was always committed to a non-violent struggle for freedom. We send our deepest sympathy over the tragic and unexpected death of this great man. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, as well as to those of fellow activist Harold Cepero, who died in the same accident. We wish a speedy recovery to the two injured men, Ángel Carromero and Aron Modig.

Oswaldo Payá was a brave man who sacrificed his life calling for the release of his fellow political prisoners in Cuba. He denounced abuses by Cuban authorities and fought all his life to achieve his dream: a free Cuba where every individual is allowed to express his views and to live freely. The oppression of Oswaldo Payá and his family never stopped him from preaching in favour of freedom of speech and other civil rights.

We are proud to have rewarded his struggle with the European Parliament Sakharov prize in 2002.

We voice again our profound solidarity with the entire Cuban people and support them in their progress towards democracy and respect and promotion of fundamental freedoms. We still hope that the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) and Guillermo Fariñas will soon be allowed to leave the island to collect the 2005 and 2010 Sakharov prizes in person."