Alarming Details about Repression in Cuba Revealed in Report by Havana-based Human Rights Monitor

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Alarming Details about Repression in Cuba Revealed in Report by Havana-based Human Rights Monitor
By Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos de Cuba

Over 1,000 cases of political repression, the deaths of 106 Cuban citizens under regime custody, and the resurgence of violent “acts of repudiation” marked the rights situation in 2009

Miami. February 1, 2010. Council of Human Rights Rapporteurs of Cuba. Ferocious repression and alarming human rights violations marked 2009 in Cuba according to a new report by the Havana-based Council of Human Rights Rapporteurs of Cuba (CHRRC). The report was prepared by the CHRRC in coordination with the Municipal Democratic Circles of Cuba.

Speaking from Cuba by telephone during a press conference held in Miami, CHRCC’s Executive Secretary Juan Carlos González Leiva detailed cases of physical attacks, political repression, religious persecution, and inhumane prison conditions in Cuba documented by his organization.

“The ruling system in Cuba has only one formula for controlling the country: disinformation, prison, repression, and terror, which are not only used against peaceful human rights defenders, but also currently against any discontented citizen who complains,” stated González Leiva

Among the most remarkable information contained in the report are over 1,000 cases of political arrests and other acts of repression, as well as 60 trials and imprisonments of human rights defenders. CHRRC also documented 106 cases of deaths of Cuban citizens while under Castro regime custody. Of these, 64 occurred in only 26 of Cuba’s over 250 prisons, and the remaining 42 occurred in the Mazorra National Psychiatric Hospital in the first weeks of January. The causes of these deaths, according to the report, include the rigor of prison regimens, physical and psychological torture and torment, beatings, solitary confinement, mistreatment, hunger, little medical attention and general negligence.

Additionally, González Leiva condemned the persecution of members of a Christian religious group called the International Apostolic Church, as well as the resurgence of violent acts of repudiation against peaceful Cuban activists. He cited as an example of this last trend the act of repudiation against the Ladies in White on December 10, 2009, witnessed by the international media.

Additional participants in the press conference included Pedro Peñaranda, CHRRC’s representative abroad, and human rights activist Laida Carro, of the Coalition of Cuban American Women.

BELOW, PLEASE FIND A FACT SHEET BASED ON THE REPORT

Fact Sheet

Council of Human Rights Rapporteurs of Cuba (CHRRC), in coordination with the Municipal Democratic Circles of Cuba

From January, 2009 to January, 2010:

Over one thousand (1 000) cases of political arrests and other acts of repression.

Sixty (60) human rights defenders tried and imprisoned.

Sixty four (64) deaths recorded in only (26) of Cuba’s more than (250) prisons caused by the rigor of the prison regime, physical and psychological torture, beatings, solitary confinement, mistreatment, starvation, poor medical attention and general negligence.

Forty two (42) patients at the Mazorra National Psychiatric Hospital murdered by starvation during the first weeks of 2010.

Violent acts of repudiation: On December 10, 2009, the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ladies in White were beaten and manhandled before the eyes of the international press and diplomatic corps in Havana. Additionally, there were five (5) violents attacks against Cuban citizens in central Havana alone in less than one month, in four (4) of which, the victims received furious beatings at the hands of the political police and the mobs they organized.

Fines of between (250) and (1500) Cuban pesos leveled against Cuban citizens for exercising their right to economic independence.

Hundreds of Cuban citizens spent up to (5) days under house arrest, their homes surrounded by paramilitary and police forces, under threat of acts of repudiation and physical attacks, to impede them from taking part in peaceful civic activities protected by the International Covenants on Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural rights, which the regime claims to respect.

Human Rights Watch:

"The harassment of Gonzalez Leiva offers further proof that the Raul Castro government is willing to do everything within its power to prevent human rights monitoring, including forcibly displacing the monitors themselves."

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/01/27/cuba-stop-harassing-human-rights-defender-and-family

World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) y International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH):

“[The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation of (FIDH) and (OMCT).] absolutely condemns the acts of harassment against the Council of Human Rights Rapporteurs of Cuba and expresses its deep concern for the security, as well as physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Sergio Díaz Larrastegui, as well as all members of the Council. Additionaly, the Observatory expresses its concern regarding the general climate of repression against human rights defenders in Cuba. http://www.omct.org/pdf.php?lang=es&articleId=9045&type=print&PHPSESSID=5

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