Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HAVANA256
2008-03-21 19:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:
LADIES IN WHITE MARK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK
how-toVZCZCXRO1704 OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHUB #0256/01 0811954 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211954Z MAR 08 FM USINT HAVANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3047 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 3048
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000256
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE MARK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK
SPRING
Classified By: COM: M.E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000256
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE MARK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK
SPRING
Classified By: COM: M.E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (U) Summary: The Cuban human rights organization,
Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco),marked the fifth
anniversary of the 2003 crackdown on dissidents by holding a
series of five marches. On March 14, a group of the women
marched to the Ministry of Justice and without incident
presented a letter demanding the release of the 55 prisoners,
arrested in 2003, who remain incarcerated. On March 15, the
organization attempted a march on the Ministry of the
Interior in Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana. A group of
about 20 people shouting insults prevented the marchers from
approaching the building. On March 16, 55 women joined the
organization's weekly attendance at mass in the church of
Saint Rita. On March 18 the group held a presentation of the
book, "Buried Alive" by political prisoner, Hector Maseda
Gutierrez at the home of Maseda's wife, Laura Pollan.
Marches were also held on March 19 and March 20. End
summary.
2. (U) The organization, Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco)
consists of wives and relatives of the 75 pro-democracy
activists jailed during a massive human rights crackdown in
2003. 55 of the 75 remain in prison. The others either
served out their sentences or were granted early release for
health reasons. On March 14 about 30 members of Ladies in
White marched to the Ministry of Justice and handed without
incident a letter to the Ministry officials demanding the
release of political prisoners.
3. (U) On March 15 a group of about 30 women from the
organization attempted to march to the office of the Ministry
of the Interior located in the Plaza de la Revolucion in
Havana with the intention of delivering a letter demanding
the unconditional release of political prisoners. About
three blocks from the Ministry about 20 people in civilian
clothes blocked the street and hurled insults at the marches.
The Ladies in White desisted in their efforts to reach the
Ministry. No violence was reported.
4. (U) On March 16, 55 women participated the organization's
weekly activity of attending mass at Saint Rita's church in
Havana. This is a far larger than normal turnout. The group
expressed disappointment that the international press did not
cover the activity.
5. (U) On March 18, Ladies in White held a presentation of
the book "Buried Alive" by Hector Maseda Gutierrez, one of
the group of the 75 arrested in 2003 who remains in prison.
The presentation was held in the home of Maseda's wife Laura
Pollan, who serves as the spokesperson for Ladies in White.
Pollan surreptitiously brought the book out of the prison
chapter by chapter. Pollan stated that she was very proud to
read at the event letters from President Bush and Spanish
President Zapatero, indicating support from different ends of
the political spectrum. Leading dissidents, such as Martha
Beatriz Roque and Roberto de Miranda, both members of the
group of 75, attended the event. The Ladies in White also
held marches on March 19 and 20.
6. (U) The Ladies sent out a statement urging governments,
religious and international organization and others to
analyze whether, despite pronouncements by the Raul Castro
government, there has been any change in the level of
repression in Cuba since 2003. The letter decreed the GOC
held prisoners as hostages and was trying "insult them by
presenting them to distinguished foreign representatives as
possible objects of exchange". Economist Oscar Espinosa
Chepe, who is a member of the 75 out on release, put out a
statement reminding people that several of those who remain
in jail did nothing more than accurately expose problems in
the Cuban economy and society that even Raul Castro now
acknowledges in speeches.
7. (C) While she was in Havana for these activities,
Magalis Broche from Villa Clara, wife of Libardo Linares
Garcia in prison in Cienfuegos, spoke to Pol off about the
situation of her husband. He is one of the most ill of the
55 who remain in prison. She said that he was offered to go
HAVANA 00000256 002 OF 002
to Spain on the recent prison release and refused it
completely. Broche related that he said that he will not
accept any release unless he is allowed to fight for
democracy in Cuba.
PARMLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: LADIES IN WHITE MARK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK
SPRING
Classified By: COM: M.E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (U) Summary: The Cuban human rights organization,
Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco),marked the fifth
anniversary of the 2003 crackdown on dissidents by holding a
series of five marches. On March 14, a group of the women
marched to the Ministry of Justice and without incident
presented a letter demanding the release of the 55 prisoners,
arrested in 2003, who remain incarcerated. On March 15, the
organization attempted a march on the Ministry of the
Interior in Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana. A group of
about 20 people shouting insults prevented the marchers from
approaching the building. On March 16, 55 women joined the
organization's weekly attendance at mass in the church of
Saint Rita. On March 18 the group held a presentation of the
book, "Buried Alive" by political prisoner, Hector Maseda
Gutierrez at the home of Maseda's wife, Laura Pollan.
Marches were also held on March 19 and March 20. End
summary.
2. (U) The organization, Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco)
consists of wives and relatives of the 75 pro-democracy
activists jailed during a massive human rights crackdown in
2003. 55 of the 75 remain in prison. The others either
served out their sentences or were granted early release for
health reasons. On March 14 about 30 members of Ladies in
White marched to the Ministry of Justice and handed without
incident a letter to the Ministry officials demanding the
release of political prisoners.
3. (U) On March 15 a group of about 30 women from the
organization attempted to march to the office of the Ministry
of the Interior located in the Plaza de la Revolucion in
Havana with the intention of delivering a letter demanding
the unconditional release of political prisoners. About
three blocks from the Ministry about 20 people in civilian
clothes blocked the street and hurled insults at the marches.
The Ladies in White desisted in their efforts to reach the
Ministry. No violence was reported.
4. (U) On March 16, 55 women participated the organization's
weekly activity of attending mass at Saint Rita's church in
Havana. This is a far larger than normal turnout. The group
expressed disappointment that the international press did not
cover the activity.
5. (U) On March 18, Ladies in White held a presentation of
the book "Buried Alive" by Hector Maseda Gutierrez, one of
the group of the 75 arrested in 2003 who remains in prison.
The presentation was held in the home of Maseda's wife Laura
Pollan, who serves as the spokesperson for Ladies in White.
Pollan surreptitiously brought the book out of the prison
chapter by chapter. Pollan stated that she was very proud to
read at the event letters from President Bush and Spanish
President Zapatero, indicating support from different ends of
the political spectrum. Leading dissidents, such as Martha
Beatriz Roque and Roberto de Miranda, both members of the
group of 75, attended the event. The Ladies in White also
held marches on March 19 and 20.
6. (U) The Ladies sent out a statement urging governments,
religious and international organization and others to
analyze whether, despite pronouncements by the Raul Castro
government, there has been any change in the level of
repression in Cuba since 2003. The letter decreed the GOC
held prisoners as hostages and was trying "insult them by
presenting them to distinguished foreign representatives as
possible objects of exchange". Economist Oscar Espinosa
Chepe, who is a member of the 75 out on release, put out a
statement reminding people that several of those who remain
in jail did nothing more than accurately expose problems in
the Cuban economy and society that even Raul Castro now
acknowledges in speeches.
7. (C) While she was in Havana for these activities,
Magalis Broche from Villa Clara, wife of Libardo Linares
Garcia in prison in Cienfuegos, spoke to Pol off about the
situation of her husband. He is one of the most ill of the
55 who remain in prison. She said that he was offered to go
HAVANA 00000256 002 OF 002
to Spain on the recent prison release and refused it
completely. Broche related that he said that he will not
accept any release unless he is allowed to fight for
democracy in Cuba.
PARMLY