Cuban Government Crackdown Against Human Rights and Pro Democracy
Activists.
Independent journalists and leaders of opposition groups detained
throughout Cuba in State Security headquarters.
Miami, March 19, 2003. The dictatorship in Havana since yesterday in the
late afternoon has engaged in a nationwide crackdown against human rights
activists, Varela Project organizers and independent journalists. Reports of
searches, confiscations, and detentions have been received from throughout
the entire island.
Civic movement leader Vladimiro Roca Antúnez speaking to the Cuban
Democratic Directorate from Havana issued a call for help to the world:
“We are calling for the attention of the international community with
regards to what is taking place in Cuba: the most violent and extreme
crackdown by the
Cuban government against the non-violent opposition and independent
journalists who are promoting non-violent changes towards democracy and the
betterment of conditions for the Cuban people. We do not want violence;
nevertheless the government is using violence and an apparatus of repression
disproportionate given the non-violent character of the persons involved.
Searches and arrests of persons whose sole crime is not to be in agreement
with the system and propose changes openly using non-violent means are
taking place.” Roca Antúnez asked for the international community to support
the detained activists.
Joaquín Cabezas De León, an activist of the Movimiento Cubano Reflexión
whose elected leader Librado Linares García finds himself detained in the
State Security Headquarters in Santa Clara, made clear that the only crime
of this organization is to promote social and cultural projects so as to
open spaces of liberty on the island.
According to the information given to the family of Linares García he will
be charged with association with criminal purpose[Asociación para Delinquir],
diffusion of false news
[Difusión de noticias falsas] and rebellion [Rebelión ]
Gladys Linares, member of the Humanitarian Feminist Front [Frente Femenino
Humanitario] said from Havana that this crackdown could only be compared
with the one carried out by the regime in 1988 against human rights
activists who presented human rights complaints during the first and last
visit of an emissary of the U.N. Human Rights Commission to the island.
The Cuban Democratic Directorate condemns these actions, and reminds the
international community that this is a moment to demonstrate ones solidarity
with the civic movement inside Cuba. This is the response of the
government in Havana to the democratic postulates of the Cotonou Agreement
and to the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
The following is a partial list of Cubans detained between March 18 and 19
on:
1. Librado Linares García, Movimiento Cubano Reflexión, Villa Clara.
2. Léster González Pentón, Movimiento pro Derechos Humanos Razón, Verdad y
Libertad, Villa Clara.
3. Jorge Olivera, Habana Press, La Habana.
4. Miguel Galván, Periodista Independiente, Güines, La Habana.
5. Osvaldo Alfonso, Partido Liberal Cubano, La Habana.
6. Ricardo González Alfonso, Sociedad de Periodistas Manuel Márquez
Sterling, La Habana.
7. Iván Hernández Carrillo, Partido por la Democracia Pedro Luis Boitel,
Matanzas.
8. José Luis García Paneque, Agencia de Prensa Libertad, Las Tunas.
9. Jorge Luis González Tanquero, Movimiento Independentista Carlos Manuel De
Céspedes, Las Tunas.
10. Ariel Sigler Amaya, Movimiento Opción Alternativa, Matanzas.
11. Miguel Sigler Amaya, Movimiento Opción Alternativa, Matanzas.
12. Guido Sigler Amaya, Movimiento Opción Alternativa, Matanzas
13. Margarito Broche Espinosa, Asociación Nacional de Balseros Paz,
Democracia y Libertad, Caibarién, Villa Clara.
14. Omar Rodríguez Saludes, Periodista Independiente, La Habana.
15. Víctor Rolando Arroyo, Foro por la Reforma, Pinar del Río.
16. Roberto De Miranda, Colegio de Pedagogos Independientes, La Habana.
17. Edel José García, Norte Centro Press, La Habana.
18. Orlando Fundora, Asociación Pedro Luis Boitel, La Habana.
19. Roberto García Callejas, activista.
20. Carmelo Díaz, Consejo Unitario de Trabajadores Democráticos Cubanos, La
Habana.
21. José Gabriel Ramón Castillo, Instituto Independiente Cultura y
Democracia, Santiago de Cuba.
22. Pedro Arguelles Morán, Cooperativa Avileña de Periodistas Independientes,
Ciego de Avila.
23. Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos, Consejo Unitario de Trabajadores, La Habana.
24. Félix Navarro, Partido por la Democracia Pedro Luis Boitel, Matanzas.
25. Julio César Gálvez, Periodista Independiente, La Habana.
26. Alejandro González Raga, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, Camagüey.
27. Alfredo Pulido, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, Camaguey.
28. Arturo Pérez de Alejo, Organización Independiente de Derechos Humanos
Escambray, Manicaragua, Villa Clara.
29. Próspero Gaínza Agüero, Movimiento Nacional de Resistencia Cívica,
Holguín.
30. Alfredo Domínguez Batista, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, La Tunas
31. Miguel Valdés Tamayo, Pinar del Río.
32. José Pérez Moré, Pinar del Río.
33. Eduardo Díaz Fleites, Pinar del Río.
34. René Oñate, Proyecto de Artes Plásticas “Espacio Interior”, Pinar del
Río.
35. Efrén Fernández Fernández, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, La Habana.
36. José Daniel Ferrer, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, Santiago de Cuba.
37. Horacio Piña, activista en Pinar del Río.
38. Gerardo Páez Díaz, gestores del Proyecto Varela, Artemisa.
39. Mario Rosa Nodarse, gestores del Proyecto Varela, Artemisa.
40. Osmany Escalona Apaseiro, gestores del Proyecto Varela, Artemisa.
41. Ricardo Silva, Movimiento Cristiano Liberación, Santiago de Cuba.
42. Omar Pernet Hernández, Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos Mario
Manuel de la Peña, Placetas, Villa Clara.
43. Bertha Antúnez Pernet, Movimiento Nacional de Resistencia Cívica Pedro
Luis Boitel, Placetas,Villa Clara.
Released on March 19, 2003 in Miami. For more information contact the
Cuban Democratic Directorate at 305-279-4416. Given to the Information
Bridge Cuba Miami on March 19th, 2003.
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