Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HAVANA1081
2007-11-19 22:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

DISSIDENT LEADER RECOMMENDS GRAVELY ILL ACTIVIST

Tags:  CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 001081 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT LEADER RECOMMENDS GRAVELY ILL ACTIVIST
SEEK TREATMENT IN US


Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 001081

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: DISSIDENT LEADER RECOMMENDS GRAVELY ILL ACTIVIST
SEEK TREATMENT IN US


Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly: For reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) SUMMARY: Leading opposition leader Jorge Luis
Garcia Perez ("Antunez") fell seriously ill on 17 November.
He is currently hospitalized. Noted dissident Martha Beatriz
Roque stated that she fears that Antunez may die in a Cuban
hospital and recommends that the US make an offer of
treatment in the US. End Summary



2. (C) MBR reports that Antunez fell ill on Friday 16
November as he was driving back from Havana with independent
journalist Guillermo "Coco" Farinas. MBR reports that
Antunez passed out for four minutes and vomited when he
regained consciousness. This information has lead MBR to
conclude that he may have had a heart attack. They stopped
in the town of Ranchuelo for a medical check. The doctors
recommended hospitalization but Antunez wanted to return to
his home in Santa Clara. He slept overnight in his home.
However, in the morning, agents of the state security
surrounded his house and he was not able to get out and go to
the hospital until the afternoon. The state security
probably wanted to prevent his participation in a
demonstration which was held in Santa Clara on 17 November to
commemorate the second anniversary of the founding of the
organization, the Independent Movement for an Alternative
Option. He is currently in the Provincial Hospital in
Placetas.



3. (C) MBR states that state security has taken over
controlling access to Antunez in the Hospital. She feels
strongly that he is at high risk, and hopes for a offer of
medical treatment in the US. She believes that the care in
the hospital in Placetas is not of high quality and has
arranged for Farinas to drive him from the hospital to her
house in Havana on 19 November. She hopes to use her
contacts to advocate for proper care in Havana



4. (C) Antunez was released on 22 April 2007 after serving a
17 year sentence. At the time of release he told us he
suffered from high blood pressure, problems in the lungs and
complications due to diabetes. He continues to be one of the
most outspoken and activist critics of the Cuban government.
He has organized and participated in numerous demonstrations
and has been frequently subjected to short term detentions.


5. Comment: USINT plans to see Antunez within the next 24
hours.
PARMLY