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Exiles Condemn Rise in Political Repression after Hurricanes in Cuba
By Directorio, M.A.R, y Plantados

Miami. October 13, 2008. Cuban exile organizations Mothers and Women against Repression (M.A.R. por Cuba), the Cuban Democratic Directorate, Plantados until Freedom and Democracy in Cuba, and other sponsors of the “I Do Not Cooperate with the Dictatorship” campaign condemned an increase in political repression in Cuba in the weeks since hurricanes Gustav and Ike struck the Caribbean island during a press conference held Wednesday.

The human rights advocates highlighted the case of young political prisoner Julián Antonio Monés Borrero, who was arrested on September 30 in Baracoa, Holguín province for criticizing the Castro regime’s response to the natural disasters and speaking out in favor of democracy. Monés Borrero has been on hunger strike since the day of his arrest to protest his unjust detainment.

The organizations released an open letter calling attention to the cases of the young Monés Borrero and to those of many other Cubans harassed and unjustly imprisoned, especially in the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Please find below the text of the letter released by the Cuban exile organizations today:

URGENT PETITION FOR AN END TO REPRESSION IN CUBA

To the world community of democratic governments, and international human rights organizations:

We, the undersigned organizations, representing Cuban exiles, are issuing an urgent call to the international community in light of the increase in arbitrary detentions of human rights defenders in Cuba. At this moment, a young man named Julián Antonio Monés Borrero is at the Provincial Hospital in the city of Guantánamo on a hunger strike begun this past September 30 to protest his his arbitrary arrest and unjust captivity. This human rights defender, a resident of the city of Baracoa, Guantánamo province, was physically attacked on September 27 of this year by a conscript in civilian dress who beat him for wearing a white t-shirt printed with the word “Cambio” or “Change.” After hurricane Ike struck, devastating a large part of the city of Baracoa, Monés Borrero was one of the human rights activists who most spoke out to condemn the abuses being committed by police against storm victims, and the lack of humanitarian aid in that eastern region. This past October 9, his 84 year old mother Mrs. Caridad Borrero, declared a hunger strike as well, demanding that her son be freed since he is innocent of the charges of “offense against authority” that State Security Agents wish to impose on him. Due to her critical health condition, Mrs. Borrero remained on hunger strike until this Monday, October 13, her pre-existing arterial hypertension having worsened in the course of just a few days.

The case of Julián Antonio Monés Borrero is only one among those of dozens of Cubans who have been arbitrarily detained and tried without due process. Only one month ago, young human rights activists Yordis García Fournier and Isael Poveda Silva were detained and tried summarily in the city of Guantánamo over the course of just three days. Today, they are serving unjust prison sentences. This alarming situation is what has brought us once again before the world to condemn the human rights violations the Havana government continues to commit and to call on the world’s democratic governments and international human rights organizations to intercede for the sake of Julián Antonio Monés Borrero’s life, and to call for for his unconditional release.

In the same way, we ask the international community that the Cuban regime be rebuked concerning the impunity of the military personnel and State Security officers who commit the injustices of arbitrary detentions, beatings, and inhumane, cruel and degrading treatment against peaceful human rights defenders in Cuba.

The undersigned took part in the press conference held on Wednesday, October 15. More signatures will be forthcoming:

Janisset Rivero Directorio Democrático Cubano

Sylvia Iriondo M.A.R. por Cuba

Mario Echevarría                     Municipios de Cuba en el Exilio
Eleno Oviedo                          Plantados hasta la Libertad y la Democracia en Cuba
Aurelio Fernández                  Movimiento de Recuperación Revolucionaria
Rolando Martínez                   Movimiento de Recuperación Revolucionaria, Brigada 2506
Marcibel Loo                           Jóvenes Cubanos en Acción
Yolanda Huerga                      Damas de Blanco
Luis G. Infante                         Preso político no. 34028
Fernando Arias                       Movimiento de Recuperación Revolucionaria
Hugo Arza                               Junta Patriótica Cubana

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