Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HAVANA538
2007-05-31 18:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
CUBA: BIG BROTHER THREATENS LADY IN WHITE
how-toVZCZCXRO1963 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHUB #0538 1511832 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 311832Z MAY 07 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1799 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0113 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0095 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUCOGCA/COMNAVBASE GUANTANAMO BAY CU RUESDM/JTLO MIAMI FL RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000538
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: BIG BROTHER THREATENS LADY IN WHITE
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly; Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000538
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: BIG BROTHER THREATENS LADY IN WHITE
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly; Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) representative Laura
Pollan travelled last week from Havana to Manzanillo, on the
eastern end of the island, to attend to some family business.
While there she also visited a religious shrine in nearby
Santiago and was given permission by a priest to make a
public prayer to ask for release of political prisoners.
2. (C) Pollan told Pol-Econ Counselor that on Saturday, May
26, at 11:20 p.m. her relatives in Manzanillo answered a
knock on the door and were face to face with Lieutenant
Colonel Samper, head of State Security's "Department 21,"
responsible for countering the activities of the dissident
movement. The Havana-based Samper warned Pollan that "Things
in the eastern provinces were calmer than in Havana and that
she should watch her step." He said he would warn her
political-prisoner husband, Hector Maseda, that her
activities placed them both in danger. Pollan said that she
responded by telling Samper to arrange for the GOC to release
the political prisoners, which was the only way to put an end
to the Damas' activities. While her husband and others
remained in prison, Laura said she would continue to lead
peaceful protests and prayers for their release. She said
that she asked Samper to leave and told him that late-night
knocks on the door and accompanying threats were a form of
"pscyhological torture."
3. (C) Comment: We report this as a stand-alone vignette of
the Cuban police state, where late-night knocks on the door
are always possible, even at the end of a 14-hour bus trip
from home. Laura Pollan, in our estimation, continues to
grow in stature as she and the rest of the Damas resist the
totalitarian regime with little more to work with than their
courage and their human decency.
PARMLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: BIG BROTHER THREATENS LADY IN WHITE
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly; Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) representative Laura
Pollan travelled last week from Havana to Manzanillo, on the
eastern end of the island, to attend to some family business.
While there she also visited a religious shrine in nearby
Santiago and was given permission by a priest to make a
public prayer to ask for release of political prisoners.
2. (C) Pollan told Pol-Econ Counselor that on Saturday, May
26, at 11:20 p.m. her relatives in Manzanillo answered a
knock on the door and were face to face with Lieutenant
Colonel Samper, head of State Security's "Department 21,"
responsible for countering the activities of the dissident
movement. The Havana-based Samper warned Pollan that "Things
in the eastern provinces were calmer than in Havana and that
she should watch her step." He said he would warn her
political-prisoner husband, Hector Maseda, that her
activities placed them both in danger. Pollan said that she
responded by telling Samper to arrange for the GOC to release
the political prisoners, which was the only way to put an end
to the Damas' activities. While her husband and others
remained in prison, Laura said she would continue to lead
peaceful protests and prayers for their release. She said
that she asked Samper to leave and told him that late-night
knocks on the door and accompanying threats were a form of
"pscyhological torture."
3. (C) Comment: We report this as a stand-alone vignette of
the Cuban police state, where late-night knocks on the door
are always possible, even at the end of a 14-hour bus trip
from home. Laura Pollan, in our estimation, continues to
grow in stature as she and the rest of the Damas resist the
totalitarian regime with little more to work with than their
courage and their human decency.
PARMLY