Sakharov Network

In 2002, the European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to the founder of the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación (Christian Liberation Movement), Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas, born in 1952, thus honouring his undeterred commitment to national dialogue and democratic change in Cuba.

Despite being persecuted and condemned since his youth for his criticism of Fidel Castro’s policy, his commitment is unwavering. In 1997, Payá Sardiñas, drew up the Varela project calling for a national referendum on freedom of expression and assembly, free pluralist elections, the release of all political prisoners, and economic and social reforms .

In so doing, Payá Sardiñas demonstrated his support for the goal of bringing about political change using existing legal means. He and his supporters succeeded in gathering 25000 signatures and presenting the project to the National Assembly of People’s Power in May 2002. For the first time, the opposition came together to support the manifesto ‘Todos Unidos’ (All Together).

In March 2003, 75 Cubans - two thirds of whom had been active in the campaign for a referendum - were sentenced to long-term prison sentences for offences against national independence and territorial integrity.

In his address to the European Parliament, Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas pledged a commitment that the Cuban Government’s repression would not halt the campaign, as the Cuban people wanted change without violence.

In July 2003, 200 Members of the European Parliament put their signatures to the ‘Sakharov initiative’ giving Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas an assurance of their continuing support.

In 2003, Payá and other leaders launched a National Dialogue process in which over 12000 Cubans on and off the island discussed their visions for Cuba’s future .Their comments and suggestions were systematically collected and included into the Program for All Cubans presented by Payá to the public in 2006 as a contribution to a peaceful and democratic transition .