CUBA DENOUNCES U.S. INTERFERNCE IN BLOGGER CASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000689

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL CU
SUBJECT: CUBA DENOUNCES U.S. INTERFERNCE IN BLOGGER CASE

REF: A. REF: A) HAVANA 684 ("BLOGGERS BEATEN")

B. B) CCA TO USINT EMAIL 11/9/09

C. C) HAVANA 592 ("GOC SIGNALS READINESS")

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


1. (C) On November 10, 2009, COM Jonathan Farrar delivered a
demarche to Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Director of the North
American Department of the Ministry of External Relations
(MINREX),regarding the November 6 detention and abuse of
three prominent Cuban bloggers (Ref A). Pursuant to Reftel
B, COM made the following points:

--We are very concerned about the alleged assaults.

--We are especially concerned since the actions involve one
of the bloggers, Yoani Sanchez, that acting DAS Bisa Williams
met with during her September visit (Ref C). If the
detentions and abuse were a reprisal for that meeting, it
would impact our relations.

--We call on the GOC for an immediate investigation and to
take adequate measures against those responsible.

--It is important for GOC to show publicly to the
international community that it does not tolerate abuse or
intimidation of domestic critics.

--Without these steps, our capacity to carry forward our
agenda will be very limited.

--Although the US does not prejudge the results of an
investigation, it would be very negative if GOC does not
respond constructively in this case.


2. (SBU) Ms. Vidal responded by reading the following "Non
Paper" (USINT translation):

&The Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Cuba
energetically rejects the slanderous implications contained
in the statement about Cuba, from Department of State
spokesman Ian Kelly on November 9, 2009, which constitute a
gross interference in Cuban internal affairs.8


3. (C) Vidal went on to say that the United States was
reacting hastily and without evidence, and should not have
issued a statement without the facts. She denied that the
GOC would ever act in such a manner. She claimed that the
GOC had not known of DAS Williams' meeting with Sanchez. The
COM responded that DAS Williams had directly informed Vice
Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez in advance about the
planned meeting. COM then asked if Vidal's statement that
the assault had never taken place meant that the GOC had
already conducted an investigation. Vidal was
non-responsive, and asked that we report to Washington the
contents of the GOC,s non-paper response.
FARRAR