different organizations in Cuba since 1991, by sending financial assistance (OFAC License No. CU-76400) and disseminating abroad informative material sent from Cuba. The most important activities carried by CAHRA are: coordinating efforts with dissident organizations inside Cuba to get information about human rights violations, informing the world about them, and finding sponsors outside Cuba to help activists and political prisoners in the island, in their peaceful quest for freedom and democracy. It is a non-partisan organization, and its current Directors are Luis Israel Abreu, Armando Alvarez and Sergio H. Gatria. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Born in Las Villas in 1932, Luis Israel Abreu graduated as a Professional Accountant from Santa Clara Business School. He participated in the struggle against General Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship, and suffered prison and exile in Mexico. When he returned to Cuba in January 1959, he held many positions in the government, among them, Chief of Investments of the Saving Postal Cash Desk at theMinistry of Communications. He was expelled, because of his democratic ideals, from Las Villas University, where he was studying for a Ph. D. in Commercial Sciences. Then, he opposed the totalitarian dictatorship of the Castro regime. He was arrested and spent 14 years as a political prisoner (1961-1975.) In 1980, he arrived, via Spain, at the United States as a political refugee. Once in the US he studied English at Mercy College, New York, and Political Science at the State University of Jersey City, New Jersey. From 1982 to 2003 he worked at the accounting office of Racquet and Tennis Club in New York City, New York. Since his arrival at the United States he has dedicated himself to the peaceful struggle for democracy in Cuba. He was founder president of the World Federation of Cuban Former Political Prisoners in 1983. In 1985, he was founder President of the Solidarity Movement for a Democratic Central America. In 1986, he was founder President of the International Front to Combat Communist Disinformation, an international organization of seven delegates representing seven countries under Communist dictatorships at the time (Afghanistan, Angola, Cuba, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Poland and Vietnam.) From 1994 to 2005 Abreu was Secretary General of the Cuban Movement 30th of November “Frank Pais” representing at the same time, in exile, the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank Pais” founded in Cuba, with his cooperation, in 1991. Later, in 2002 he helped to found the Committee to Aid Human Rights Activists (CAHRA) becoming his Executive Director. He has participated, by using his own resources, in international forums, such as the World Movement for Democracy Assemblies in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Durban, South Africa in 2000 and 2004, respectively; the Conference on Human Rights convened by the International Society for Human Rights, held in Berlin, Germany, in 2005, as well as the Conference for Democracy for Cuba, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, also in 2005. Abreu has also attended many conferences related to Cuba at Miami University, Florida; Rutgers University, New Jersey; Ohio State University, Ohio, and Princeton Public Library in New Jersey. Besides, he travels to Washington D.C. every year with the lobbying organization “Americans for a Democratic Cuba” to explain to members of the U.S. Congress how important it is their awareness of the Cuban situation, and their help for the peaceful struggle for freedom and democracy in Cuba. His current address is 6020 Newkirk Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 07047. Telephone (201) 868-1310. E-mail cubaexilio@cahra.org. Born in Havana in 1959, he was studying Engineering at CUJAE in Havana, when the Interests Section of the United States Office in Havana granted him political asylum. He arrived at the US in 1980. From exile, he has been helping opposition activists in Cuba, enrolling himself in different movements, such as Independent and Democratic Cuban Youth, attending several of its congresses. He was invited as an international observer to the elections of El Salvador during the government of Napoleon Duarte. He participated in committees to aid the Sandinist opposition in Nicaragua. Alvarez was founder of the Guardarraya group, a cultural organization which was a forum opened for democratic discussion about Cuban issues. He was, also, co-founder of Jóvenes Pro Democracia (Youth for Democracy.) He was also co-founder of the Directorio Democrático Cubano (Cuban Democratic Directory) in 1990 in which founding Congress he was the Moderator. On behalf of the Directorio he has traveled throughout different countries of Latin America and Europe founding solidarity committees to help developing democratic ideals in Cuba. He has taken training courses on the labor movement in CLAT, in Venezuela, and has participated as observer in congresses of the Partido Demócrata Cristiano (Christian Democratic Party,) including meetings with U. S. congressmen and senators, and in the Parliament of Guatemala. Currently, he is one of the Vice Executive Directors of CAHRA. Professionally, he works in Real Estate investment and business administration. His current address is 115 60th Street, Apt. 2, West New York, NJ 07093. Telephone (201) 736-7919. E-mail alvarez1771@cs.com Sergio H. Gatria, Vice Executive Director Born in Havana in 1937, he attended the Professional Business School in Havana during 3 years, but he could not graduate because the school was forced to close due to students’ strikes. In the middle of the year 1957, he created the company Dillon Davis’ Production, a small advertising agency but for different reasons related to the political situation it went out of business. In February, 1959 Gatria started working in the Ministry of Commerce of Cuba, as an inspector and later as a supervisor. In September of that year he was promoted to Chief of Supervisors, having 25 inspectors under his control. In 1960 the Minister placed him in charge of the CEMATER department. Among his duties was to attend all Council of Directors meetings, at that time under Che Guevara’s authority. In 1962, he was transferred again to the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Inspection as National Department Chief, position he held until he resigned in 1965. He participated in the fight against Batista, and later he opposed the Cuban Communist regime. In the middle of 1960 he joined the Cuban Movement 30th of November “Frank Pais” until 1963, but he continued the peaceful struggle for democracy in the island until 1967. In November, 1967, he left Cuba due to the political situation, arriving at New York, via Spain. On January 10, 1968, he began working for Citibank, at Grade 4, ascending up to Grade 14, Head of Section; afterwards, he became Official of the Bank as Operations Officer, later Manager and Assistant Vice President, a position he held until he retired in 1999. From 1999 up to the present, he has been doing business in the stock market, buying and selling stocks, and has been engaged in community activities held by institutions such as the Kiwanis. He is one of the founders of the Cuban Parade of New Jersey. In exile, he has been an active member of the Cuban Movement 30th of November “Frank Pais”. Currently, he is Director of the Cuban Information Center, based in New Jersey, working in coordination with the opposition organizations inside Cuba. He is also one of the Vice Executive Directors of CAHRA. His current address is 7004 Boulevard East, Apt. 34, Guttenberg, NJ 07093. Telephone (201) 725-0857. E-mail cubinfocen@aol.com. |
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