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Amnesty International Calls for Urgent Action for Cuban Activists Leading Activist Antúnez and Others “In Grave Danger” Amnesty recommends that appeals be addressed to Cuba’s head of state and government, Raúl Castro, Attorney General Dr Juan Escalona Reguera, and Minister of the Interior General Abelardo Colomé Ibarra “urging the authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of Antúnez, Iris Tamara Pérez Aguillera, Carlos Michael Morales Rodriguez, Diosiris Santana Pérez and Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena, and allow them to come and go from their house freely, without fear of reprisals or arbitrary detention; calling on the authorities to allow those who want to visit them to do so without harassment; [and] calling on the authorities to reform the laws, regulations and administrative practices which curtail freedom of expression, association and assembly.” “Activist and political dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, usually known as Antúnez, began a hunger strike on 17 February, in protest at the human rights situation in (The full text of the alert is reproduced below.) PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 25/003/2009 30 March 2009 UA 89/09 Fear for safety CUBA Jorge Luis García Pérez, usually known as Antúnez (m), activist Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera (f), his wife Carlos Michael Morales Rodriguez (m), journalist Diosiris Santana Pérez (m) Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena (m) Activist and political dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, usually known as Antúnez, began a hunger strike on 17 February, in protest at the human rights situation in Antúnez and his companions are carrying out their protest at his house, in the town of Since 17 March, at least 20 state security and police officers have been keeping guard in front of Antúnez’s house and have cordoned off the street, stopping friends and relatives trying to visit Antúnez. No one has been allowed to approach the house. Antúnez’s brother has tried to visit him several times, and been detained every time. According to Antúnez, the officers keeping guard have shouted, "Antúnez, if you don't quit this protest you're going to die" (Antúnez o te mueres o suspendes esta protesta). He told Amnesty International that on the night of 25 March, pepper spray was fired into the house through an open window. On other nights, thehouse has been pelted with stones, and a pile of rubbish has been dumped at the house entrance. Carlos Michael Morales and another man who had been taking part in the hunger strike were arrested on 2 March at Antúnez told Amnesty International that "the siege to my home prevents us from getting almost any of the provisions we need to continue our fast, or any medicine" (Este asedio a mi vivienda impide que podamos ya casi proveernos de los insumos necesarios para continuar haciendo este ayuno liquido así Antúnez is a well-known dissident, who was released in April 2007 after 17 years in prison. He had been detained in 1990 and sentenced to five years on a charge of "enemy propaganda." In May 1993 he was sentenced to an overall total of 15 years' imprisonment on new charges of "enemy propaganda," "attempted sabotage" and "illegal possession of a weapon," all supposedly committed while he was briefly at liberty afterescapingin October 1992. His sentence was later increased for "attempted escape". Rock musician Ciro Díaz and photographer Claudio Fuentes went to Placetas on 24 March to visit Antúnez, but were arrested, apparently for "public disorder." They were both released without charge the next day, and brought back to BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Freedom of expression, assembly and association are severely limited in RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
- urging the authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of Antúnez, Iris Tamara Pérez Aguillera, Carlos Michael Morales Rodriguez, Diosiris Santana Pérez and Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena, and allow them to come and go from their house freely, without fear of reprisals or arbitrary detention; - calling on the authorities to allow those who want to visit them to do so without harassment; - calling on the authorities to reform the laws, regulations and administrative practices which curtail freedom of expression, association and assembly. APPEALS TO:
Head of State and Government Raúl Castro Ruz Presidente La Habana, Cuba Fax: +53 7 8333085 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) +1 2127791697 (via Cuban Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Salutation: Su Excelencia/Your Excellency Attorney-General Dr Juan Escalona Reguera Fiscal General de la República, Fiscalía General de la República, San Rafael 3, La Habana, Cuba Fax: +53 7 860 4268 Salutation: Señor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General Interior Minister General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra Ministro del Interior y Prisiones Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister COPIES TO:diplomatic representatives of
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