REQUEST FOR HRDF FUNDS FOR CUBAN ORGANIZATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000613



SIPDIS



DEPARTMENT FOR DRL CATHERINE NEWLING

ALSO FOR DRL TERESA FRALISH



E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2013

TAGS: PHUM, EAID, CU

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR HRDF FUNDS FOR CUBAN ORGANIZATIONS



Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)



1. (C) Post requests approval of Human Rights Defender Fund

(HRDF) funds for the following groups/individuals in Cuba.

Increased repressive actions by the GOC have made the

activities of these organizations and individuals

increasingly difficult, but they continue to work with

political prisoners and other victims of human rights abuses.

Absent efforts by groups like these, there would be no one

working directly on issues of civil and human rights on the

island. The information below is keyed to the format for the

Global HRDF application form.



2. (C) The Damas de Blanco.



Part I



(1.) P/E Counselor James Benson

(2.) USINT Havana

(3.) BensonJH@state.sgov.gov



Part II



(1.) Laura Pollan

(2.) Cuba

(3.) Unknown, but around 1948

(4.) None

(5.) None

(6.) Neptuno 963 e/Aramburu y Hospital; Centro Habana; La

Habana, Cuba

(NOTE: Mail items may be delivered c/o the U.S.

Interests Section)

(7.) (53) (7) 873-4165

(8.) the Damas de Blanco

(9.) The Damas de Blanco hold a peaceful march each Sunday to

commemorate their loved ones currently imprisoned for

political crimes. They also collect food, toiletries, and

medicines for the prisoners. To the extent that they can,

they provide support to other family members of political

prisoners who might otherwise have no way to sustain

themselves.

(10.) Neither Ms Pollan personally nor the Damas as a group

espouse violence or engage in human rights violations.

Humanitarian assistance to them should be allowable under

OFAC regulations that govern exports to Cuba.



Part III



(1.) The GOC has been cracking down on all of the dissidents

of late, but seems to be taking special care to go after the

Damas de Blanco. Some of the Damas have been beaten and

arrested, and members of their support group have been

threatened with arrest. As a result, it has become almost

impossible for them to get the resources they need to

continue to do their work.

(2.) Funds provided through the HRDF program would go toward

providing food and clothing to the families of political

prisoners, paying for transportation so that family members

can visit their loved ones (NOTE: the GOC routinely sends

political prisoners to prisons that are at extreme distances

from their homes and families),and purchasing food, clothing

and medicine for the prisoners themselves.

(3.) The Damas have received funding in the past, but we do

not have any details on the sources or the amounts.



Part IV



(A) prison visits (transportation and supplies): $3,600

for one year



(B) medicines and medical supplies: $400

for one year



(C) support to dependents:

$1,000 for one year

===================



TOTAL $5,000.



Part V



(1.) Providing funds will be a serious challenge as the GOC

will do everything in its power to block funding. Receiving

funds from foreign sources makes an individual liable to

prosecution and imprisonment under Law 88. That said, the

Damas have gotten funds from family members in the U.S. via

Western Union in the past. It is preferable that funding be

in euros or another hard currency rather than dollars.

Whatever funding comes in must first be converted into Cuban

convertible pesos (CuC 1.00 equals USD 1.08) and then into

ordinary Cuban pesos. In addition to the exchange loss,

there is a 10 percent fine levied for changing U.S. dollars.



3. (C) The Colegio de Pedagogos.



Part I



(1.) James Benson

(2.) U.S. Interests Section Havana

(3.) BensonJH@state.sgov.gov



Part II



(1.) Roberto de Miranda

(2.) Cuba

(3.) Unknown, but around 1950

(4.) None

(5.) None

(6.) Campanario No. 354, 1er piso, e/San Miguel y San

Rafael, Centro Habana, La Habana

(NOTE: Mail items may be delivered c/o the U.S.

Interests Section)

(7.) (53) (7) 863-0116 or (53) (05) 297-1318

(8.) The Colegio de Pedagogos

(9.) Led by former teacher and political prisoner Roberto de

Miranda, the Colegio de Pedagogos is made up of active and

unemployed teachers from throughout the island. In addition

to proposing changes to the Cuban educational system, Roberto

de Miranda and those working with him give classes to

children of teachers fired for political beliefs and other

victims of human rights abuses. They also provide food and

shelter to such teachers while they are in Havana. They have

begun working with unemployed teenagers in Centro Habana who

otherwise face imprisonment under Cuba's "dangerousness"

statute.

(10.) Neither Roberto de Miranda personally nor the Colegio

de Pedagogos as a group espouse violence or engage in human

rights violations. Humanitarian assistance to them should be

allowable under OFAC regulations that govern exports to Cuba.



Part III



(1.) Since the GOC began cracking down on civil society

groups in May 2008, state security has surrounded de

Miranda's house, entered it and detained individuals being

supported there and restricted his ability to work. Since a

May 2008 public campaign against alleged USINT funding of

"mercenaries" such as de Miranda by the GOC, it has become

increasingly difficult for them to obtain the resources

needed to continue their work.

(2.) HRDF assistance would allow the Colegio de Pedagogos to

purchase food and medicine for individuals in need and obtain

teaching materials to support the classes they are offering

to children and youths from the street.

(3.) Most of the activities of the Colegio de Pedagogos have

been underwritten by members of the group themselves, as well

as donations from friendly embassies. We have no information

regarding specific amounts or the identity of other

organizations.



Part IV



(A) Support to Human Rights victims:

$2,400 for one year

(e.g., food and public transportation)



(B) Other $ 600

for one year

(e.g., teaching supplies, pens, pencils, paper, art

supplies)



===================

TOTAL $3,000



Part V



(1.) Providing funds will be a serious challenge as the GOC

will do everything in its power to block funding. Receiving

funds from foreign sources makes an individual liable to

prosecution and imprisonment under Law 88. It is preferable

that funding be in euros or another hard currency rather than

dollars. Whatever funding comes in must first be converted

into Cuban convertible pesos (CuC 1.00 equals USD 1.08) and

then into ordinary Cuban pesos. In addition to the exchange

loss, there is a 10 percent fine levied for changing U.S.

dollars.



FARRAR