I met Cuban democracy leader Sirley Ávila León in April in Miami at Amnesty Int'l USA's annual conference, wrote about her in the Huffington Post, talked with her by phone several times since. Now I’m worried that Avila may have been arrested. She left Miami on Wednesday when I wasn’t home, but she left a farewell message on my answering machine, saying she was returning to Cuba and thanking me for 
my support. She is still disabled and has limited mobility. (For those who need a reminder, click on link below to go to my posts published in the PARTICIPATORY FORUM ─ the one about her is called a "A Revolution with Promises to Keep.") I had hoped her Congressional testimony would protect her, but maybe it had the opposite effect. Or maybe she is just being held for questioning? 
The report on her disappearance from AA flight to Cuba published in Capitol Hill Cubans website reads as follows:
Sept.8.─ Yesterday, Cuban democracy leader Sirley Avila Leon boarded American Airlines flight #1359 from Miami to Holguin.
This was the much-hyped second commercial flight to Cuba -- after last week's JetBlue flight -- pursuant to Obama's new policy. AA Flight #1359 arrived in Holguin at 4:13 P.M. Yet, Avila Leon has not been heard from since she boarded the plane in Miami.
She had been in the United States for nearly six months receiving medical treatment.
Those who do not know Avila Leon's story should click here.
In short, she was former National Assembly member-turned-dissident. As a result, Avila Leon suffered a machete attack by Castro regime operatives, which severed her left hand and left her with life-threatening injuries.
During her stay in the United States, Avila Leon testified before the United States Congress, where she denounced the increased crimes and abuses of the Cuban dictatorship.
It's presumed that Avila Leon has been arrested upon her arrival in Cuba.
However, it's difficult to gather any information -- for as Senators Rubio and Menendez, and Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman John Katko warned yesterday -- all airport employees (including those of American Airlines) in Cuba are agents and employees of the Castro regime.
In other words, there is no independent personnel in Cuba's airports. This lack of transparency should be a concern to all of us -- not least of which for U.S. security.
Thus, the tragic conundrum that Avila Leon and others like her now face. And the complicity of American Airlines and those that agree to Castro's conditions for business.