ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, CUBAN MOB ATTACKS ACTIVISTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HAVANA 023582

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, CUBAN MOB ATTACKS ACTIVISTS

REF: OP CENTER CALL TO USINT HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

12/10/06

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Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Summary: A large group of Cuban communist militants
and State Security officials broke up a Human Rights Day
march by 12 peaceful activists, throwing several to the
ground in front of UNESCO's Havana office. The activists,
led by Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramirez, were pushed, kicked and
punched, though not severely, and briefly detained. Several
camera crews and various photojournalists covered the event,
which received prominent media attention. Poloff was roughed
up slightly and had his camera broken. Later, 35 "Ladies in
White" marched without incident after attending mass at Santa
Rita church. The same day, around 30 leading activists
gathered at the COMR for lunch and a spirited discussion on
human rights and democratization. A newly released political
prisoner and others endorsed the USG position that Raul
Castro needs to consult with the Cuban people about
democratization, not with the USG. The GOC's heavy-handed
response to the Ferrer demonstration suggests that the regime
fears popular discontent with Raul Castro's rule. Ferrer,
for his part, says he is planning a bigger dissident event
for early next year. End Summary.


2. (C) At least 200 communist militants mobilized by the
Cuban Government joined at least 100 State Security officials
December 10 in confronting and attacking 12 dissidents
holding a silent march to mark International Human Rights
Day. The activists, calling themselves the National
Patriotic Front, started marching at 11 am around a small
park in front of Havana's UNESCO building. The State
Security officials were unmistakable by their earphones, and
the pistols bulging from their waistbands. (Dozens of other
political-police officials maintained an intimidating
presence on surrounding blocks.) Also present at the park
were at least three uniformed members of the Cuban military,
including one officer.

SHOVED, KICKED, PUNCHED
--------------


3. (SBU) When the activists made it two-thirds of the way
around the park, a man raised his hand to signal action by
the militants, who, chanting "Viva Fidel," blocked the
activists' path and pushed, kicked and punched them. The
activists tried to stay together and continue their march,
but the violence intensified. The mob isolated several
activists and threw them to the ground. Each time an
activist was isolated s/he was grabbed by State Security
officials and frog-marched away, into detention. On at least
two occasions, State Security officials halted a passing
(GOC) car, forced the activist inside, entered the car
themselves and sped off. One activist had his "CHANGE"
T-shirt yanked off. No serious injuries occurred, although
activist Jamier Hernandez suffered a dislocated wrist and the
lone female marcher, Yusnaimy Jorge, hyperventilated. All 12
activists were detained at a police station and released less
than an hour later.

JOURNALISTS PRESENT
--------------


4. (SBU) Ferrer had made public his plans for the
(unauthorized) march, and the international press was on
hand. CNN, EFE and at least one other media organization
sent a camera crew, and at least six other photojournalists
were present. International media covered the park incident
widely. (Note: We did not see any journalists being
mistreated, but EFE reported that some foreign reporters were
"verbally abused" by militants. End Note.)

POLOFF STRUCK
--------------


5. (C) As the last few remaining activists were being led
away, a State Security official approached Poloff and ordered
him to stop taking photos. Poloff explained that he was
standing on a public street. Three men, suspected State
Security officials, then shoved Poloff while a fourth struck
him on the arm, causing the camera to fall to the ground.
Poloff recovered the pocket camera, now broken, and did not
offer resistance, leaving the scene. He was followed to his
car by a half-dozen thugs who made a number of vague threats.

FERRER SATISFIED
--------------

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6. (C) Ferrer told us December 11 that the march went "better
than I'd ever imagined... It will cost the Cuban Government
politically for doing what it did at such an inopportune
time." Ferrer said the disproportionate State Security
reaction to the march shows that State Security is afraid of
the people. Ferrer, of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for
Health and Human Rights, also said he is planning a bigger
event early in the coming year. He said (please protect) he
would organize five or six small groups of eight to ten
dissidents each and have them simultaneously enter the
lobbies of a half-dozen tourist hotels in Havana, carrying
signs that read: "No More Apartheid in Cuba." (Note: Most
Cubans are denied access to upscale hotels. End Note.)

'LADIES' MARCH WITHOUT INCIDENT
--------------


7. (C) Roughly an hour later, 35 "Ladies in White" -
relatives of political prisoners -- held their weekly march,
without incident, in front of Havana's Santa Rita church.
The Ladies followed their march with a joint call for the
release of their loved ones, and a cheer in support of human
rights. (Note: Leading Lady Laura Pollan told us that on
December 9, the group held a rare Saturday march from
Pollan's home past the University of Havana to the outdoor
Coppelia ice cream parlor. She said the public's response
was overwhelmingly positive. End Note.)

USINT HONORS PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES
--------------


8. (SBU) Also on December 10, the COM hosted a lunch and
human rights discussion for around 30 leading activists,
including Martha Beatriz Roque of the Assembly to Promote
Civil Society, Vladimiro Roca of All United, Elizardo Sanchez
of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National
Reconciliation, and six Ladies in White. (Oswaldo Paya of
the Christian Liberation Movement was invited but unable to
attend.) COM Parmly offered a toast lamenting Cuba's
totalitarianism and the plight of Cuba's political prisoners,
but at the same time honoring the courage of those who speak
out for freedom. This touched off a debate that was both
spirited and emotional. Some participants criticized the
lack of unity among opposition groups; others wrangled over
the implications of accepting U.S. assistance, while still
others cried while thanking the United States for providing
support to the dissident movement when "nobody else cared."
A focal point for the gathering was the display of the
"prisoners of conscience quilt," crafted by a Boston NGO.

"WE WILL DETERMINE WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE"
--------------


9. (SBU) At one poignant moment during the discussion,
veteran dissident Felix Bonne recalled one of the times he
was arrested, trying to argue with police that he and his
group were only a small number of professors stating a point
of view. "We (the regime) will determine who and what you
are," was the reply. This was in the context of whether or
not accepting U.S. aid made any difference in how harshly the
regime would handle opposition. Recently released political
prisoner Hector Palacios, among others, argued that the USG's
rejection of talks with Raul Castro was spot on: "He has to
negotiate with us, the Cuban people, first."

CANADIAN AMBO'S TAKE
--------------


10. (C) An hour after the mob attack on Darsi Ferrer and
company, Poloff bumped into Canadian Ambassador Bugailiskis,
as well as German, Dutch and EC officials at Santa Rita.
After chatting briefly on what had happened, the Canadian
envoy shared her planned course of action: telling the GOC
that "although we know no Cuban Government officials were
involved in the attack, the GOC should take steps to stop
citizens from attacking other citizens." We noted that State
Security officials, many with earphones and firearms visible,
took part in the beatings and detained the activists. We
noted that Cuban soldiers were also present. We suggested
holding the GOC accountable for what was clearly its
involvement in attacking peaceful human rights activists.
She replied: "That would get us nowhere." We replied: "At
least it would be honest."

COMMENT
--------------


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11. (C) The GOC mobilized an unnecessarily large group of
communist militants - mainly Party members, veterans, and
members of Committees for the Defense of the Revolution - to
snuff out the Human Rights Day demonstration. State Security
usually avoids conspicuous shows of violence against
dissidents in Havana, home to many foreign journalists and
diplomats. Its heavy-handed response suggests a
characteristic Raul trait -- fear of public discontent -- but
surprisingly little concern about public relations. Raul's
clique had heretofore been careful not to appear in public to
be taking a hard line (e.g., through isolated releases of
detainees, while mobilizing widespread intimidation tactics.)
In this case, however, they panicked. The debate among
dissidents at the Residence, on the other hand, revealed a
cross-section of views on how best to deal with the current
political situation in Cuba. All present agreed on the basic
objectives for the near term: release political prisoners,
and permit free association among Cubans to allow them to
build a post-communist society.
PARMLY