CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP MAY 18- JUNE 6

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000436

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP MAY 18- JUNE 6

Classified By: COM: Michael E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) Summary: Many members of the dissident community
report a marked increase during the past several weeks of
open surveillance by state security. Several opposition
figures have tied this to the GOC's recent media campaign
against USINT. In addition, pro-democracy activists report
an increased use of threats and intimidation. State security
in several instances had advanced knowledge of meetings and
demonstrations and acted quickly to make sure these events
did not take place. There were also reports of serious
abuses committed against political prisoners. End summary.
.

2. (C) Several dissidents stated that there has been a
marked increased in open surveillance by state security. For
example, Alejandrina Garcia, wife of Diosado Gonzalez
Marrero, one of the 75 pro-democracy activist jailed in the
crackdown of 2003, told Poloffs that since April 12 state
security officers are stationed 24 hours a day in front of
her house in Colon in the province of Matanzas. She said
that the officers prevent visitors from coming to her house.
On one occasion, Alejandrina called an ambulance for her
father, who has terminal cancer. The state security agents
followed the ambulance to the medical clinic. On May 20
Noelia Pedraza, who is the wife of a political prisoner, and
Noelia's mother came to Alejandrina's house after they had
participated in a peaceful march. A small group of people
gathered in front of the house brandishing sticks and
shouting insults.


3. (C) State security acted quickly to disrupt meetings
and demonstrations planned by the opposition. On June 3 a
group of opposition figures were holding a meeting in the
Havana home of Carlos Cordero at 12:30 AM. As soon as the
meeting had started police entered the home and presented a
search warrant. Police took into custody Jorge Luis Garcia
Perez ("Antunez"),Nitza Rivas, Blas Fortum Martinez, Iris
Perez Aguillera, Bienvenido Rafael Perdigon Pacheco, Ana
Margarita Perdigon and another person whose identity is
unknown. Some people were detained for several hours then
released. To date no charges have been filed as the result of
this incident. Police transported the people who resided
outside Havana to their homes. On June 4 a small group of
dissidents lead by Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina planned a
demonstration to mark the anniversary of the suppression of
student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in China. The
demonstration was to take place in front of a monument in
Havana to Chinese who died in the struggle for Cuba's
independence. As they approached the monument, state
security, fully aware of the unpublicized demonstration,
stopped the demonstrators and ordered them to leave the area.


4. (C) Former political prisoner, Jose Diaz Silva, told
Poloff that on March 30 he was arrested and interrogated
about a meeting scheduled for April 11 called by Martha
Beatriz Roque and Vladimiro Roca. Diaz's interrogators knew
the date, time and place of the meeting as well as the fact
that the purpose was to try to create a unity agenda for the
opposition. During his incarceration, Diaz was threatened
that his conditional release from prison would be revoked and
that he would be prosecuted for erecting a wall inside his
house, renovation to a dwelling without permission being
illegal. Diaz was released on May 28 and to date has not
faced prosecution.


5. (C) Several dissidents report increased harassment. On
May 18 Roberto de Miranda and his wife, Soledad Rivas
Verdecia, waited several hours at Jose Marti International
Airport for the arrival from the United States of their
daughter, Elaide Perez Rivas; her husband, Henry Reyes; and
their grandchildren, Cristabel and Carlos Enrique Perez
Rivas. His daughter stated that her family's Cuban visas
were in order but the Cuban officials in the airport ordered
the entire family to return immediately to the United States
and Elaide was forbidden to communicate with her waiting
parents. De Miranda thinks that this was a vindictive act
resulting from his opposition activities. De Miranda and his
wife have not been seen their daughter in the last eleven
years.


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6. (C) On June 1 a large rock was thrown against the door
of human rights activist Oswaldo Paya Sardinas. Paya's wife
hearing the noise said that a young man, who was in a group
of several others, threw the rock then left the scene.


7. (C) Independent journalist, Carlos Manuel Serpa Maceira,
stated that within the past few weeks has been given two
citations to appear before state security. He states that he
was questioned about his contact with USINT and about
information he supplied to Radio Marti. Serpa has received
an eviction notice from the apartment in Havana that he has
shared for several years with his wife and has been ordered
to return to his home province in Isla de la Juventud.
Independent journalist, Alvaro Yero Felipe, told poloff that
state security agents came to his home on May 26 and
questioned him about his involvement in video conferences at
USINT and a article he wrote about the shortage of medical
personnel at his local health care clinic due to the fact
that several of the doctors are working abroad. Yero said
that he was threatened for prosecution under the law of
"dangerousness"


8. (C) On May 7 seriously ill prisoner of conscience,
Normando Hernandez, was returned to prison. Since September
he had been in a military hospital. Hernandez suffers from
stomach lesions, tuberculosis and a gallbladder tumor. Since
his return to prison, his condition has reportedly
deteriorated due to lack of medical attention and failure to
provide him with the medically recommended diet. On April 22
Rolando Jimenez Pozado, the only lawyer in the group of 75
arrested in 2003, told his family that a prison official
severely beat him for refusing to wear a prisoner's uniform.
He stated that he has been placed in a tiny punishment cell
with no supply of water in the cell.
PARMLY