Crackdown against Activists in Santiago and Guantánamo while Political Prisoners Continue Weeks-Long Hunger Strikes
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Student Leader Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina and Twelve Others Detained in Last 48 hours

Guantánamo. November 5, 2008. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Thirteen Cuban oppostion activists have been detained by State Security agents during the last 48 hours in a brutal crackdown against youth activists for human rights.

On Wednesday afternoon, activists Jorge Corrales Ceballos, Idalmis Núnez Reinoso, Enyor Díaz Allen, Yorledis Duvalón Guivert Ortiz, Niobert García Fournier and two unidentified women activists were detained at the home of political prisoner Yordis García Fournier. It was the second time Núñez Reinoso and Guivert Ortiz were detained within 48 hours.

The leaders of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy (CYMD), Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina and his brother Rolando, were arrested Tuesday afternoon at the home of human rights activist Ramona Sánchez in the city of Guantánamo. State Security agents arrived at the home and told the brothers to come with them, explained CYMD activist Jorge Corrales Ceballos, by telephone to the Cuban Democratic Directorate.

While these arrests were taking place, five other activists were detained at a bus stop in the city of Santiago. Among those detained were Idalmis Núñez Reinoso, Yorledis Duvalón Guivert Ortiz from Santiago and Alcides Rivera Rodríguez, Blas Fortún Martínez, and Iris Pérez Aguilera from Villa Clara province. That same Tuesday night, opposition leader Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" was detained in the city of Santiago de Cuba while conducting a sit-in in front of the police station where the aforementioned activists were being held.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rivera Rodríguez, Fortún Martínez, García Pérez "Antúnez," and Pérez Aguilera were transported in a political police vehicle to their homes in Villa Clara province and released.

"This arrest is occuring while three political prisoners are on hunger strike, in critical condition, for protesting against injustices here in the city of Guantánamo: Julián Monés Borrero (36 days on hunger strike); Abel López Pérez (30 days); and Yordis García Fournier (25 days). This represents an increase in repression against activists in eastern Cuba,” stated Corrales on Tuesday, adding that the Rodríguez Lobaina brothers as well as the activists detained in Santiago were transported to State Security operations centers in the provinces where the arrests took place.

Sources from the internal opposition movement and the family of hunger striking activist Monés Borrero confirmed that the opposition activist was moved to Guantánamo Provincial Prison despite his grave state of health. He was subsequently returned to the prisoners ward in Guantanamo Provincial Hospital on Tuesday at midday.

Cuba’s totalitarian regime takes advantage of significant international events, such as the presidential election in the United Status in this instance, to increase the level of repressive measures it applies and to carry out waves of arrests on the Island. The Cuban Democratic Directorate calls upon international public opinion and human rights organizations to stand in solidarity with the young Cubans who are being unjustly arrested because of their ideas.

###

Send by E-mail | Printable Version

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