Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer García was released this Thursday after spending three and a half years behind bars. In the wake of his release, he criticized both the Biden administration and the Vatican for their handling of the agreement with the regime that led to the release of 553 political prisoners.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Ferrer expressed mixed emotions, stating that while he feels relieved on a humanitarian level that prisoners are being freed, he also feels ashamed of the deal. "The terms of the statement published by the regime make it seem as though they were defeated in just three rounds, as if by chance they decided to gift freedom to the 553 prisoners. If Biden and the Vatican do not refute this, they are playing along with it (...). They boast that both Washington and the Pope have done their bidding. They have been disrespected," he emphasized.
Speaking to NTN24, the leader of the Union Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU) declared that he feels no gratitude for any unworthy process or negotiation that ultimately benefits the dictatorship. "Today they release 553, and within three months, they imprison five thousand more, including many of those who just got out. And then, three years later, they release another 500, or 200, or however many, as a gift to the Pope who happens to be in the Vatican at that time and to whatever Democratic administration we might have," he explained.
In his testimony to El Mundo, Ferrer recounted that he learned of his release on Thursday morning when a counterintelligence officer informed him of the government's decision to transfer him to a conditional release status, which he did not accept. He refused to sign the conditional release because he maintains his innocence regarding the charges against him. "I do not accept those conditions; give me another 30 years of sanctions, that's how the tyranny works. Save me some time, leave me in this concentration camp," he told them.
As he recounted, a lieutenant colonel took him by the waist and, without violence, escorted him to the prison gate where his wife Nelva Ortega and his children awaited him. "I wanted to go back, but they forbade it. They kicked me out of the prison!" he stressed.
Ferrer denounced that while in prison, drugs were put in his food, causing him headaches, earaches, and hallucinations. This stopped due to the reports from members of the European Parliament and the press from free countries. "I've sacrificed my life and my family, whom I deeply love, to fight for my people. I will never abandon the struggle," he concluded.
The opposition leader was arrested on July 11, 2021, as he attempted to join mass protests in Santiago de Cuba.
In his initial statements after being released, Ferrer sent a message of firmness and hope to Cubans both on the island and in exile, urging them to overcome fear because "the oppressor is increasingly frightened." "Do not be afraid to fight for a free, just, prosperous Cuba; do not fear working for a better future for all Cubans, so that we do not have to seek freedom and better living conditions in other lands," he stated to Martí Noticias.
"Do not fear facing the oppressor, because the oppressor is increasingly scared, increasingly weak, and as we confront them with dignity, decency, and courage, the shorter their existence will be, the less time they will have in power, the fewer abuses they can commit, and the fewer outrages they can continue to perpetrate," he added.
Frequently Asked Questions About José Daniel Ferrer's Release
Who is José Daniel Ferrer?
José Daniel Ferrer is a Cuban dissident and leader of the Union Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU), known for his opposition to the Cuban regime.
Why was Ferrer critical of the Biden administration and the Vatican?
Ferrer criticized them for their role in the agreement with the Cuban regime that led to the release of political prisoners, implying it was unworthy and played into the regime's narrative.
How did Ferrer find out about his release?
Ferrer was informed by a counterintelligence officer of the government's decision to release him on conditional terms, which he refused to accept.
What message did Ferrer convey to Cubans after his release?
He urged Cubans to overcome fear and continue fighting for a free, just, and prosperous Cuba, emphasizing that the regime is becoming increasingly weak and frightened.