In his very last days, though
terribly ill, Vaclav Havel continued to fight for principles. He wrote a letter
encouraging the fight for freedom in Belarus. He wrote, "I will continue
to use every opportunity in the future, with my friends, to draw the
international community's attention to the violations of human rights in
Belarus," and added, "I wish you all the best and freedom for your
country." Havel, who lived to see freedom and democracy come to Eastern
Europe despite all the might of the Soviet superpower, and who played such a
central role in that historic victory for human rights though he and his fellow
dissidents were few in number and their cause appeared hopeless, proved that
principles can and do prevail over power.
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Aurel Braun is the Chair of the
Board of Directors of Rights & Democracy and a political science professor
at the University of Toronto. David
Matas is a Member of the Board
Rights & Democracy and a
Winnipeg lawyer.
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