Mobs Led by Cuban Secret Police Besiege Student Leader’s Home

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Mobs Led by Cuban Secret Police Besiege Student Leader’s Home
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Baracoa, Guantánamo Province. July 9, 2008. Cuban Democratic Directorate. A group of Cuban human rights activists have been under siege since Tuesday July 8th at 7:00 PM at the Rodríguez Lobaina home, where Nestor Rodríguez Lobaina is currently on a hunger strike demanding respect for his right to travel freely within Cuba. Paramilitary mobs carrying Ernesto “Che” Guevara portraits violently attacked the home, throwing objects, trying to enter forcibly, and burning a sign placed by the opposition activists on the front of the house to explain the reason for the hunger strike. According to Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina, Néstor is in good health and spirits on the third day of his hunger strike.

The activists who are currently surrounded by regime forces are: Julián Antonio Monés, Keyber Rodríguez, Noelvis Sevila Ferrero, Carlos Manuel Hernández Reyes, Yordis García Fournier, Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina, Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina and Vladimir Guilarte, among others.

“They have committed a terrorist attack against the home… They have thrown rocks and eggs. All this is being directed by State Security and the government of this municipality, who are present as well as the police forces. There are hundreds of people grouped in front of the house, shouting slogans against us,” stated Rolando, by telephone to Directorio. Rolando directs the Center for Alternative Studies of the Cuban Youth for Democracy Movement.

According to additional reports, the mob violently attempted to break into and enter the house, to rip away the human rights activists’ Cuban flag, and succeeded in burning the sign they had placed which read: “Freedom to travel to the City of Havana: Cuba is for all.” Nevertheless, the neighborhood’s residents have categorically refused to cooperate with State Security in this violent operation against their neighbors.

“All our neighbors are locked in their homes. They have not participated. They have brought these people from I-don’t-know-where. I am convinced that this attack is targeted against us. They know that they do not intimidate us. The regime wants to instill fear among the populace who stand more and more in solidarity with our cause,” stated Rolando during a Radio República broadcast.

The activists also renewed their requests for international solidarity. “We are here shouting to the world that human rights are violated in Cuba, that arbitrary measures are taken in Cuba… We request solidarity from all the world’s government, from all those who love peace and justice, that they may join our cause,” stated Rolando.

On July 7, Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina declared himself on hunger strike indefinitely to demand respect for his right to move about freely within his own country. Rodríguez Lobaina is the president of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, an organization of students and young professionals that advocates for academic freedom and university autonomy. This sustained act of repudiation marks a significant escalation in the repressive measures deployed against him. The activist was detained last week and forcibly exiled internally as part of a crackdown against activists in Havana. He was again arrested on July 6 on his way to Havana, where he has lived for three years with his wife.

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