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
VZCZCXRO5661 OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHUB #0246 0742026 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 142026Z MAR 08 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3032 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE RUCOGCA/NAVSTA GUANTANAMO BAY CU IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3033
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
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