Havana, January 8 (RHC)-- Members of the Brazilian “60 years of the Cuban Revolution Caravan” called on Monday for international solidarity to secure the release of former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. 

Brazilian activists urged the world to support the cause in a statement read by Maria Ivon de Souza, director of the Jose Marti Cultural Association of the State of Bahia, during a ceremony to welcome the brigade held at the headquarters of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) in Havana.

The activist describes Lula’s arrest and incarceration as illegal given a lack of evidence supporting allegations of corruption.

Maria Ivon de Souza said: “Lula is innocent; he is a political prisoner; he was arrested to prevent him from running in the most recent presidential elections in Brazil.  And he remains in jail for being the greatest popular leader.  It is an attack on democracy.”

Activists also denounced Brazil’s new President Jair Bolsonaro whose actions harm the Brazilian people and represent a setback to the achievements won over 13 years of a Workers’ Party government. 

The statement also rejects the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for almost 60 years, as well as all attempts by Washington to interfere in the Caribbean nation’s internal affairs.