[Reader-list] Bad News from Cuba
Shuddhabrata Sengupta
shuddha at sarai.net
Fri Apr 18 16:22:08 IST 2003
Dear all on the Reader List,
While everyone is focused on what is going on in Iraq, bad news seeps in from
elsewhere, and often goes un noticed. Earlier this month, in a spectacular
set of show trials in Cuba, 75 people were given lengthy prison sentances,
(of more than 20 years each) in trials that often did not last longer than a
day. These people were mainly independent journalists, human rights
activists, university teachers and writers.
Three people who tried to flee Cuba in a ferry that they had hijacked were
apprehended and executed by a firing squad.
Cuba is a small country, with a population of not more than 11,184,023 (as of
July 2001). Compare this with the city of Delhi, which has more than 13
million people. Now consider the impact that the sudden arrest of 75
independent journalists, human rights activists, university teachers and
writers within a single day would have in Delhi. For those of us who live in
Delhi and are on this list, we would probably know many amongst them, (if 75
such people were to be arrested in one day). ( I am not even talking about
India - because the scale is too different, for the scale to be comparative,
we would need to have at least 7,500 people arrested and served with life
sentances, not for any acts committed by them, but because of their opinions
and views on the politcial realities that they faced)
The Castro regime, like that of many other third world dictatorships of
varying political colours is a quagmire of decaying tropical repression. We
gloss over this when we are seduced by the images of sunny beaches, the
beautiful city of Havana, the happy Cuban music we all play at parties, the
films we all love and the photo-play of radical rhetoric and long speeches
that many have grown sentimental about. Its not just the length of Fidel's
speeches that is oppressive. The length of his shadow, which grows even as he
ages and his radical shine gets mouldy, and which lies heavily on the lives
of many ordinary Cubans, is something for all of us to think about
And so, I just thought, that while we spend a lot of time thinking about
Fidel's powerful tyrant neighbour up north, and the devastating consequences
world wide of the Bush administrations criminal acts, we should not neglect
to spare a moment thinking about those who have to live with El Comandante,
seemingly forever.
No tyrant no matter how big or small, how near or far, be he Bush, or
Pinochet, or Saddam Hussein, or Stalin, or Narendra Modi, or Castro, or Kim
Jong Il, or Bal Thackeray or Indira Gandhi should ever be forgotten, or be
allowed to think that they can secure their corner in the world and in
history, away from the attention of anyone who loves their liberty.
Below are two forwarded texts, one from the Digital Freedom Network website
by Shravanti Reddy on the show trials, and another, a press release from the
Amnesty International website about the three recent executions by firing
squad.
Cheers (?)
Shuddha
_____________________________________________________________________________
1.
Cuban activists and independent journalists await international action
by Shravanti Reddy, Digital Freedom Network
http://www.dfn.org/news/cuba/trials.htm
(April 11, 2003) As the last of the 78 Cuban dissidents that were arrested
last month were tried and sentenced this week, the Cuban government has shown
little concern over the worldwide condemnation over their actions.
On March 18, Cuban authorities began arresting political dissidents,
independent journalists, and human rights and pro-democracy activists
throughout the country. In all, 78 people were arrested for peacefully
exercising their freedom of expression and assembly. The majority where
charged under Law 88 Protection of Cuba's National Independence and Economy
and Article 91 of the Penal Code.
The arrests were swiftly followed by mass trials held throughout the country
under "facilitated procedures" that are only to be used under exceptional
circumstances. Defense lawyers had little time to prepare cases and in many
instances could not meet with their clients until just before their trials
began.
Each trial lasted no longer than one day and was closed to both the
international press and foreign diplomats. In addition, many trusted
colleagues of the arrested revealed that they were informants working for the
state security. They provided damaging testimony against many of the
activists and journalists during their trials.
Many believe that Cuba orchestrated the crackdown to coincide with the US and
British war on Iraq, when world attention would be focused elsewhere.
Sentences are considered excessive and range from six to 28 years. Among the
more prominent of those arrested are economist Marta Beatriz Roque, poet and
journalist Raul Rivera, journalist Omar Rodriguez Saludes, and opposition
leader and reformist Hector Palacios. They received 20, 20, 25, and 27 years
respectively. Luis Enrique Ferrer who was a coordinator for the Varela
Project, a petition-drive seeking greater democracy in Cuba, was sentenced to
28 years.
Many believe that the communist one-party state, run by Fidel Castro since
1959, orchestrated the crackdown to coincide with the US and British war on
Iraq, when world attention would be focused elsewhere.
"The regime was able to begin the crackdown, end the crackdown, and have
these people sentenced all during the swift war in Iraq," explained Rene
Gomez Manzano in an interview with the Digital Freedom Network. Manzano, an
independent lawyer and prominent Cuban dissident, co-authored "The Homeland
Belongs to All of Us" along with Roque, Vladimiro Roca, and Felix Bonne
Carcasses for which they were all imprisoned. They are often referred to as
the "Group of Four."
With the trials ending on April 8, the Cuban government made their first
public statement concerning the arrests and trials the following day when
Foreign Minister Filipe Perez Roque confirmed that 75 prisoners had already
been given lengthy prison sentences. He referred to those on trial as
mercenaries working for the US.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the government
claimed they were protecting their "independence from a US-funded conspiracy
to undermine the government of Castro."
Although the Cuban government has shown little concern with the widespread
condemnation of their actions thus far, those sentenced are looking to
international support and action to bring about their release.
Behind bars again
Acclaimed economist and human rights activist Marta Beatriz Roque has already
spent three years and six months in prison for co-authoring "The Homeland
Belongs To Us All."
Released in 2000, Roque continued her work to promote human rights and
democracy in Cuba. As the head of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society"-a
coalition of approximately 85 opposition organizations around the
country-Roque was instrumental in organizing the Campaign to Promote the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) at the end of last year.
Prosecutors had originally pursued a life sentence against Roque, the only
woman tried during the recent crackdown, but this was subsequently reduced to
a 20-year sentence.
Like the others, Roque was charged under Law 88. The first time it has been
invoked by the government, Law 88 allows for prison sentences or the death
penalty for those who act against the "independence or the territorial
integrity of the State" and prohibits "distributing subversive materials of
foreign organizations."
"Not only in Marta's case, but in all the others, the sentences are filled
with generalities," claimed Manzano, who had the opportunity to read the
sentences. "They are filled with vague accusations and vague statements
accusing them of acting with the purpose of attacking the Cuban government."
Using imprecise and indirect language, Manzano maintains that "there are no
concrete charges against them." For example, independent journalist Adolfo
Fernandez Ruiz's sentence only contained 15 lines describing his crime, yet
he received a 16-year sentence, explained Manzano.
Government officials searched Roque's home and confiscated her computer,
books, documents and other items. Others had their furniture, fax machines,
typewriters and other valuable items taken. According to Manzano, some
dissidents' houses were even confiscated by the government, despite relatives
and family members still residing there.
Ironically, the Assembly to Promote Civil Society had announced in a press
conference in January that its work in 2003 would focus on the release of
political prisoners.
In fact, the arrests last month seem to be part of the government's
escalating efforts that began last year to disband the opposition. "At the
end of 2002, there were more political prisoners or prisoners of conscience
than at the same time a year before," stated Manzano.
Just prior to her arrest on March 20, Roque had participated in a hunger
strike to demand the release of political prisoners including Dr. Oscar Elias
Biscet, who was arrested on December 6 for an act of civil disobedience
during a teach-in on the UDHR. Dr. Biscet received a 25-year sentence
yesterday.
"Before the crackdown, Cuba had more political prisoners than anywhere else
in the world in real terms," explained Manzano. "But now you can add 78 more
people, which means there are over 90 political prisoners in Cuba now."
An American (diplomat) in Cuba
The role of US Interests Section Chief James Cason in prompting the crackdown
has been the subject of debate. Many have criticized Cason, who arrived in
Cuba last summer, for meeting with and openly supporting Cuban activists and
independent journalists. According to the North American Congress on Latin
America (NACLA), Cason has also "publicly referred to them as the future
political leaders of the country" and has "criticized the government in
comments to the international press."
Roque's meetings with an American diplomat were considered "repeated
provocations" by the Cuban government.
In fact, most of the convictions last week were based on charges of
collaborating with American diplomats to undermine the socialist state and to
harm Cuba and its economy. According to the Seattle Times, Raul Rivera was
accused of accepting money from US diplomats. Rivera and his wife, Blanca
Reyes, have denied the accusation.
About a week before the arrests began, independent journalists attended a
workshop that was held at Cason's residence. According to the New York Times,
an independent journalist group headed by Ricardo Gonzalez Sainz approached
Cason for assistance in holding the workshop. The group had previously been
blocked from holding reporting and editing classes by the Cuban government.
Roque has also been linked to Cason, who attended a meeting held at her
residence on February 24, Cuban Independence Day.
This and similar meetings have been referred to as "repeated provocations" by
the Cuban government, which had also threatened to close down the US Office
of American Interest in the capital city of Havana if such meetings continued
to occur.
Former US Interests Section Chief Wayne Smith criticized "Cason's 'bull in a
china shop' tactics as provoking the arrests," as reported by NACLA.
However, Laida Carro of the Coalition of Cuban-American Women disagreed.
"When Marta [Roque] held a meeting in her home on February 24, she invited
all the diplomats from all the embassies but James Cason was the only one who
came," explained Carro in an interview with the Digital Freedom Network. "I
think everyone should have gone and done the same thing, but it is easy to
say he was wrong to do so now." In fact, many of those arrested had never
even met with Cason.
Instead, Carro believes that the opposition's growing strength was the reason
behind the arrests. "This is why they were arrested," explained Carro. "They
got together and they were doing well."
Importance of international support
"Those in Cuba, they are telling us that and they depend on the world's
solidarity," said Carro.
Fortunately, there has been widespread condemnation of the Cuban government
despite the attention-grabbing war on Iraq. Several international human
rights and press organizations have strongly condemned the arrests and
demanded the release of the dissidents, including Human Rights Watch,
Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, Committee to Protect
Journalists, and the International Press Institute.
________________________________________________________________
2.
Cuba: Executions mark an unjustifiable erosion in human rights
Amnesty International Press release, 14/04/2003
news.amnesty.org/mavp/news.nsf/VwDocid/
6DF1171EC0CC4D4280256D0800518177?openDocument
In yet another blow to respect for human rights, Cuban authorities have
ended a three-year de facto moratorium on executions by sending three men to
their deaths before an official firing squad, said Amnesty International
today.
"Coming on the heels of the mass arrest and summary trials of at least 75
Cuban dissidents -- most of whom received shockingly lengthy prison terms
ranging up to 28 years -- these executions mark a serious erosion in Cuba's
human rights record."
"The executions are extremely worrying as a human rights development, not
only because they signal the end of Cuba's widely-heralded de facto
moratorium on executions," continued Amnesty International. "What is equally
of concern is that the men were given a summary trial, and their appeals to
the supreme court and the Council of State were dealt with in a cursory and
wholly inadequate manner. They were shot and killed less than a week after
their trial began."
The three men, Lorenzo Enrique Copello Castillo, Bárbaro Leodán Sevilla
García and Jorge Luis Martínez Isaac, were among a group who reportedly
hijacked a Cuban ferry with several dozen passengers on board on 2 April and
tried to force it to the United States. The incident,the third hijacking in
two weeks in Cuba, ended without bloodshed, after several days' standoff
between Cuban security forces and the the hijackers.
Currently there at least 50 people on death row in Cuba. Amnesty
International is concerned that these people may also face imminent execution
given that the moratorium has ended, and has taken action by calling on
authorities to urgently commute all pending death sentences.
Lorenzo Enrique Copello, Bárbaro Leodán Sevilla and Jorge Luis Martínez were
convicted of terrorism under Law 93 of late 1991, which expanded existing
anti-terrorism measures and reaffirmed the use of the death penalty in the
most extreme cases. Another four hijackers received life sentences, while
four others received shorter prison terms.
In an official statement on the executions on 11 April, the Cuban government
claimed that it was undergoing serious provocations and threats to its
national security emanating from the United States.
"There is no justification for executions, particularly following summary
trials," Amnesty International responded. "Over the last four weeks, Cuba has
reversed significant human rights progress made over a period of years. This
represents a return to extreme repressive measures in use decades ago which
cannot be justified, and which ultimately harm the Cuban people."
____________________________________________________________
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