Sebastian Arcos Bergnes, 65, fought for democracy in Cuba

Published Tuesday, December 23, 1997, in the Miami Herald

Sebastian Arcos Bergnes, 65, fought for democracy in Cuba

Sebastian Arcos Bergnes, one of the founders of the human rights movement in Cuba, died Monday night of rectal cancer. He was 65.

Arcos, a dentist who fought for democracy in Cuba for more than 40 years, was vice president of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights, which has denounced the abuses of the government of Fidel Castro and began Cuba's dissident movement.

``His health began to decline days ago just as the doctors said it would,'' said his son Sebastian Arcos Cazabon. ``We were as prepared as possible.''

After suffering in prison from the harassment of Cuban authorities, Arcos arrived in Miami two years ago after being released.

Arcos testified a year later before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights about the abuses in the Cuban prison.

Following his wishes, Arcos Cazabon said, there will be a private ceremony for family members and his body will be cremated. The family will keep his ashes until they can return to a democratic Cuba.

In addition to his son, Arcos is survived by daughter Maria Rosa and brother Gustavo Arcos Bergnes, president of the Cuban Committee for Human Rights in Cuba.