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 000437 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 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. HAVANA 00000437 002 OF 002 ¶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 personel 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 severly 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