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

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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

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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