Give Ladies In White Nobel Prize says Juanes

Colombian musician Juanes received plenty of undue criticism in the run-up to last September’s “Peace Without Borders” concert in Havana. It could be interesting to see if those same people who blasted him last year will also criticize him for his public support of Cuba’s Ladies in White.

In an e-mailed message publicized by a Cuban dissident, Juanes advocated that the next Nobel Peace Prize should go to the Ladies. Juanes justified giving the prestigious honor to the Ladies so “that those who suffer injustice follow their example of perseverance.” Juanes further thanked them for supporting last year’s historic concert “despite the drastic opposition of other sectors.”

In response one of the Ladies thanked Juanes while also acknowledging the group’s effort against repression:

“The Ladies in White are committed to our peaceful activities not for a prize but for the liberation of our husbands,” said Berta Soler, husband of activist Angel Moya who is serving a twenty-year jail term. – [ed. Translated text]

The Ladies have gained international fame for their marches against the Castro regime and have received increased support after being targeted in a police crackdown last month. Celebs like Gloria Estefan and Andy Garcia led solidarity marches in Miami and Washington, respectively.

Image- Al Jazeera English
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, EPA, El Universal, BBC News, Voice of America