REPRESSION IN CUBA DECLINING? DON'T BELIEVE IT.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HAVANA 000362 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE DEPT FOR WHA/FO, WHA/CCA, AND DRL STATE ALSO FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL KRONGARD NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FISK, SENIOR DIRECTOR KOZAK E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017 TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU SUBJECT: REPRESSION IN CUBA DECLINING? DON'T BELIEVE IT. HAVANA 00000362 001.3 OF 004 Classified By: Human Rights Officer Greg Wiegand for Reason 1.4(d). The following end-of-tour evaluation of the current human rights situation was prepared entirely by Political Officer Greg Wiegand, winner of the 2006 Warren Christopher Award. His views as expressed here represent the entire USINT community. ¶1. (C) Summary: In the eight months since Fidel Castro "delegated" power to Raul, the Cuban Government has managed to maintain and even broaden the level of repression against dissidents, while reducing the number of political prisoners. The GOC has succeeded in convincing some observers that reform is already underway; witness the recent political-prisoner releases, a dearth of news reports on harassment of top-tier dissidents, and hints dropped by regime insiders that once the Comandante marches into history, necessary economic reforms will occur. In reality, Cuban authorities continue to snuff out any public demonstrations of independent thought, movement or organization. There has been a sharp increase in detentions of dissidents; many are threatened during interrogations. The police presence in Havana and other big cities has increased, and the treatment of political prisoners has worsened. Pressure on journalists, both Cubans and foreigners, has intensified. Nevertheless, Cubans have started to lose fear about speaking out against the regime. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Cuban Government has apparently convinced a number of countries, especially those with on-island investments, to accept its empty promises of reform and conclude that the human rights situation in Cuba is improving. The reality suggests otherwise; nations based on the rule of law should note that since July 31, 2006, when the GOC issued its "proclamation" on succession, the regime has subtly changed its repressive tactics. The goal is to avoid headline-generating incidents such as violent "acts of repudiation" or the imprisonment of first-tier dissidents, while simultaneously broadening the repressive base by detaining, intimidating or otherwise sidelining second- and third-tier dissidents. POLITICAL-PRISONERS RELEASES -------------- ¶3. (C) Regime apologists are quick to note that the GOC has significantly reduced the number of documented political prisoners and detainees since the announcement of Fidel's incapacitation. The current number stands at 280, down from 316 in early July 2006. (Note: This figure refers only to the number of cases documented by Elizardo Sanchez's Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation. The true number of Cubans convicted of political crimes, plus dissidents convicted of "dangerousness" or a common crime, almost certainly exceeds 1,000, and could easily be several times higher. End Note.) Ironically, the increasingly unified call - on island and off -- to "free the political prisoners" has resulted in a situation in which the GOC seeks to generate good will for occasionally freeing a prisoner from one of the regime's hellish prisons. (Among the most well-known prisoners freed during Raul-rule are Rene Gomez Manzano and Hector Palacios, the latter one of 75 peaceful activists rounded up in the notorious "Black Spring" crackdown of 2003.) INCREASE IN DETENTIONS, INTIMIDATION -------------- ¶4. (C) While freeing a number of political prisoners, many of whom were already nearing the end of their sentence, the GOC has also dramatically stepped up short-term detentions of activists. Although reliable statistics are unavailable, human rights groups across the country point to an unmistakable increase in detentions, most lasting only hours, and many aimed at young activists. The latter may be in response to a November 24, 2006 opposition youth forum that brought together 63 activists and three main youth groups. HAVANA 00000362 002.3 OF 004 In the weeks that followed, the GOC detained, interrogated and threatened dozens of participants. Some were summoned to a police station and, after arrival, were received not by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR),but by the political police (State Security). Violence during interrogations was rare but did occur, as with the beating and injury of Luis Esteban Espinosa. State Security continued to play emotional hardball -- threatening, for instance, to strip activists of custody of their young children, and targeting dissidents' relatives with selective law enforcement. For example, police detained the mother of youth activist Ahmed Rodriguez Albacia and accused her of planning to illegally resell, at a profit, a belt she had just purchased. GREATER POLICE PRESENCE, MORE FINES FOR PEDDLERS -------------- --- ¶5. (C) The Havana police presence, uniformed and otherwise, has swelled noticeably since last summer, and our contacts report a similar situation in other big cities, including Santiago. Some of our contacts, including Elsa Morejon of the Lawton Human Rights Foundation, say there has also been an increase in fines and prosecutions involving ordinary Cubans who cut legal corners to eke out a living. Unlicensed vendors of soft drinks have been targeted, as have car owners who rent out their vehicle illegally. Meanwhile, at the neighborhood level, the GOC-directed mass communist organizations have maintained their imposing presence. During last September's summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, Communist Party officials in Havana went door to door to find out who lives where, identify "illegal" residents and - as far as the GOC is concerned - dispel any doubt that the regime can exercise its power as heavy-handedly as ever. NEW PRESSURE ON POLITICAL PRISONERS -------------- ¶6. (C) The regime also appears to have tightened prison conditions, at least for political prisoners. In January, without explanation, the GOC informed Victor Arroyo Carmona, one of 59 75ers who remain behind bars, that his prison visits were being reduced from once every three months to once every four or five months. Prosecutors indicted another jailed 75er, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, for disorder and disrespect; he yelled "Down With Fidel" at his prison. The prosecutors are seeking 15 more years. Political prisoner Oscar Elias Biscet got a warning when three prison guards positioned themselves in front of him and dealt a tremendous beating to another prisoner, handcuffed at the time. (Note: Tellingly, none of the political prisoners released since last summer have belonged to Oswaldo Paya's Christian Liberation Movement. The MCL is arguably Cuba's most influential pro-democracy organization. End Note.) LEANING ON JOURNALISTS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC -------------- ¶7. (C) The GOC's effective PNGing of a handful of foreign correspondents in February generated (predictably) broad media coverage, and brought unwanted attention to the GOC's practice of tweaking the message any way it can. Meanwhile, the regime kept up its pressure on independent (Cuban) journalists. According to the Free Expression Foundation, the level of GOC pressure on independent journalists in the first quarter of this year was largely unchanged from the preceding quarter. In January, State Security effectively limited journalist Jose Manuel Caraballo to house arrest, and told imprisoned journalist Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, "People who behave like you can end up in their cell either hanged or with their neck slashed." In February, journalist Lisette Bravo was detained, intimidated and threatened after she reported on an alleged prison uprising. The same month, journalist Jorge Oliveira Castillo obeyed a summons and showed up at a courthouse flanked by concerned U.S., Canadian and Swedish diplomats. The court session was called off. RANCHUELO BEATINGS LEAD TO PULLBACK -------------- HAVANA 00000362 003.3 OF 004 ¶8. (C) The regime has shown a keen ability to back away from rights violations that generate headlines. Last October 10 in Villa Clara province, communist militants savagely beat two human rights activists from Ranchuelo, after the husband and wife left a peaceful dissident gathering. Digital photos of their black-and-blue faces circulated worldwide, including in our December briefing to visiting U.S. Congressmen. Shortly thereafter, dissidents in Villa Clara reported a sharp drop in violent incidents involving dissidents. (Note: A videotape of the couple's beating was allegedly recorded, but no such footage has ever surfaced. The drop-off in "acts of repudiations" and other regime-directed assaults in Villa Clara may reflect GOC concern over the alleged recording. End Note.) Meanwhile, fallout over the Ranchuelo beating apparently triggered a purge within State Security's Villa Clara ranks. A number of operatives were apparently suspended or forced into retirement. GROWING DISSENT, PEOPLE LOSING FEAR -------------- ¶9. (C) Fear continues to permeate Cuban society, due mainly to the massive political-police presence and an island-wide network of informants. However, there is evidence that Cubans are losing fear of publicly criticizing the GOC. Said Guillermo Farinas, who carried out a lengthy hunger strike for internet access: "People are losing their fear to speak out against the regime. This was unthinkable five years ago. Back then, if you were at a market and you criticized the government, the militants or military people would hear, and you'd be in trouble. Now, the militants and the military folks hear that and agree, or even complain themselves." Oswaldo Paya, MCL chief and founder of the Varela Project, said power in Cuba has long been above the law; that people not only have lacked their basic rights, but not even been aware of their rights. However, he said, the situation is changing. The MCL is educating people about their rights under the slogan, "All Cubans, All Siblings, Freedom Now." As Cubans learn more about their rights, Paya said, they are becoming less and less willing to continue living without them. LADIES IN WHITE -------------- ¶10. (C) Several leading "Ladies in White" also believe that Cubans are losing their fear. Laura Pollan noted that public expressions of support for the "Damas" - rare and very dangerous in previous years - have become commonplace. Since Fidel's incapacitation was announced, the Ladies in White have likely generated more expressions of support from Cubans, and more sleepless nights for State Security agents, than any other human rights organization. (Note: The Ladies say State Security recently stepped up its vigilance. On February 6, 10 State Security agents followed three Damas as they walked through town. End Note.) The Damas were the object of an "act of repudiation" during their march through Havana on March 18. The incident was captured on video by CNN. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS DEFIANT -------------- ¶11. (C) Some pro-democracy organizations have laid low since the "succession," fearful that a regime nervous about its survival would not hesitate to carry out mass imprisonments of active dissidents. However, many other groups have remained active. Despite regime sabotage, 50 people affiliated with Martha Beatriz Roque's Assembly to Promote Civil Society gathered February 22 to take part in an event marking the end of a "Congress" of independent librarians. Paya's MCL went to great lengths to encourage members of the UN Human Rights Council to introduce a resolution calling on the GOC to release political prisoners. Angel Pablo Polanco's National Constitutionalist Alliance issued a similar appeal. Youth groups such as Edgard Lopez Moreno's Marti Youth Coalition, Ahmed Rodriguez's Young People Against HAVANA 00000362 004.3 OF 004 Censorship and Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina's Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy withstood intense State Security harassment to take part in pro-democracy events, including a videoconference that linked them with former Slovak activists who took part in the 1989 "Velvet Revolution." COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (C) True, meaningful and comprehensive reform may well be just around the corner -- just don't expect it to come from the Castro-led Cuban Government. The regime does not have the support of its own people, who have gone five decades without consultation in the form of free elections. That said, we do not expect to see massive street demonstrations anytime soon, because the Cuban people are still very fearful of regime retaliation. Although the police state continues to chug right along, the public is confused about whether Fidel or Raul Castro is calling the shots, and the regime is losing some of its grip over an increasingly poor, restless and desperate population. The Cuban people are not fooled by the regime's public image of itself, and could take to the streets if the regime makes a major mis-step. PARMLY