Sirley Ávila León

"When I got out of the closet, he was there holding a machete. He attempted to target my head and I was protecting myself with my hand. He cut my hand off. When he attacked for the second time, I defended myself with the other hand. He broke it but didn't cut me. It was two years ago and I still have a scar. The next strike went towards my shouldar where he made a 10-centimeter long cut wound. The next attack targeted my right knee, he cut off my tendons and I fell down. As I was laying on the floor, he cut my other leg with two strikes, and then another one to my right leg. I was completely defenseless. My leg bone was cut through. Then he wanted to attack my head. I was lying on the floor, next to the place where pigs are fed, and couldn't see out from the house. I was then told that the woman who was visiting from Las Tunas, ran out to get help. When he said he'd then cut my head off, I just looked to the sky, reconciled with that being the end. I was proud of myself and it all happened so quickly that there was no time to think things over."

"In the end, I was elected chair of the Republican Party in the Las Tunas province. On my own expenses - as always - I began visiting the individual constituencies, both cities and villages, and started organizing an opposition movement. I established several local units, met people and also asked for support of those people who knew me from the town where I previously served as a councillor. I can't say that in every single constituency, there would be someone from the opposition. I simply sought the people's support, even within the system. The support of a collective of locals who knew me and knew how things were. I think this is the best way to claim one's rights - with the support of people who know me and know that I'm telling them the truth."