THE International Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FIEJ) has awarded its annual press freedom prize - the Golden Pen of Freedom to Yndamiro Restano Diaz, a dissident Cuban journalist.
Announcing the prize, the board of EIEJ said: "Yndamiro Restano is a pioneer in the struggle to establish a free and independent press in Cuba. He has shown considerable courage in the face of adversity and paid personally for his convictions."
The board added: "Given the opportunity to be freed from a heavy prison sentence, on the condition that he leave Cuba, Mr Restano boldly rejected the offer and remained defiantly in his cell."
Originally a poet, Mr Restano became a journalist with Cuban state controlled radio in 1980. After reporting on mass food shortages, forced labour and propaganda, he was arrested in 1985 for giving an interview to the New York Times. In 1988 he founded the Association of Independent Journalists of Cuba, and two years later he formed the underground Movement for Hanony, which published a clandestine journal, La Opinion.
In May 1992, he was tried for rebellion and sentenced to 10 years in jail. After aggressive campaigning by human rights organisations, he was released last year and founded the Independent Press of Cuba (BPIC). Several members of the BPIC staff have been arrested or harassed because of their reporting activities, according to the FIEJ. However, Mr Restano says the goal of the news agency is to be "committed only to telling the truth."