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Cuban Authorities Ratify Accusation against Afro-Cuban Human Rights Activist
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Human rights activist Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera.

Human rights activist Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera.

Villa Clara. September 2, 2008. Cuban Democratic Directorate. An appeals trial was held Tuesday morning, September 2, 2008 against human rights activist Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, who was charged with "resistance" and "contempt" under Case no. 61 of 2008 concerning an incident occurred on August 3 this year.

 

During the trial, which took place at the People's Province Tribunal in Villa Clara, the authorities ratified the charges along with the fine imposed, totaling 500 Cuban pesos or 250 days (8 months and 10 days) in jail under articles 143.1 and 144.1 of the penal code. These accusations were approved on August 20, 2008 by the People's Municipal Tribunal of Placetas in the Villa Clara province. The Provincial Tribunal also stated that the Municipal Tribunal of Placetas would notify Pérez Aguilera's sentence within a few days.

 

"[This trial] was a farce framed by state police to such an extreme that the witnesses' contradictions were noticeable more than ever. They (the witnesses) seemed humiliated upon admitting the racist offenses and beatings they used against her at the National Revolutionary Police Unit (NRP) on August 3rd," stated activist and former political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" after leaving the trial.

 

Pérez Aguilera is maintaining her position of complete innocence on the charges of "resistance" and "contempt" with which the National Revolutionary Police (NRP) intends to punish her for having interceded to defend the rights of Melquíades Hernández, the young victim of a brutal beating by the NRP on the streets of Placetas on August 3. The day of the incident, Major Vilmariño of the NRP responded to Pérez Aguilera's humanitarian effort with physical attacks, racist insults, arbitrary detention, and the leveling of these charges.

 

"I would like to extend my thanks to all my brothers and sisters who, through one way or another, took interest in my case, and also to those who were able to attend and not attend the trials," declared Pérez Aguilera while ratifying her commitment to the non-violent civic movement.

 

According to Pérez Aguilera, many activists from diverse groups and provinces attempted to travel and assist the trial in Santa Clara. However, many were arrested. Among them: Blas Augusto Fortún Martínez, Yordis Tápanes García, Alexis Ohms Pérez, and activists from the Cuban region of Baez.

 

A total of 24 activists made it to the Tribunal. Among them: Alcides Rivera Rodríguez, Guillermo Fariña Hernández, Carlos Michael Morales, Alejandro Gabriel Martínez Martínez, Dora Lara Morales, Idania Yanes Contreras, Yesmi Elena Mena Zurbano, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, Vladimiro Roca Antúnez, Francisco Chaviano González, Yuniesky García López, Ernesto Medero Arrosarena, Jorge Luis Artiles Montiel, Fidel Rodríguez, and Yoel Mariano Bencomo Martínez.

 

"Neither this sentence, nor any sentence will be able to stop the civic opposition movement in Cuba. Our struggle will never cease, no matter what happens," ratified Antúnez through the airwaves of Radio República.

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