CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP UNVEILS NEW MAGAZINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 023617

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP UNVEILS NEW MAGAZINE


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Summary: A new 75-page magazine, "Dawn," has been
produced by the Cuban Human Rights Foundation, headed by
blind activist Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva of Ciego de Avila.
A Foundation member shared the first edition with us on
December 18. Some of the material is already outdated, but
the publication nevertheless represents an ambitious
undertaking, and features 87 articles on such themes as
prison conditions, independent labor unions, "acts of
repudiation" and the GOC's jailing of young people who can't
find a job. The Foundation has not yet made clear how many
copies it will print or how it they will be distributed.
Possession or distribution of the magazine will be grounds
for prosecution. "Dawn" is a welcomed addition in a country
where newspapers are few and thinner than dental floss. End
Summary.


2. (C) The Cuban Human Rights Foundation has produced a new
magazine focused on, among other things, prison conditions.
The first edition contains 28 articles on political prisoners
and prison conditions alone. At Las Mangas prison in Granma,
it warns, 75er Jose Luis Garcia Paneque is in danger of being
killed by common prisoners directed by State Security. At
Holguin Provincial Prison, it says, five guards brutally beat
inmate Carlos Hernandez Infante, who had demanded medical
attention. At Camaguey's notorious Kilo 8 prison, it adds,
guards beat political prisoner Leonicio Rodriguez Ponce
unconscious.

INDEPENDENT LABOR UNIONS
--------------


3. (C) Among seven articles on worker rights and the
independent union movement is one on an independent librarian
losing his job as a barber. Most impressive, however is a
lengthy article by labor activist (and probationed 75er)
Carmelo Diaz Fernandez, who outlines the independent labor
movement, its goals, development and future. Goal No. 1:
"Achieve the creation of autonomous labor unions, chosen
democratically by the workers without state or party
interference."

HARASSMENT OF ACTIVISTS
--------------


4. (C) Several "Dawn" articles touch on acts of repudiation,
threats and other harassment of pro-democracy advocates and
human rights activists. One article, belatedly describing an
incident in June, notes the detention of two young activists
suspected of posting "Down With Fidel" signs in Ciego de
Avila. Independent journalists have reported that in the
Cienfuegos town of Aguada de Pasajeros on December 8, someone
put up more than 300 fliers, some stating, "I Want Change. I
Do Not Cooperate." State Security detained one activist but
let him go hours later. A "Lady in White" in Cienfuegos,
Osleivy Garcia, told us December 19 that word of that
incident had spread to the provincial capital.

"DANGEROUSNESS"
--------------


5. (C) Youth activist Luis Esteban Espinosa addresses the sad
plight of the "more than 1,000" young Cubans currently
imprisoned on a "dangerousness" charge because they were
unable to find work (most because they had been deemed
politically "untrustworthy" by Cuban authorities). Espinosa
mentions the case of Juan Alberto de la Nuez Ramirez, a
Cienfuegos barber who lost his job, and then his freedom,
because he decided to open an independent library.

COMMENT
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6. (C) In a country where newspapers are few and either
published or censored by the regime, any new publication is a
welcomed addition, let alone one brave enough to focus on
human rights violations and the dissident movement. Although
many of the contributors, like Carmelo Diaz and fellow 75er
Margarito Broche, are respected members of the human rights
community, others are less familiar and of less certain
credibility. Content will hardly matter, however, if the
Foundation fails to print and distribute large quantities of
the magazine.
WILLIAMS