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Cuba: Repressive Measures and Threats Against Human Rights Defenders on the Rise
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Reports from the island confirm the presence of military on the streets

CUBA, August 8, 2006. - Independent sources from throughout the island of Cuba have confirmed strong operatives of the political police and other organizations used for repression, as well as military presence on the streets of Cuba. Reporting from Havana, independent journalist Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia described how a mob organized by state security and composed of members from government organizations, held an act of repudiation against him, threatening his younger sister and his mother and impeding them from exiting the home. “They told me obscene words and I told them, ‘Long live human rights!’ Then they clamored and yelled, ‘Long live Fidel, long live Raul and the revolution!’ The neighbors showed their support for us, no one from our neighborhood participated”.

From the province of Holguín, human rights activist Eliécer Consuegra Rivas reported that at local workplace and neighborhood meetings, the people were told that the government is authorized to beat and even kill whoever shows a negative attitude with respects to the condition of Fidel Castro’s health. Also, Consuegra Rivas confirmed the strict vigilance to which human rights activists in his province are being subjected.

In the prisons on the island, tensions have increased between prison authorities and political prisoners and those common prisoners who hold opinions contrary to those of the regime. Asunción Carrillo, mother of political prisoner Iván Hernández Carrillo, who is currently in the prison El Pre in Santa Clara, made an urgent plea for her son’s life to the international community: “I want it to be known through the media, through World human rights organizations, that the lives of political prisoners are at risk, especially that of my son Iván”. Carrillo informed from the city of Colón, in the province of Matanzas, that the director of said prison, Mayor Delvis Pérez Quesada, together with other officials, went to the cell block where her son is detained and incited dangerous prisoners to physical assault Ivan if he were to Express any opinion regarding the health of the dictator.

Ex political prisoner and leader of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina, denounced from the city of Baracoa in Guantánamo, the death threats that state security agents made to him and to Julián Antonio Mones who is also an activist. Police agents told Rodríguez Lobaina that he would not see his daughter grow up.

As the uncertainty increases following the announcement of Fidel Castro temporarily handing over power to his brother Raúl, the repressive measures and military presence in the country’s largest cities, as well as the pressures and surveillance of human rights activists and political prisoners also increases.  The Cuban people are being silenced to inhibit them from expressing their desire for democratic change. We ask the democratic countries of the world and human rights organizations to keep their eyes on those who suffer and struggle for their freedom in Cuba.

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Directorio Democrático Cubano Cuban Democratic Directorate

 

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