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Independent journalist detained in Camaguey
By Directorio Democrático Cubano

Armando Betancourt is currently detained at the headquarters of State Security in said city, family members call for solidarity

 

Camagüey, May 31st, 2006. Armando Betancourt Reina, independent journalist from Camagüey was detained on Tuesday, May 23rd in a locality of the city of Camagüey where the police was carrying out violent evictions.

 

“Since this past Sunday, 21 State Security agents have been violently evicting and detaining people throughout this city, by demolishing the homes that have been built with so much effort by Cubans. The police, with violence which characterizes them, throw the belongings of the evicted on the street. The independent journalist, Armando, was arrested and taken to the headquarters of State Security, without having any knowledge of his whereabouts until today,” reported Ramón Guerra Javier, independent journalist from Camagüey on May 24th.

 

According to information given to the Cuban Democratic Directorate by Armando Betancourt’s family, this morning his mother, Guillermina Reina, his daughter, Gleisy Betancort and his wife were able to see him. The family members informed that he is being charged with “Public Disorder,” under which charge, 9 other people have already been released on bail, expect for Betancourt.

 

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists and Reporters without Borders have issued statements regarding this case. “We firmly condemn the arbitrary detention, imprisonment, and isolation of Armando Betancourt. If the police in Camagüey was in the right to evict illegal occupants from their territory, then why does a journalist bother them? By detaining a journalist who has become a bothersome witness, authorities confess their intention to censure information. Armando Betancourt must be liberated immediately,” declared Reporters without Borders.

 

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