Human rights activist is released from arbitrary detention
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina

Guantánamo, Cuba, May 15th, 2006 – Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina, director of the Center for Alternative Studies of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy was released after having been detained since Tuesday, April 25th in the city of Guantánamo.

“Once again I have been a victim of political kidnapping. The authorities in Guantánamo with their characteristic behavior of unlimited treachery have set a macabre trap to firstly, take me to prison and impede my civil activities, and secondly to cowardly attempt to discredit my image by falsely accusing me of ‘illicit profiteering,’” commented Rodríguez Lobaina about his detention.

Rodríguez Lobaina was first taken to the Headquarters of State Security in Guantánamo where he remained in an enclosed cell, and was later transferred to the Guantánamo Provincial Prison as a “preventative measure” until May 13^th. “For me there is no greater wealth than to defend the human rights of every Cuban citizen. I have traveled constantly and have seen in may small towns the pain of the family; I have seen the tears of so many mothers, wives, and children of political prisoners who unjustly serve time in the prisons of Fidel Castro’s military regime,” added Rodríguez Lobaina.

The activist received international solidarity from numerous youth leaders who supported his situation by way of a letter writing and phone call campaign to Cuban embassies throughout the world, as well as press releases which were divulged to international media.

From Guantánamo, Rodríguez Lobaina expressed his appreciation to all those who supported him during difficult times.

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About the author

Directorio Democrático Cubano
P.O. Box 110235
Hialeah, Florida 33011
Tel. 305-220-2713
info@directorio.org

In Memory of Mario Manuel de la Peña