Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa Joins Latin American Writers in Condemning UNESCO-Obiang Prize

Prominent Latin American writers have called on UNESCO to cancel its award named for Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang, registering concerns about his regime's track record of oppression.

In a joint letter, the signatories write: "Public expression and the exchange of ideas define our very existence as writers. We are thus troubled by the message UNESCO conveys by naming a prize after one of the world's most repressive dictators."

Over 25 literary figures have signed the letter, including:

• Homero Aridjis, former Mexican ambassador to UNESCO, president emeritus of PEN International, president of the Grupo de los Cien
• Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel laureate
• Sergio Ramírez, former vice president of Nicaragua, member of the Academia de la Lengua (Spain and Nicaragua)
• Gloria Guardia de Alfaro, vice president of PEN International, president of the Iberoamerican Foundation of PEN International, member of the Academia de la Lengua (Panama, Spain, Colombia, and Nicaragua)