The government of Cuba has found itself wrapped in a new political scandal after the family of Christian Liberation Movement leader Oswanldo Payá sued two Cuban officials for the dissident's death on August 19. According to Payá's family, he did not die of an accident on July 22, but was instead murdered, El País reported.
The lawsuit was presented before the Spanish National Hearing, against Lieutenant Colonel Aguilas, chief instructor of security crimes of the Cuban state, and Colonel Llanes, in charge of security crimes of the Cuban state, for alleged crimes against humanity, which "culminated with the death of Oswaldo."
According to El Nuevo Herald, the widow and daughter of the Cuban opponent, Ofelia Acevedo and Rosa María Payá, said the defendants coerced Spaniard Angel Carromero, the driver of the crashed car that took Oswaldo Payá's life, to offer a version of the events to the media and authorities in which the death would like an accident.
"This was not an isolated event, it was the result of a process of stalking and threats during many years against Payá," his brother Carlos told El Nuevo Herald.
Spanish authorities must now decide if the legal accusations have any basis, and if they do, whether or not to open an investigation of the crime.
Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, leader of the Christian Liberation Movement and recipient of the Andrei Sajarov award of Human Rights of the European Parliament in 2002, died July 22, 2013 in a car accident that is still unexplained. The crash also took the life of dissident Harold Cepero, while the driver, Angel Carromero and Swedish national Aron Modig were unharmed.
Payá was 60 years old at the time of the accident, which is why Carromero, of 27 years, was convicted by Cuban authorities to four years in prison on charges of imprudent homicide. He is currently carrying out his sentence in Spain under a regime of "semifreedom."
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