I can’t recall in what circumstances I have learnt they won the Sakharov Prize. Being on a hunger strike, I was held at the Carlos J. Finlay military hospital. I can’t tell in what circumstances I have learnt the news. But I still remember that day as the happiest in the 18 months I spent in hospital confinement. My comrades-in-arms shared my joy.

Their chief merit is that they not only have taken their remarkable struggle to the streets of Havana, marching to Santa Rita Church, but encouraged a new spirit of resistance among those who fight against the totalitarian communist regime. Without being demonstrative, gently, without propagandistic eloquence and far-fetched speeches, they carry the idea of unity through their very presence, calmness, courage and tenderness. It’s the idea backed by deeds, not words and declarations of intention. In the country governed by the rule of arms, they, with white gladiolus in hand, are raising the banner of peaceful resistance. Being attacked by many for seeking only the release of their unfairly jailed husbands, brothers and children, these women remain unshakeable in their belief and faith.

It is impossible not to be surprised at the resistance the Castro regime has been arousing. Those who still sit at home staying away from the struggle will some time be urged to come out to the streets to support fighters against the evil regime. It’s no longer possible to hide behind the veneer of neutrality and being apolitical. Communist rejoneadors are looking for new victims who they will be hunting for and torturing until the victims give up and begin screaming from pain and helplessness.

That was how the group, Wives and Mothers Against Repression in Cuba, also known as the Ladies in White was born. They were ordinary housewives, not involved in political activity carried out by their husbands and children. One day, a man of authority made a list the result of which was the so called Group of 75, a group of Cubans sentenced in speedy trials, without any hope for defense or legitimacy. These are not people who would plant a bomb in a public place or attack a police station. In our life, it is an offence to criticize the government, participate in a peaceful march or gather signatures on a petition. We have used in our fight pens and paper, sometimes typewriters, very rarely a PC. They [the regime] thought families of the convicted innocents would, as usual, carry their burden in humble submission. They were wrong. The number of victims and methods of persecution were so outrageous that their wives and mothers, inspired by love, took to the streets.

Christians across the world have recently celebrated Holy Week which reminds us that it was women who, two thousand years ago, had attended Jesus Christ at the crucifixion. It was in the past and is now that women give support to the unjustly punished. Each of them proved able to selflessly and nobly defend her home, her family. It’s the women who have immortalized our struggle. They have become ambassadors of peaceful struggle for all Cubans fighting against the communist regime.

It would be unfair to deprive them of the honor to receive this award for their historically important struggle. The process they have initiated in our Homeland makes them the worthiest candidates for the award. We should do our best to support them, we do say the Nobel Peace Prize should go to the Cuban organization, Wives and Mothers Against Repression in Cuba.”