Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ591
2007-03-02 18:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
CUBAN DISSIDENT SAMARTINO MAY GO TO NORWAY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #0591 0611839 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021839Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2699 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6596 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3917 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7805 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5051 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2284 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2384 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4452 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0122 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4925 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9515 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0077 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0185 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000591
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR G-PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: CUBAN DISSIDENT SAMARTINO MAY GO TO NORWAY
REF: JANUARY 2007 ASDARS
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000591
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR G-PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: CUBAN DISSIDENT SAMARTINO MAY GO TO NORWAY
REF: JANUARY 2007 ASDARS
1. (U) La Paz leading daily newspaper La Razon and the Human
Rights Foundation (HRF) reported on February 28 that Norway
has agreed to provide asylum to expelled Cuban dissident
Amauris Samartino (aka Amauri Sanmartino) who is currently
residing in Colombia. According to the HRF, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed
Samartino of Norway's offer on February 23. Samartino was
granted legal resident (not refugee) status in Bolivia in
October 2001. The GOB arrested Samartino for anti-GOB
activities on December 24, 2006 and eventually deported him
to Colombia on January 9 after UNHCR intervened in the case.
On February 2, the Bolivian Constitutional Tribunal ruled the
GOB's arrest, detention and deportation of Samartino illegal,
opening up the possibility that he could return to Bolivia.
On February 3, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera stated
that while the GOB respects the court's decision, it would
not allow Samartino to return to Bolivia. To date, Samartino
remains in Colombia. Samartino's wife, Normina Chavez, states
he may travel to Norway in the next few weeks.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR G-PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: CUBAN DISSIDENT SAMARTINO MAY GO TO NORWAY
REF: JANUARY 2007 ASDARS
1. (U) La Paz leading daily newspaper La Razon and the Human
Rights Foundation (HRF) reported on February 28 that Norway
has agreed to provide asylum to expelled Cuban dissident
Amauris Samartino (aka Amauri Sanmartino) who is currently
residing in Colombia. According to the HRF, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed
Samartino of Norway's offer on February 23. Samartino was
granted legal resident (not refugee) status in Bolivia in
October 2001. The GOB arrested Samartino for anti-GOB
activities on December 24, 2006 and eventually deported him
to Colombia on January 9 after UNHCR intervened in the case.
On February 2, the Bolivian Constitutional Tribunal ruled the
GOB's arrest, detention and deportation of Samartino illegal,
opening up the possibility that he could return to Bolivia.
On February 3, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera stated
that while the GOB respects the court's decision, it would
not allow Samartino to return to Bolivia. To date, Samartino
remains in Colombia. Samartino's wife, Normina Chavez, states
he may travel to Norway in the next few weeks.
GOLDBERG