Cuba – Physical attack against human rights defenders by state security forces

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Cuba – Physical attack against human rights defenders by state security forces
By Frontline Defenders

14 January 2014 Cuba – Physical attack against human rights defenders by state security forces On 9 January 2014, at approximately 10:35am, in Ciego de Ávila, human rights defenders Mr Juan Carlos González Leiva, his wife Ms Tania Maceda, Messrs Junior Ortega Rivero, Daniel Camacho Marchena, Daniel Martínez, Alberto Pla Risco and Ms Quintana Sarría were subjected to a violent beating by members of the National Revolutionary Police. Juan Carlos González Leiva is a human rights lawyer and member of the Consejo de Relatores de Derechos Humanos de Cuba (Council of Human Rights Reporters of Cuba), as well as director of the bulletin “Voz Avileña” in Cuba. He has also created various press organisations that document current events in Cuba and report them to the world. Tania Maceda is the editor of the bulletin and also a member of the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), a human rights organisation working on freedom for political prisoners in Cuba. On 9 January 2014, Juan Carlos González Leiva, who is blind, Tania Maceda, Junior Ortega Rivero, Daniel Camacho Marchena, Daniel Martínez, Alberto Pla Risco and Quintana Sarría, together with three other individuals, were distributing the “Voz Avileña” when they were violently physically attacked by the police. They were tied to and dragged by the patrol car, while being beaten up. During their transfer to the police station, Juan Carlos González Leiva had his hands tied behind his back and received repeated blows to the face and head. Upon exiting the patrol car, he was strangled until he lost consciousness through asphyxiation. Tania Maceda had her hair pulled out, and was bitten and hit in the head. All were released at approximately 3pm without interrogation. This attack comes in the context of increasing physical attacks and detentions of human rights defenders in the last months, in particular during the month of December 2013. Front Line Defenders issued an urgent appeal on 7 January 2013 regarding the attack on the son and daughter of human rights defender Ms Damaris Moya Portieles. Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned about the physical attack on the above-mentioned human rights defenders, as it is directly related to their legitimate and peaceful human rights work and their exercise of their right to freedom of expression. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Cuba to: 1. Carry out a thorough, impartial and immediate investigation into the attack against the above-mentioned human rights defenders with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; 2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee at all times the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned human rights defenders, and that of their family and colleagues; 3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cuba are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

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