Brazil Grants Asylum to Three Cuban Musicians

Text of report by Brazilian news agency Agencia Brasil website

[Report by Sabrina Craide: "Cuban Musicians Obtain Asylum in Brazil" - Agencia Brasil headline]

The National Council of Refugees [Conare], which is linked to the Justice Ministry, today (14 March) approved the request for asylum presented by the three Cuban musicians who have been in Brazil since last year.

As a result, Miguel Angel Costafreda, Arodis Verdecia Pompa, and Juan Alcides Diaz now have such rights as access to healthcare and education, and will be able to apply for residency in six years.

The musicians are members of the Los Galanes band, which was in Pernambuco in December for a week of shows.

The objective of granting asylum is to protect those who have had to abandon their country because their life or freedom was in jeopardy for reasons linked to race, religion, or political belief. The musicians claim that they were being persecuted in their country because of their insistence on researching Latin rhythms without the consent of the Cuban Government.

Originally published by Agencia Brasil website, Brasilia, in Portuguese 14 Mar 08.

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