Ladies in White ("Las Damas de Blanco") founder dies in Havana from Dengue fever

The Ladies in White of Havana is a loose knit organization started almost a decade ago by a group of women protesting the detention of 75 men arrested during a wave of political repression in 2003. They have frequently clashed with Cuban authorities over the years, and at times have been roughed up on the streets by Castro regime agents and sympathizers. The group was originally composed of immediate family members of the 75 detainees, but eventually morphed into a much broader organization, espousing the political and civil rights of every Cuban, and demanding the release of all political prisoners. Because of their nonviolent resistance, hey have proved themselves a formidable adversary -- and a major headache -- for the Old Men of Havana.

This evening comes word that one of their founders, 63 year old Laura Pollan, has died after a week long battle with the dreaded Dengue fever. Dengue is a tropical, mosquito born illness which afflicts much of the world, including the Yucatán, where there have been a number of deaths in recent weeks. Fortunately, most people experience milder forms of Dengue, and statistically very few actually succumb to the illnes. Pollan died in a Havana hospital, where she was admitted after developing severe respiratory problems.

Pollan's husband, one of the original 75, was just released in February.

Note: Subsequent press reports in the days immediately following Pollan's death have disagreed on the exact cause(s). It appears that she suffered from numerous ailments, and was generally in a compromised state of health when hospitalized. But she did have Dengue. This is probably one of those cases where a physically stronger person would have survived.