Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HAVANA246
2008-03-14 20:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND-UP MARCH 8 - MAR. 14

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 000246 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND-UP MARCH 8 - MAR. 14

REF: HAVANA 207

Classified By: A/COM: J. L. Williams : For reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000246

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND-UP MARCH 8 - MAR. 14

REF: HAVANA 207

Classified By: A/COM: J. L. Williams : For reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) JOURNALISTS BLOCKED FROM ATTENDING USINT
VIDEOCONFERENCE: The Public Diplomacy section of USINT has
been hosting a course for nearly 40 independent journalists
through videoconferences with Florida International
University. The course is designed to build build
professional skills and has no political content. The course
builds professional skills and has no political content.
However, Cuban state security forces prevented several
invitees from attending the course on March 10. Julio Beltran
Iglesias and Richard Roselio were detained for several hours.
and state security officials prevented Aini Martin Valero and
Ivan Sanudo Pupo from leaving their home to attend the event.
An official threatened Oscar Mario Gonzalez that the GOC
would not allow a visit from his daughter if he attended the
course, and placed someone to watch his house from the early
morning to the afternoon of March 10. Alvaro Yero Felipe was
also not permitted to leave his house.


2. (U) ANTUNEZ ON HUNGER STRIKE: On March 10 activist Jorge
Luis Garcia Perez ("Antunez") went on hunger strike to demand
that municipal authorities in Placetas provide adequate
housing to his sister, Caridad Garcia Perez, and her 12 year
old daughter. Caridad Garcia and her child are living in a
precarious structure that is in at imminent danger of
collapse.


3. (U) WIFE OF POLITICAL PRISONER STRIP SEARCHED: On March
12 officials of the Guanajay prison ordered Teresita
Castellanos Garcia, wife of political prisoner Adalberto
Ramos Monteagudo, to remove her clothing as she arrived for a
visit with her husband. Reportedly the officials were
searching for banned literature and hidden notes.
Castellanos plans to protest to the Council of State next
week.


4. (U) POLITICAL PRISONER ALLOWED TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF
DAUGHTER: On March 13 prison authorities allowed independent
journalist, Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, to stay with his
mother in Guantanamo for one day so that he could attend the
funeral of his daughter, Llanet Herrera, who together with
her mother and half-sister were killed in a traffic accident.
Herrera is incarcerated at Prison Kilometer 7 in Holguin and
is serving a 20 year sentence imposed during a massive
crackdown in 2003. Such temporary releases to attend
funerals of close family members are common within Cuba's
prison system.



PARMLY