CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 013065 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2016 TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU SUBJECT: CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP HAVANA 00013065 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: COM Michael Parmly for Reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Cuban Government has resumed systematic harassment of pro-democracy activists following a respite in which the European Council discussed a "Common Position" on Cuba and the UN launched its Human Rights Council. After laying low for two weeks, GOC-organized militants on June 22 besieged the home of activist Martha Beatriz Roque. Activist Oswaldo Paya told us June 20 that the GOC is intensifying its hostility toward his colleagues, threatening one with the loss of her job. "Lady in White" Maidelin Alvarez migrated as a refugee June 13 but the GOC denied her husband exit permission and has sought to blackmail her into silence. The GOC tried but failed to keep other "Ladies" from attending a controversial reception by intercepting their vehicle. Guillermo Farinas reached Day 142 of his hunger strike; his health continued to deteriorate. The family of political prisoner Santiago Valdeolla blamed the GOC for spreading a rumor that he is informing on other prisoners. Female relatives of political prisoners continue to be strip-searched before or after prison visits. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The GOC has resumed systematic harassment of pro-democracy activists, following the launch of the UN's Human Rights Council and the release of the European Council's draft conclusions on the EU's "Common Position" on Cuba. Outside the home of Martha Beatriz Roque, head of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society, GOC-organized militants held an "act of repudiation" June 22 against Roque and turned back a USINT Havana deliveryman sent to deliver news materials. The mob warned the driver not to return. Oswaldo Paya told us June 20 that two members of his network had been singled out for GOC abuse in recent days. One received a formal citation that made clear she must stop collecting Varela Project signatures or she will lose her job. Paya also said there is evidence that the GOC is preparing to fire him from his day job as a repairer/installer of respirators, ventilators and other medical devices. "Before they can throw me in jail, they'll need me to be out of work so they can call me a bum," Paya said. Paya, head of the Christian Liberation Movement (MCL),added that at Km 5.5 prison in Pinar del Rio, the elderly mother, wife and 15-year-old daughter of Paya-affiliated political prisoner Horacio Pina were ordered to submit to a strip search June 15. Paya said Pina's wife recognized the official in question as a State Security agent she had seen during a street rally. BITTERSWEET FREEDOM -------------- ¶3. (C) "Lady in White" Maidelin Alvarez, the wife of Mario Mayo, a 75er freed on health grounds, flew to Miami June 13 as a refugee but was obliged to leave her husband behind; he was denied GOC exit permission. The day before Alvarez left, she told us what she had been told days earlier by a State Security official: "You can do whatever you want in the U.S., but before you make any statements about Cuba, think of your family. Depending on what you say, they will either get out or they won't." Mayo, a 75er released on health grounds, is receiving psychiatric assistance. VEHICLE INTERCEPTED -------------- ¶4. (C) The GOC tried but failed to block a group of 17 "Ladies in White" from attending a June 18 reception held by Vitral, an unauthorized Catholic magazine that pushes the envelope on fundamental liberties. The British, German and Norwegian ambassadors attended, as did officials from the Canadian, Czech and Italian embassies. (Note: The venue was outside USINT's permitted travel zone. End note.) A vehicle dispatched by Vitral to transport the Ladies from Havana to Pinar del Rio was intercepted by the GOC and never arrived. Switching to Plan B, the Ladies succeeded in hiring two "freelance" taxis for the job. The drivers not only knew that the Ladies were relatives of political prisoners, but insisted that they stop off at their homes for a cup of coffee on the way back. The following day -- June 18 -- 31 Ladies held a Father's Day march after mass at Santa Rita church. POLITICAL PRISONER LABELED A "SNITCH" -------------- ¶5. (C) At Taco Taco prison in Pinar del Rio, west of Havana, political prisoner Santiago Valdeolla marked 11 months in detention June 22 for taking part in a protest outside the French Embassy. He has not been charged, let alone convicted. Earlier this month, someone circulated an HAVANA 00013065 002.2 OF 002 inaccurate rumor: that Valdeolla informs on other prisoners. His mother says the GOC started the rumor and describes her son as ostracized and suffering emotional difficulties. At Kilo 5.5, political prisoner Normando Hernandez is also having trouble with the prison staff. His wife, Yarai Reyes, told us June 14 that during her last visit, she learned that a prison guard threw him down a flight of stairs and then made him stand in the heat for seven hours for failing to stand at attention during a head-count. (Note: Many Cuban political prisoners refuse to stand for head-counts, and also reject "re-education" classes and prison uniforms. End Note.) FARINAS UP TO DAY 142 -------------- ¶6. (C) In the central city of Santa Clara, dissident journalist Guillermo Farinas' hunger strike for Internet access reached Day 142 on June 22. Those close to him said his health continues its slow but steady decline, and that his left side is semi-paralyzed. His family said Cuban authorities are no longer permitting journalists or diplomats to visit his hospital room. The only approved visits are by Farinas' mother and sister, as well as the mother of his children. Within the human rights community, there was widespread interest in the Farinas case and concern that his death might be drawing near. (Comment: We do not see any indication that his death is imminent. End Comment.) Roque, Vladimiro Roca and Elizardo Sanchez signed a letter to the Dutch Ambassador, stating their concern for Farinas' health and suggesting that the ICRC be contacted regarding possible refuge overseas for the dissident. (Note: Paya apparently refused to sign the letter, for reasons that are not yet clear. End Note.) PARMLY