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.
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