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Cuban government crackdown against Human Rights and pro Democracy Activists
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Independent journalists and leaders of opposition groups detained throughout Cuba in State Security headquarters

MIAMI, March 19, 2003. The dictatorship in Havana since yesterday in the late afternoon has engaged in a nationwide crackdown against human rights activists, Varela Project organizers and independent journalists. Reports of searches, confiscations, and detentions have been received from throughout the entire island.

Civic movement leader Vladimiro Roca Antúnez speaking to the Cuban Democratic Directorate from Havana issued a call for help to the world: “We are calling for the attention of the international community with regards to what is taking place in Cuba: the most violent and extreme crackdown by the Cuban government against the non-violent opposition and independent journalists who are promoting non-violent changes towards democracy and the betterment of conditions for the Cuban people. We do not want violence; nevertheless the government is using violence and an apparatus of repression disproportionate given the non-violent character of the persons involved. Searches and arrests of persons whose sole crime is not to be in agreement with the system and propose changes openly using non-violent means are taking place.” Roca Antúnez asked for the international community to support the detained activists.

Joaquín Cabezas De León, an activist of the Movimiento Cubano Reflexión whose elected leader Librado Linares García finds himself detained in the State Security Headquarters in Santa Clara, made clear that the only crime of this organization is to promote social and cultural projects so as to open spaces of liberty on the island. According to the information given to the family of Linares García he will be charged with association with criminal purpose[Asociación para Delinquir], diffusion of false news [Difusión de noticias falsas] and rebellion [Rebelión ]

Gladys Linares, member of the Humanitarian Feminist Front [Frente Femenino Humanitario] said from Havana that this crackdown could only be compared with the one carried out by the regime in 1988 against human rights activists who presented human rights complaints during the first and last visit of an emissary of the U.N. Human Rights Commission to the island.

The Cuban Democratic Directorate condemns these actions, and reminds the international community that this is a moment to demonstrate ones solidarity with the civic movement inside Cuba. This is the response of the government in Havana to the democratic postulates of the Cotonou Agreement and to the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Released on March 19, 2002 in Miami. For more information contact the Cuban Democratic Directorate at 305-279-4416.

 

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