HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP MARCH 16- MARCH 30

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000198 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019 TAGS: ECON PREL PHUM CU SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUND UP MARCH 16- MARCH 30 HAVANA 00000198 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: COM Jonathan Farrar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) Pleased with Results of Six Day Protest: Members of the organization, Ladies in White, a group composed of relatives of political prisoners and their supporters, were pleased that they had achieved wide visibility during six days of street protests to mark the sixth anniversary of the arrest of 75 human rights activists. The women combined marches through the streets with attendance at masses in various churches in Havana Province. Spokesperson for the group, Laura Pollan, said that there was a heavy presence of state security but for most part the authorities stayed back and let the Damas proceed unmolested. The only problem occurred on March 19 when the Damas attempted to march on the Supreme Court. Pollan said that initially about three women started yelling insults. She said that when state security showed up in force, several more people starting screaming names like "worms", "mercenaries" and "traitors". However, state security quickly cordoned off the Damas and no physical altercations ensued. Pollan and Berta Soler, another member of the Damas, stated that during the protests the Damas frequently moved to different location by public bus. In each case, state security prevented other members of the public who were waiting at the bus stops from getting on the buses. After the Damas boarded a bus, state security agents would occupy the remaining seats. The Damas stated that they were very satisfied with the fact that on March 20 they marched through the poor neighborhood of Regla without incident. In this instance, several representatives from European Embassies, including Germany, Poland, Great Britain and the Netherlands, came out to observe the march. Pollan also said that she was glad that the protests coincided with the visit of European Union Commissioner Louis Michel. Pollan hopes that the protests will keep alive in EU discussions with the Cuban government the issue of the 54 of the original 75 dissidents remaining in prison. That said, Pollan and Soler told poloff that they held little hope for even a symbolic release of some of the prisoners. They felt that the GOC was successful in achieving the majority of its foreign policy goals without making such a gesture. They said they were sure that the exchange of political prisoners for five Cuban spies incarcerated in the US, an idea that has been floated by Raul Castro, is a final GOC bargaining position. This idea was viewed by the Damas as a non-starter since the majority of the prisoners have clearly stated that they would not accept such an exchange. ¶2. (C) Hunger Strike Continues in Santa Clara: Former political prisoner, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ("Antunez") and his wife, Iris Perez Aguilera, continued with a hunger strike that they initiated on February 17. Two weeks ago after a hospitalization for dehydration, Antunez began taking juices and other fluids, but he is still abstaining from solid food. Antunez, who was released in 2007, developed serious cardiac problems during his 17 years of imprisonment. The police have detained him more than 20 times since his release. Antunez began the hunger strike after the family could not find any legal means to force the government to repair the house of his sister, Caridad Garcia, badly damaged in last fall's hurricanes. Antunez is also protesting the reported mistreatment of his brother-in-law, Mario Alberto Perez, who is incarcerated for involvement in a robbery. The family states that Mario Perez is innocent and that the conviction was politically motivated. Reports from activists in the area state that Antunez's house is completely surrounded night and day by state security and that no one is allowed in or out. Antunez reported to poloff that on March 25 the authorities threw a tear gas canister on his roof, but that this failed to force out those inside. Antunez also reported that rocks and eggs are being hurled at his house, and that the officials outside the door shout profanity despite the presence of children. Antunez demands are that the GOC stop the torture and mistreatment of Mario Alberto Perez and other Cuban political prisoners, that the government provide adequate housing for all Cubans, and that the GOC publish and implement all UN human rights pacts. Several leading dissidents on the island think that, since his demands cannot be achieved, Antunez is engaging in reckless behavior. For HAVANA 00000198 002.2 OF 002 example, Martha Beatriz Roque and Vladimiro Roca, long time supporters of Antunez as an important member of their Agenda for Transition unity project, expressed to Poloff strong disapproval of the hunger strike. ¶3. (U) Mass Arrests of Transvestites: A member of a homosexual rights organization that is not officially recognized told poloff that on the night of March 24 police arrested over 20 transvestites in Central Havana. Reportedly some were fined and told not to go out on the streets dressed in women's clothing, while an unknown number were sent to a prison in Boyeros pending possible prosecution. Raids on transvestites and prostitutes are common in Havana around events such as the visits of high-level foreign delegations. The motivation behind the recent raid is unknown. Unauthorized homosexual rights organizations are upset that although Mariela Castro, Raul Castro's daughter who heads the Center for Sexual Education, has gotten a great deal of international publicity by urging more tolerance for homosexuals, Ms. Castro has not addressed the issue of police harassment of the gay community. ¶4. (C) Police Detain Two Participants of Journalism Course at USINT: On March 23 members of State Security detained two independent journalists, Rafael Rodriguez Ferreira and Reinier Vera Martinez, shortly after the two had left the USINT building. Rodriguez and Vera attend a weekly journalism course held at USINT that is conducted through video conference with Florida International University. Every week one or two participants of the course are picked up and questioned by the police. However, on this occasion, the 20 other participants went to the police station where Rodriguez and Vera were held and demanded their release. The journalism students credit this protest for the fact that the two were released after only two hours. Rodriguez told poloff that police checked him thoroughly to see if he had received any materials or equipment from USINT. They also wanted to know the names of all the participants, the name of the professor who had taught the class, and exactly what was discussed during the session. Comment: Although participants feel that state security is trying to intimidate the students, the authorities have not followed up such detentions with the subsequent arrest or detention of the same individuals when they continue to attend the course. It appears that the prime motivation of the authorities is to keep exact tabs on the activities of USINT. FARRAR