Political Dissident Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet Honored during ‘Cuba Day’ Celebration

By Luis Carlos López

Congress celebrated its 14th annual “Cuba Day” Sept. 22 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington D.C., honoring Cuban political prisoners.

Nearly 100 people gathered in a small hearing room to watch snippets of “Oscar’s Cuba,” based on the life of Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet.

Expelled from the Cuban National Health System in February 1998 for fostering views against Castro’s regime, Biscet became a constant voice calling for democracy in Cuba. The government first opened its case against Biscet in 1994 for being ant-revolutionary and “dangerous.” Three years later the outspoken activist founded the Lawton Foundation to promote the spread of democracy and human rights on the island.

In 2002, following a three-year imprisonment for protesting Cuba’s lack of freedom by showing the flag upside down, Biscet was arrested again for disorderly conduct.  Despite pleas from the international community calling for Biscet’s immediate release, he is currently serving a 25-year term in solitary confinement.

In a statement, Florida Representative Mario Díaz-Balart recognized director Jordan Allot for “highlighting one of the greatest heroes of freedom.”

Allot, who spent two years working on the film, was not allowed to visit Biscet. He gathered past footage of the activist and spoke with Biscet’s family and friends, including wife Elsa Morejón, a founder of Las Damas

en Blanco, a group of women who fight forthe freedom of Cuban dissidents.

Along with other guests, eight former Cuban prisoners sat in front of the podium, each wearing a pin listing the number of years they spent behind bars for speaking their mind against Castro’s dictatorship.

One of them, Osvidio Pradera, who spent 20 years in prison before being released in the late ’70s, said he fought alongside Castro during the revolution but, dissatisfied with Cuba’s direction following Castro’s first year in power, he rebelled.

He spoke of his years in prison, often naked, smashing rocks and being tortured. He still carries a bullet in his back as a reminder of when he was shot by prison guards.

Pradera said he hopes that by showing “everything that is going on,” the documentary inspires more people to oppose the injustices that have been afflicting Cuba for more than half a century.

“Oscar’s Cuba” will be shown at screenings throughout the country. For more information on the film visit www.oscarscuba.com