Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HAVANA964
2008-12-29 20:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Interests Section Havana
Cable title:  

HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP DECEMBER 2008

Tags:  CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHUB #0964/01 3642047
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 292047Z DEC 08
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3994
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUCOGCA/NAVSTA GUANTANAMO BAY CU PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3995
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000964 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP DECEMBER 2008

Classified By: COM: Jonathan Farrar: For reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000964

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP DECEMBER 2008

Classified By: COM: Jonathan Farrar: For reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 10, Cuban state security
moved to prevent many activists from marking the 60th
anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR). The police detained at least 80
pro-democracy activists. All were released without charges
within 24 hours. Because of detentions, protesters were
unable to mount a planned march organized by Dr. Darsi Ferrer
in front of the UNESCO building. However, the organization
of wives and relatives of political prisoners, Damas de
Blanco, held without incident a march in the center of
Havana. In an unusual move, the Cuban government held a
seminar marking the occasion that included participants from
the US and several Latin American countries. USINT held a
well attended event that included presentations by many of
Cuba's leading dissidents as well as representatives of other
organizations. End Summary.



2. (U) The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National
Reconciliation (CCDHRN) confirmed that 80 dissidents were
detained by police in various parts of the country in order
to prevent them from attending activities commemorating the
60th anniversary of the adoption of Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. All of those detained were released without
charges, mostly within 24 hours. The GOC stopped Dr. Darsi
Ferrer, as well as members of such organization as the
Commission for Attention to Political Prisoners and Their
Families and the Cuban Liberal Movement (MLC),from
organizing a planned march in front of the UNESCO building.
Dr. Ferrer has held marches at the same location for the past
several years that have never attracted more than fifteen
participants. On December 11, Poloff saw Dr. Ferrer who
stated that he was detained on December 10 at 8:00 AM in
front of his house and held at a police station until 7:00 PM
that evening.


3. (C) Belinda Salas of the Federation of Latin American
Rural Women (FLAMUR) released a statement to the
international press saying that on December 9 police brutally
beat her, her husband and two others as they left the USINT

building. Ms. Salas stated that she was left unconscious on
the street while the others were detained. On December 11
Poloff met with Belinda's husband, Lazaro Joaquin Alonso
Roman. He stated that he was held overnight and then released
without charges. His wrist was bandaged and his lower lip
was swollen. However, in the evening of December 10 Poloff
saw Ms. Salas at a USINT activity with no visible sign of the
injuries she had described in her press statements.


4. (U) On December 10 32 members of Damas de Blanco (Ladies
in White),a movement composed of the wives and relatives of
political prisoners, held without interference a march to the
Capitol building in central Havana, an area heavily
frequented by tourists. The marchers passed out Cuban flags
and copies of the UDHR. Earlier in the day, the Damas
attempted to ascend the steps to the University of Havana but
were prevented from doing so by pro-government activists.
According to Damas' spokesperson Laura Pollan the activists
blocked the way, but in contrast with the past, did not hurl
insults at the Damas or otherwise try to molest them.


5. (U) On December 10 police detained several dissidents,
including Guillermo Farinas and Jorge Luis Garcia Perez
("Antunez"),to prevent them from attending an event
organized by the unity organization Agenda for Transition at
the home of Vladimiro Roca. Agenda's spokesperson, Martha
Beatriz Roque, told USINT that a tight police cordon
surrounded Roca's house for five blocks. However, 29
opposition members out of the 81 invited, as well as
representatives of the British, Canadian and Dutch embassies
and members of the international press, attended the event.


6. (U) On December 10, in an unexpected move, the GOC held a
seminar to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the UDHR.
Several participants from the US, including anti-war activist
Cindy Sheehan and other guests from Latin American countries,
attended the workshops. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez
Roque stated that no country is perfect but stated that Cuba

HAVANA 00000964 002 OF 002


had made significant advances in "civil and political rights,
and in social, economic and cultural rights." The seminar
ended with the participants making the GOC's usual demands
for the ending of the US embargo and the freeing of five
Cubans convicted of espionage in the US. However, the fact
that the meeting was held at all is unusual considering that
the police have frequently arrested people for merely
distributing copies of the UDHR. The event was held at the
Havana Convention Palace, a short distance from the COM
residence, where USINT's own commemoration was being held at
the same time.



7. (C) At that event 25 people from various organizations
each gave a short presentation on the continued relevance of
each of the 30 articles of the UDHR. Only three of the
scheduled presenters failed to appear, two of them being
Darsi Ferrer and Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ("Antunez"),who
were detained. Among the presenters were leading figures in
the dissident movement including Oswaldo Paya; Francisco
Chaviano, political prisoner for thirteen years; Elsa
Morejon, wife of political prisoner Dr. Oscar Biscet; Rene
Gomez Manzano, opposition lawyer; and Elizardo Sanchez,
president of CCDHRN. The event was well attended although
only a few of the invitees from the diplomatic community,
mainly from Eastern European and African countries, came. At
least one person (Dr. Hilda Molina) stated that state
security prevented her from attending the event. Several US
students participating in educational exchange programs in
Cuba attended and participated in the activity.



8. (SBU) On December 12 USINT hosted the second open mike
concert with more than 15 Cuban groups performing. The
groups encompassed a wide range of styles including
traditional Cuban music, dance, rap and reggaeton. About 150
people attended, about 20% of whom were members of opposition
groups, and about were 80% young people who had never before
attended a USINT activity. Those in attendance as well as
many of the performers came from poor, marginal neighborhoods
such as Regla and Arroyo Naranjo. Some rock groups,
including the controversial punk rock band, Porno Para
Ricardo, which had performed at the first open mike concert,
dropped out of the event, at the last moment out of fear of
reprisals. Gorki Aguilar, singer for Porno Para Ricardo,
came to watch the concert. USINT personnel handed out free
T-shirts to the crowd with the UN logo for the 60th
anniversary of the UDHR and the text of Article 19 of the
UDHR.
FARRAR