Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HAVANA23
2007-01-09 11:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
LADIES IN WHITE TO CINDY SHEEHAN: VISIT A CUBAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3025 PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHUB #0023 0091115 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091115Z JAN 07 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1106 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUESDM/JTLO MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0047
UNCLAS HAVANA 000023
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE; OAU COLLECTIVE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE TO CINDY SHEEHAN: VISIT A CUBAN
PRISON
UNCLAS HAVANA 000023
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE; OAU COLLECTIVE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE TO CINDY SHEEHAN: VISIT A CUBAN
PRISON
1. (U) Summary: Cuba's "Ladies in White," relatives of
political prisoners, have written to visiting American
anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and urged her to stop by a
Cuban prison during her time on the island. Sheehan and
other activists arrived in Havana on January 6 with plans to
march to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo, to call for its
closure. In a two-page letter, the Ladies criticize the
wretched conditions at Cuban prisons, state that they have
suffered intense harassment from the Cuban Government, and
call on Sheehan to learn about "another reality" in Cuba.
End Summary.
2. (U) On January 8, the Ladies in White showed us a letter
they wrote the previous day to Cindy Sheehan. The letter
starts by expressing sympathy to Sheehan over the loss of her
son in Iraq. It states that the Ladies "feel the pain
profoundly, because our sons, husbands, brothers and uncles
are held unjustly in terrible Cuban prisons, simply for
trying to exercise their right to free expression, and to
peacefully contribute to the well-being of the Cuban people."
The Ladies in White, winners of the European Parliament's
2005 Sakharov Prize, wrote that when Sheehan and her
colleagues are marching toward the Guantanamo base, they will
be only a few miles from the Guantanamo Provincial Prison.
The latter is home to "peaceful and defenseless political
prisoners (who) suffer from inhumane conditions, without
clean drinking water, with inadequate food, deficient medical
care, insects, rodents" and other woes.
3. (U) The Ladies noted that a majority of their imprisoned
loved ones are held far from home, complicating family
contact. The letter says that because the Ladies continue to
demand the immediate release of political prisoners, the GOC
has carried out a repressive campaign against them and their
families since March 2003. Repressive measures have included
"acts of repudiation," systematic visits by State Security
officials to Ladies' homes, and the blocking of the Ladies'
free movement.
4. (U) The letter, respectful but assertive, ends by inviting
Sheehan to learn about another reality of Cuban society. "We
exhort you to visit Cuban prisons, chosen at random, and not
one prepared by the Cuban authorities. And above all, visit
the Guantanamo Provincial Prison."
5. (SBU) Comment: We have nothing to add. The Ladies' letter
speaks for itself.
PARMLY
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE; OAU COLLECTIVE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE TO CINDY SHEEHAN: VISIT A CUBAN
PRISON
1. (U) Summary: Cuba's "Ladies in White," relatives of
political prisoners, have written to visiting American
anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and urged her to stop by a
Cuban prison during her time on the island. Sheehan and
other activists arrived in Havana on January 6 with plans to
march to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo, to call for its
closure. In a two-page letter, the Ladies criticize the
wretched conditions at Cuban prisons, state that they have
suffered intense harassment from the Cuban Government, and
call on Sheehan to learn about "another reality" in Cuba.
End Summary.
2. (U) On January 8, the Ladies in White showed us a letter
they wrote the previous day to Cindy Sheehan. The letter
starts by expressing sympathy to Sheehan over the loss of her
son in Iraq. It states that the Ladies "feel the pain
profoundly, because our sons, husbands, brothers and uncles
are held unjustly in terrible Cuban prisons, simply for
trying to exercise their right to free expression, and to
peacefully contribute to the well-being of the Cuban people."
The Ladies in White, winners of the European Parliament's
2005 Sakharov Prize, wrote that when Sheehan and her
colleagues are marching toward the Guantanamo base, they will
be only a few miles from the Guantanamo Provincial Prison.
The latter is home to "peaceful and defenseless political
prisoners (who) suffer from inhumane conditions, without
clean drinking water, with inadequate food, deficient medical
care, insects, rodents" and other woes.
3. (U) The Ladies noted that a majority of their imprisoned
loved ones are held far from home, complicating family
contact. The letter says that because the Ladies continue to
demand the immediate release of political prisoners, the GOC
has carried out a repressive campaign against them and their
families since March 2003. Repressive measures have included
"acts of repudiation," systematic visits by State Security
officials to Ladies' homes, and the blocking of the Ladies'
free movement.
4. (U) The letter, respectful but assertive, ends by inviting
Sheehan to learn about another reality of Cuban society. "We
exhort you to visit Cuban prisons, chosen at random, and not
one prepared by the Cuban authorities. And above all, visit
the Guantanamo Provincial Prison."
5. (SBU) Comment: We have nothing to add. The Ladies' letter
speaks for itself.
PARMLY