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Cuba dissident 'forced off road' to death, says family | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Family members of prominent Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya, who died in a car crash on Sunday, say they believe his car had been forced off the road. | |
At a funeral mass attended by hundreds of people in Havana, Mr Paya's son, Oswaldo, told the BBC that his father had received many death threats. | At a funeral mass attended by hundreds of people in Havana, Mr Paya's son, Oswaldo, told the BBC that his father had received many death threats. |
An official statement said the driver lost control as it drove on a road in eastern Granma province and hit a tree. | An official statement said the driver lost control as it drove on a road in eastern Granma province and hit a tree. |
Mr Paya, 60, was one of Cuba's main pro-democracy campaigners. | Mr Paya, 60, was one of Cuba's main pro-democracy campaigners. |
A fellow activist, 31-year-old Harold Cepero, was also killed in the accident near the city of Bayamo, in eastern Granma province. | A fellow activist, 31-year-old Harold Cepero, was also killed in the accident near the city of Bayamo, in eastern Granma province. |
Two other people - one Swede and one Spaniard - were injured but have now left hospital. | Two other people - one Swede and one Spaniard - were injured but have now left hospital. |
Neither the Swedish not the Spanish embassies have confirmed Mr Paya's family's account of what happened. | Neither the Swedish not the Spanish embassies have confirmed Mr Paya's family's account of what happened. |
Mr Paya's son told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Havana, that the car had been pushed off the road deliberately. | Mr Paya's son told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Havana, that the car had been pushed off the road deliberately. |
An official enquiry has been launched. | An official enquiry has been launched. |
Some of Cuba's main human rights campaigners attended the ceremony at San Salvador catholic church. | Some of Cuba's main human rights campaigners attended the ceremony at San Salvador catholic church. |
They vowed to continue fighting for democracy on the communist island. | They vowed to continue fighting for democracy on the communist island. |
Mr Paya is best-known as the founder of the Varela Project - a campaign to gather signatures in support of a referendum on laws guaranteeing civil rights. | Mr Paya is best-known as the founder of the Varela Project - a campaign to gather signatures in support of a referendum on laws guaranteeing civil rights. |
Oswaldo Paya's widow, Ofelia Acevedo, spoke during the religious ceremony. She thanked human rights campaigners for their support. | Oswaldo Paya's widow, Ofelia Acevedo, spoke during the religious ceremony. She thanked human rights campaigners for their support. |
Mr Paya's funeral is due to be held on Tuesday at the Colon Cemetery, in Havana. | Mr Paya's funeral is due to be held on Tuesday at the Colon Cemetery, in Havana. |
His death comes after another prominent Cuban dissident, Laura Pollan, founder of the protest group Ladies in White, died last October. | His death comes after another prominent Cuban dissident, Laura Pollan, founder of the protest group Ladies in White, died last October. |
Longstanding activist | Longstanding activist |
In 2002, Mr Paya won the Sakharov Prize - the European Union's human rights award - for his work with the Varela Project, which was created in 1998. | In 2002, Mr Paya won the Sakharov Prize - the European Union's human rights award - for his work with the Varela Project, which was created in 1998. |
In May 2002, he presented Cuba's National Assembly with a petition of more than 10,000 signatures calling for an end to four decades of one-party rule. | In May 2002, he presented Cuba's National Assembly with a petition of more than 10,000 signatures calling for an end to four decades of one-party rule. |
He has since repeatedly delivered petitions to the body, including one in 2007 calling for an amnesty for non-violent political prisoners. | He has since repeatedly delivered petitions to the body, including one in 2007 calling for an amnesty for non-violent political prisoners. |
The Cuban government described him as an agent of the United States who was working to undermine the country's revolution. | The Cuban government described him as an agent of the United States who was working to undermine the country's revolution. |
But he did not keep close links with the anti-Castro opposition in the US, which has criticised him for being too moderate. | But he did not keep close links with the anti-Castro opposition in the US, which has criticised him for being too moderate. |
A devout Christian, Mr Paya was also the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, which campaigns for political change, civil rights and the release of political prisoners. | A devout Christian, Mr Paya was also the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, which campaigns for political change, civil rights and the release of political prisoners. |
His influence is seen has having waned recently, with a new generation of internet-based activists, such as Yoani Sanchez, coming to the fore. | His influence is seen has having waned recently, with a new generation of internet-based activists, such as Yoani Sanchez, coming to the fore. |
Born in 1952, Mr Paya became a critic of the communist government as a teenager. | Born in 1952, Mr Paya became a critic of the communist government as a teenager. |