MIAMI, June 10 (UPI) -- The widow and children of Cuban dissident Osvaldo Paya have requested political asylum in Miami, say representatives of an anti-Castro group founded by Paya.
Cuban officials had allowed Ofelia Acevedo Paya, her daughter Rosa Maria, younger son Reinaldo and other members of the family to travel off the communist island nation, El Nuevo Herald reported Sunday.
The family arrived in Miami Thursday, the Christian Liberation Movement said in statement released late Saturday.
Antonio Diaz, a member of MCL's coordinating committee, said Sunday Paya's family was "taking time to finish the process" of applying for admission to the United States as political refugees.
Rosa Maria Paya and her brother Osvaldo Paya Jr. had traveled to South Florida in April to attend the unveiling of a mural dedicated to Bishop Agustin Roman, the first Cuban to be consecrated as bishop. During her visit, Paya said the Cuban government had increased its threats against the family after they had requested an international investigation into the death of her father.
The family has said the Cuban government was behind the deaths of Paya and Harold Cepero in a July 2012 car crash.
Since Cuba instituted travel reform in January, several dissidents have been allowed to travel outside the country, but have reported frequent harassment after their return.
