february july cuban political activist roman catholic founded oppose party rule attracted international attention organizing petition drive known project signatories petitioned cuban government guarantee freedom speech freedom assembly institute multi party democracy recognition work received people need july died car crash controversial circumstances cuban government stated driver lost control vehicle collided tree children car passengers asserted car deliberately run road background born february havana fifth seven children brought roman catholic attended school havana student school refused join following cuban revolution school later closed sentenced years hard labor refused transport political prisoners mandatory military service discovered locked catholic church received permission reopen mission giving religious talks caring sick release enrolled physics major expelled authorities discovered practicing christian attended night school switched major telecommunications later engineer worked state surgical equipment company offered opportunity leave cuba chose remain cuba work change married catholic wedding pair children project founded called civil rule group advocates civil liberties freedom political prisoners began magazine catholics titled people god calling christians lead struggle human rights magazine shut following year cuba bishops government pressure attempted run allowed stand late 1990s activists began collecting signatures petition drive best known program named honor catholic priest participated cuba independence struggle spain project took advantage clause cuban constitution requiring national referendum held signatures gathered presented signatures calling referendum freedom speech assembly allowing private business ownership ending party rule october delivered additional signatures president endorsed petition granted chance speak cuban television bringing efforts attention wide cuban audience cuban president described petition drive conspiracy overthrow government according los_angeles_times petition drive biggest campaign change system elder established cuban revolution giving international reputation leading expert described initiative time enlisted citizen participation large scale fellow hand critical project stating appeals controlled futile later year efforts recognized awarded prize freedom thought nearly denied exit attend awards ceremony months followed met pope secretary state mexican president discuss cause cuban democratic reform progress blocked government launched petition drive declare socialist state crackdown popularly known black spring members comprised defendants arrested later activism illness culminated resignation continued criticize cuban government transferred power brother called allow elections free political prisoners delivered petition asking cuban people granted freedom travel years death influence said attention shifted younger activists blogger released cables head havana describing older touch writing little contact younger extent message getting appeal segment society younger generation cited role model expressed grief death political views refused accept aid opposed cuban editorial miami herald stated lifting won solve problems cuban people maintaining solution called immediately lift food medicine maintained distance cuban political groups based particular refused support stated goal land return cuba programme attack powerful groups miami people going happen cuba hold million people cuba feuded democracy activist accusing collaborating security forces provide justification crackdown political activity tolerated occasions allowed travel abroad reported family subject routine intimidation told going killed regime going run away death died car crash july age incident occurred near eastern province according statement released cuban government chairman youth league died crash swedish politician chairman spanish politician present survived minor injuries taken professor dead arrival daughter stated father died rental car traveling rammed times car son added father received numerous death threats stated accident survivors reported car deliberately driven road official statement cuban government said driver lost control vehicle collided tree stated circumstances deaths cleared open hypothesis demanded transparent inquiry accident reporter foreign policy commented vehicles carrying foreign supporters including diplomats stock trade act intimidation cuban state security years entirely believable incident gone wrong july official report foreign press blaming driver error quoting saying car road poor road conditions bad weather widow rejected report stating crash accident government report trusted press conference arranged cuban authorities july stated crash accident car involved speaking washington_post denied version events stating threatened cuban authorities forced false statement stated instead car rammed vehicle cuban government license plates causing fatal crash president barack_obama released statement praising champion greater civic human rights cuba senator republican presidential candidate called independent investigation crash calling international community demand facts concerning death accurately determined surviving witnesses protected european_union issued statement recognizing dedication cause democracy human rights cuba president stated tragic family human rights pro democracy movement cuba considered notable political leader cuban opposition ladies white president described death terrible blow funeral held july groups reported dozens activists arrested way funeral including broke activists state security agents funeral criticized arrests white_house describing stark demonstration climate repression cuba freed following day daughter continued activism democratic reforms cuba awards recognition award people need czech prize freedom thought european parliament honorary doctor laws degree columbia_university new_york nominated nobel peace prize czech president fellow cuban champions world democracy different view
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