Inside Cuba
- January 2002 archives
First-hand reports from dissidents and human rights activists
within Cuba
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FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN January 30, 2002 I would like through these few lines to address the international public opinion and all Human Rights organizations, and especially those organizations and activists that act as advocates for the rights of children. Rogelio Manuel Menéndez Díaz, President of the organization Municipalities of Cuba, Human Rights, is presently detained under charges of "contempt" in the Technical Department of Investigations, more commonly known as "100 y Aldabó", because it is located at 100 Street and Aldabo Avenue, in the municipality of Boyeros, City of Habana, where this repressive center is located. Menéndez Díaz had announced that on the 26th of January, at 8:30 PM, an activity in which children would gather, sing the National Anthem of Cuba, a letter and poem would be read, toys would be given out along with ice-cream from the ice-cream shop Bim Bom, the place which had been chosen to have this activity. Following this inoffensive act (an act which in any other country in world with a semi-normal government would have taken place unnoticed) they went to the malecón (seawall surrounding coast of Havana), where they enjoyed the fireworks setoff by the Democracy Movement as a symbol of the commencement of period of prayer for the freedom of the Cuban child. Said act took place, but not in the place which had been previously chosen, but it took place across from the Hotel Melia Cohíba, being that the place previously chosen was heavily surrounded by members of the State Security conducting a heavy operative, an act which demonstrates how weak this regime perceives it is; it fears a group of children. I have FAITH in those that raise their voice in defence of children's inalienable rights of being close to their parents, something which under normal conditions is completely just, that today will plead for the rights of the child Adrián Menéndez Rodríguez, eight years old, whom at this moment is living in worry, without knowing in what conditions his father is in the prison "100 y Aldabó". What does this regime fear that it has to put a man in prison for such an inoffensive act? With this act, did this simple man commit a crime that offended humanity that deserves being put in a completely covered jail cell? May your conscience be your guide... Pablo Rodríguez Carvajal
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Arrested in Havana members of the
Democratic Party November 30 "Frank País".
(HAVANA, January 28th) - In the early
morning hours of January 25th, Officers of the DSE along with the PNR
arrested three members of the Democratic Party November 30th "Frank País".
The individuals arrested and taken to the
PNR Station in Acosta, in the City of Havana were: José Enrique Santana
Carreira, Rafael Corrales Alonso and Ricardo Ramón Pereira. These brothers
had been detained and fined the day before for participating in a mass
offered on the 24th of every month for the Freedom of prisoners of
conscience and political prisoners of Cuba.
There is a real possibility that they will
be prosecuted for participating in activities requesting freedom without
exile for prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in Cuba.
Reporting from the Cuban Center of
Information in Havana, Ranulfo Antigua Delgado. For the Information Bridge
Cuba Miami. Given on January 28, 2002.
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Translation of Article published in La Razon Digital
http://www.larazon.es/titulares/noticias/noti_int10.htm
by
María Elena CRUZ VARELA, January 28, 2002
Look Over Here
Now that all of the
Human Rights groups are looking towards the Naval Base in Guantánamo,
very concerned with the situation of the Taliban and the terrorists of
Al Qaida, prisoners behind barbed-wire fences, now that they do not have
to make any effort to find victims and murderers, I ask you to look over
here.
Rights are rights even for those that violate them. On
that point we agree and no crime, no matter how horrendous it may be,
justifies the mistreatment of those in inferior conditions, including
suicidal fundamentalists whom do not even respect their own right to
life.
But please, look over here, a few kilometers from Guantánamo so as not to make it difficult for you, how Castro’s regime treats peaceful civil rights defenders. However, nobody does anything about this tremendous atrocity, without counting that Cuba is one of the countries in the world which has the most incidents of death sentences per capita, has the most political prisoners, where they are best tortured. It is known, by Luis María Anson, whom I thank, because he is one of the few that dare to look over here and say what he sees. The others scowl and put on a face as if they know nothing when I scream at the top of my lungs that Human Rights are violated in my country with sophisticated cold-blooded premeditation. Luckily, even within the North American administration the Taliban have someone to "defend" them: the legendary Colin Powell requests that they be recognized as prisoners of war and that is much more than what any of them would do if it were the other way around. Because of that, now I invite you to look over here. Because there is no Powell to act as an advocate for my compatriots, the members of the Christian Liberation Movement, directed by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, savagely beaten by the repressive hordes, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Veitía, Majors Roger and Feria and Captains Saurén and Leyva, all belonging to the State Security forces, on their return from a peaceful meeting. They unleashed their fury on them, on their testicles, on their backs, during broad daylight, before witnesses, which, unfortunately, can never do anything. It took place in Santiago de Cuba and not "in a car in dark waters", but dragging them in the back part of a truck. Does somebody, please, want to look over here? Does somebody, please, want to join my denouncement?
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Rogelio Menéndez Díaz
Rogelio Menéndez Díaz was detained last
night, January 27th, upon his return from an activity commemorating
birthdate of the Cuban National Apostle, Jose Marti. He was taken to the
prison known as “100 y Aldabo” where he is presently being held.
Rogelio Menéndez Díaz is a member of
the "Municipios" and of the Human Rights organization in Cuba.
Report given by Pablo Rodríguez Carvajal
received by Martha Tamargo, January 28, 2002
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Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo has
disappeared. http://www.puenteinfocubamiami.org/cuba_latest2.html (HAVANA, January 27, 2002) - Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo, President in Function of the Democratic Party November 30 "Frank País", was arrested arbitrarily in his residence in the early hours of Saturday, January 26, when he was getting ready to go to the headquarters of the Democratic Party November 30 "Frank País" in the Havana, to participate in the March "Jornada Martiana 2002 ". "They arrested him in his house at dawn on the 26th, his whereabouts are unknown. The DSE refuses to tell us where they have him, - said Olga Rita Ramírez Delgado, Director of the Cuban Center of Information in Havana. In closing, Ramírez Delgado is requesting an "Urgent Action" from Amnesty International and other Human Rights Organizations on behalf of Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo. Reporting from the Cuban Center of Information in Havana, Olga Rita Ramírez Delgado. Transmitted by telephone to the Information Bridge Cuba Miami, on January 27, 2002. |
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Oppositionists detained and fined
for attending Mass.
(HAVANA, January 26, 2002)-A group of
Oppositionists were detained
and fined for attending a Mass at The Passionists Church in the municipality of 10 de Octubre in Havana.
The Oppositionists that were detained and
fined 30 pesos each in
this operative by State Security officials were Juan Hernández Herrera, José Enrique Santana Carreira, Ricardo Ramos Pereira, Belkis Barzaga Lugo, Rafael Corrales Alonso, Carlos Alberto Domínguez, and María del Carmen Carro.
This Mass is celebrated the 24th of every
Month for the Intentions
of Freedom for the prisoners of conscience and political prisoners of Cuba.
Note: State Security official by the name
of Gabriel took an active
part in this operative.
Reporting from the Cuban Center of
Information in Havana, Caridad
González López, Vice President of the Democratic Party November 30 "Frank País", to the Cuban Center of Information in New Jersey on January 25, 2002.
Given to the Information Bridge Cuba Miami
on January 25, 2002
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Guantánamo, January 14, 2002
Mr. Rolando Vélez Carrión
Primier Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party in Guantánamo Dear Sir:
We, Human Rights activists of this city, as
Cuban citizens in sound physical and mental state, address you in this
petition as citizens, as the highest representation of the elite in
leadership of the government in the province.
We make this petition in accordance with
Articles 1 and 63 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and Article
292.1(C) of the Penal Code currently in force, said petition consists of
allowing us to have a lunch for the 54 political prisoners confined in the
provincial prison "Combinado Guantánamo".
Although rather late, this lunch is for the
New Year, which at that time we did not have the resources with which to
do it. Along with this we would like to keep the worldwide tradition of
celebrating every 24th of December, Christmas Eve, in remembrance of the
birth of Baby Jesus. On that date all Cuban families, in a joyous
atmosphere, would come together to celebrate the important event.
Keeping in mind that the prisoners, as well
as those that are free, are children of this country, we believe that if
you allow us we could have our families united.
Our petition is based on two principles:
first, the principle handed down by Jose Marti "The first law of our
republic is Cuba's respect of the collective dignity of man"; and second,
based on important reflections of Fidel Castro during the Assembly Session
wherein he approved the Cuban Law Against Acts of Terrorism, last December
20, 2001, which was published in the newspaper Granma, official
organism of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba on the
21st of the same month.
In his reflections Fidel made a point of the
importance that all realities should be known by the people and that a
fight was being battled of ideas against lies, hypocrisy and falsehood.
It is no secret to any of the family members
of the several thousands of prisoners held in the penitentiary centers of
the dreadful living conditions which range from small amounts and poor
nutrition, lack of toiletries, to the occasional beating of prisoners.
Because of that, we are in agreement that
the prisons, far from educating, are truly universities of delinquency,
which was expressed in the reflections of Fidel.
We also have in mind the historical moment
in Cuban government and the sanctioning of the five Cubans incarcerated in
the United States for the crime of espionage, and the declaration of Fidel
when he emphasized that in the history of the world there has never
existed a more solid political process nor a country with more elevated
political culture than that of our country.
Therefore, being that we live in a country
with such an elevated political culture, the diversities of ideas should
be respected and not repressed, nor censored as it is now done.
We also support the law against terrorist
acts and the part which assures the prerogative to intervene through
the relevant recourse of Habeas Corpus (a principle of law which
guarantees individual freedom and protects from arbitrary detentions, and
allows for privacy between the detained and his attorney; in addition to
visits from the detainee's family members).
It is because of this that we believe our
petition will at no time constitute a provocation to the Interior
Ministry, as a repressive organism, nor does it violate the laws as
outlined in the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, the Penal Code nor
the penitentiary regulations.
Awaiting your most absolute comprehension
and at the same time we would like to express our disposition to maintain
sound dialogue with you in the hopes of clarifying any misunderstandings
and to make a reality our fraternal aspiration of having a lunch for the
prisoners listed below.
Awaiting a response,
Respectfully,
Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller
Human Rights Activist
Pedro A. Pérez # 456 e/ 3 y 4 norte
Guantánamo.
Luis Torres Cardosa
Human Rights Activist
Beneficencia # 1919 e/ 14 y 15 sur
Guantánamo.
Alberto Martínez Fernández
Human Rights Activist
3 norte # 1151 Esq. 5 oeste
Guantánamo.
cc: Rolando Calzada, President of the
Provincial Assembly of the Popular Power
cc: Citizen Attention Department of the
Interior Ministry
cc: Citizen Attention Department of
the Attorney General of the Republic
cc: State Council
cc: Diplomatic Offices accredited in Cuba cc: Foreign press offices accredited in Cuba
LIST (partial)
1.- Mariano Antomachin Rivero
2. - Nicolá Estrada Castellanos 3. - Jorge Cardona Valdés 4. - Andrés Betancourt Montoya 5. - Armando Tamayo Quiñónez 6. - Feliciano Portuondo Martínez 7. - orlando Fernández Pérez 8. - Rafael Perera Gómez 9. - Oreste Armora Portuondo 10. - Eliécer Cruz Tamayo 11. - Daniel Martínez Domínguez 12. - Julián Figuera Guzmán 13. - René Cabrera Rojas 14. - Yordys Bles Ruiz 15. - Yobanis Martínez Montedeoca 16. - Jesús Samón Matos 17. - Alexander Boloy Zamora 18. - Alexis Muñoz Rodríguez 19. - Alexander Gil Cruz 20. - Ernesto Rojas Gamez 21. - Jorge Álvarez Sánchez 22. - Rodolfo Bartelemí Cobas 23. - Masao Betsumizs Navarro 24. - Randy Cabrera Mayor 25. - Ernesto Lucas Corral Cabrera 26. - Santiago Cutido Aguilera 27. - Luis Mariano Delia Utria 28. - Carlos Luis Díaz Fernández 29. - Arístides Ramón Salgado Corrales 30. - Pedro Ismael Serra Abreu 31. - Juan Carlos Fonseca Fonseca 32. - Bernardo Fernández Abreu 33. - Eugenio Sánchez Ang. 34. - Andrés Arias Pisarrosa 35. - Alexander Lobaina Jiménez 36. - Yanel Dupuy Aguilar 37. - Carlos Manuel Gutiérrez Grella 38. - Julián Hernández López 39. - Jorge Luis Larrazábal Zulueta 40. - Andrés Leyva Telles 41. - Ivo Ángel Maycheco Arriba 42. - Antonio Márquez Urquia 43. - Yoander Mora Rivero 44. - Rolando Oramas Céspedes 45. - Yorquis Pinada Laurencio 46. - Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina 47. - Alberto Martínez Martínez
Given to Martha Tamargo on the 23rd of
January, 2002.
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Peaceful member of the opposition harassed because of American
Flag
By Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller
January 22, 2002
(Guantánamo, Cuba) – Member of the peaceful opposition, Eduardo Alberto Quintana Arbois, Director of the Center of Information on Democracy of the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank País” in this city, became the victim of repression at the hands of high-ranking officials from the Revolution Defence Committee, under pressure imposed by the State Security, they went to the home of the oppositionist and in threatening and aggressive tones asked him why he had a towel hung on his clothesline. The entire towel depicted the flag of the United States of America, and upon seeing it on the clothesline the Revolution Defence Committee reported it to the Department of State whom immediately went to his home. Some neighbors, in an immoral attitude, began screaming obscenities and communist slogans at him, branding Quintana Arbois as a worm (name given by Casto to exiles ), traitor, counterrevolutionary and many other epithets used by Castro's dictatorship against the peaceful opposition in Cuba. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November, "Frank País". Given to Martha Tamargo on the 23rd day of January, 2002.
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Detentions have commenced because of activities related to
remembrance of Cuba's apostle Jose Marti
By Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo
January 22, 2002
(La Habana, Cuba) - Political police forces of the regime of La Habana have commenced on Saturday afternoon, January 19th, to detain and interrogate members of the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank País”. Officials from the Department of State Security, known as Tamayo, Gabriel, and Iván have detained and interrogated the following directors and activists of this organization of oppositionists: Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo, Herrera, Ricardo Ramos Pereira, José Enrique Santana Carreiras and Daisy Chao Santana, which were threatened with imprisonment for the work which they are carrying out as defenders of Human Rights. These measures are being taken because of the week-long activities which are taking place between the 21st through the 28th, which is being put together by an organization titled "Jornada Martiana, Cultivo una Rosa Blanca”, and because of anti-government signs which have shown up in the Diezmero district, municipality of San Miguel del Padrón. From La Habana, Luis Osvaldo Manzanera Cúcalo, Acting President of the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank País”. Given to Martha Tamargo.
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Cubans treated like dogs
By Ricardo Ramos Pereira
January 22, 2002
(La Habana, Cuba) - In the municipality of Diez de Octubre, in Miguel Enrique Hospital, at 7:00 pm, Mrs. Anabel Cabrera screamed that the government treats Cubans like dogs. This took place on the first floor of the hospital in the intermediate care ward, due to the large garbage receptacle which exists in one of its hallways from which foul odors emanate. Mrs. Cabrera also stated the clean-up campaign which was initiated several days ago is being done so that tourists will not leave the island, being that Castro is not interested in the health of the people of Cuba. From La Habana, Ricardo Ramos Pereira. Given to Martha Tamargo on the 22nd of January, 2002.
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Experiences of political prisoner from Guantanamo who was banished
from his town
By Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller
January 21, 2002
(Guantánamo, Cuba) – Political prisoner Carlos L. Díaz Fernández, who is
currently permanently in punishment isolation cell number 21 in Boniato
prison, recounts his experiences after having been banished from his
province by the incarcerating regime of the dictator Fidel Castro.
Díaz Fernández, was at the prison "Agüica” in Matanzas and later was at the prison "Kilo-8" in Camagüey, he commenced a hunger strike on December 23, 2001, in an act of civil disobedience, his motto was "Down with banishment". This act of civil disobedience lasted until January 4, 2002. On the 25th of December he was transferred to the prison "Aguadores" in Santiago de Cuba, where he stayed until the 26th. On the 26th he was taken to cell number 7 where he remained incarcerated until January 4 when he was visited by the head of the prisons in Santiago de Cuba, and on that same day he was transferred to the prison of Boniato. The prisoner states that preparation of food in this gloomy place lacks hygiene and on occasions the food smells rotten, medical attention is completely deficient, and beatings of political prisoners are frequent. In order to maintain their impunity, when someone complains Castro's henchmen accuse the prisoners with contempt, the most notorious being the head of the Interior Order, a captain named Norge, who is known as "Black Bull", who maintains a true terrorist regime. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November, "Frank País". Given to Martha Tamargo on the 22nd day of January, 2002.
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Major operative on Monday night
in Guantánamo By Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller January 23, 2002 (Guantánamo, Cuba) – During Monday night, the 21st of January, the streets of central Guantánamo where completely under siege by the combined forces of Military Contra Intelligence, the National Revolutionary Police, and forces from the Department of State Security whose members were undercover dressed as civilians. The police forces detained people walking by and asked them for their identifications while the prevention forces did this with military men from the Armed Revolutionary Forces. As of this time, the motive for the deployment of military forces of the
repressive organs of the autocrat Fidel Castro is unknown. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November, "Frank País". Given to Martha Tamargo on the 23rd day of January, 2002.
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Food served to dogs in the penal kennel is also being served to
prisoners at Combinado de Guantánamo.
GUANTÁNAMO, January 19) –T he provincial maximum security prison Combinado
de Guantánamo is considered a concentration camp, where prisoners are not
only being subjected to cruel and torturous treatment, but the food they
are being served is either rotted or filled with worms, as has been
happening with a well-known food called cerela, a kind of a cereal that is
being served for breakfast to prisoners and also to the dogs in the penal
kennel at this prison. These dogs are trained to attack and bite the
prisoners as one of many means of torture.
Another meal filled with worms and frequently served as the main course is
the well-known morcilla casserole, which is nothing more than a blend of
flour with blood taken from a cow.
Reporting from the city of Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro of Lardiller, Provincial delegate of the Democratic Party November 30 “Frank País” and Coordinator of CODCE. For the Information Bridge Cuba Miami, given on January 2002.
A few miles from the Combinado de Guantánamo, a
Delegation of the American Red Cross is verifying the condition of the
prisoners that were transferred from Afghanistan to the Guantánamo Naval
Base.
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Prisoner in critical state of health in Combinado de Guantanamo
Prison
(Guantánamo, Cuba - January 14, 2002) - Common prisoner, Juan Balon
Cespedes, 25 years old, presently being held on Ward 4-A of the provincial
prison "Combinado de Guantanamo", is serving a 2 year 9 month sentence for
embezzlement and a 3 year sentence for evasion. He is the victim of
violations by the repressive incarcerating system at the hands of the
highest penitentiary board which is headed by Lieutenant Jorge Chediak
Perez and Major Pablo Reyes Coba, Chief of the Interior Order, and also by
Dr. Aracelis, Lead Doctor, whom deny this prisoner medical attention.
Balon Cespedes, who was diagnosed with chronic bronchial asthma in the
third degree, is currently suffering with continual asthmatic crisis which
has also affected his heart.
On numerous occasions his sister, Osmada Balon Cespedes, has addressed the
aforementioned authorities asking them to give her younger brother the
necessary medical treatment for his continual asthmatic crisis which he
has been suffering with for several months.
These hired killers of Castro's regime do not give any solution for the
improvement of this prisoner's critical state of health.
According to some very important reflections by the Cuban head of
government, the autocrat Fidel Castro, during the Assembly for the Cuban
Law Against Acts of Terrorism, it was expressed by Ricardo Alarcon: "We
are one of the countries with the highest level of moral authority to
condemn terrorism".
Is it not a terrorist act to deny medical attention to a prisoner in a
critical state of health? Or to brutally beat a citizen, whether free or
incarcerated, for bravely expressing their disagreement with the
totalitarian, militaristic, fundamentalist and exclusionary regime,
imposed for life, such as the one implanted in Cuba 43 years ago? Where
is the morality to condemn terrorism being that the government of Cuba was
put into place through terrorism?
From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate
of the Democratic Party 30th of November, "Frank País". Given to Martha
Tamargo on the 16th day of January, 2002.
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TO: Amnesty International and Human Rights
Organizations in Cuba and in the World, and to all Democratic Governments
on the Planet
Sirs: The undersigned, Graciela Suárez Díaz and Humberto Real Ramos, parents of the political prisoner who was sentenced on April 24, 1996, to death in Cuba, appeal to you on behalf of our son Humberto Eladio Real Suárez, whose life is in danger. Our son's next visit was suspended and they reduced the amount of food we could bring him. He bearly eats any of the food he is offered in prison. He is currently in solitary confinement and is being threatened with being put into a completely covered cell (the hole) as punishment for his attitude against regulations of the prison. Our son does not have health problems, but he is extremely underweight. For the aforementioned reasons and for reasons which we have previously brought to light - as desperate parents - we ask you to take rapid action that could stop prison authorities from the inhumane and cruel treatment against our son. Give on the 21st of January, 2002 by Fara Armenteros.
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Naval Base in Guantánamo converted into prison for terrorists
By Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller January 19, 2002
(Guantánamo, Cuba) - The North American Naval Base in Guantánamo which measures 117.6 squared kilometers, which is equivalent to 11760 hectare, in one of the best inlets in the country, has served as refuge for thousands of Cubans, whom motivated by the harassment and repression of the totalitarian regime of Fidel Castro, have been forced to seek asylum in this military enclave.
In 1994 a large number of Cuban rafters were gathered at the base, a situation which contributed to make the relations between the naval base authorities and the government of Cuba closer, relations which have been steadily improving.
In 1999 the government of the United States notified the Cuban government of the decision to utilize the base as a safe-haven for Kosovo refugees, according to the declarations made by the government of the island, and cooperation was offered in whatever may be medically necessary and whatever other service they would need, but ultimately the Kosovo refugees were not sent to the naval base.
In July of last year, through mutual agreement between both authorities, the general teaching hospital "Agustino Neto" of Guantánamo, was visited by high-ranking naval base officials after having recently completed major repairs in its most important wards, which repairs were facilitated with U.S. funds that were taken away after having finished the visit, all of this took place under complete secrecy.
It is no surprise that the government of Cuba as a communist regime omits information, manipulates the facts and publishes or informs only what is convenient for them to publish.
The roads that join Guantánamo with the naval base were also repaired as were the telephone lines that run along the entire frontier. However, the people of Cuba were informed that these repairs were being made in response to possible future natural disasters so that the personnel in that enclave could be attended to in the aforementioned hospital.
After the terrorist act of September 11, 2001, which criminally struck the people of the United States and which caused the subsequent declaration of war against Afghanistan, the North American government decided to transfer the prisoners of war to the naval base, which was notified to the government of Cuba on January 7, 2002.
Motivated by the fear of the people, due to the possibility of escape of members of the Taliban and their crossing over to Cuban territory, a situation which could cause a conflict between Cuba and the United States if the latter were to believe that the government of Cuba would grant asylum to the prisoners that cross over, the government of Cuba felt obligated to make a press release, wherein it explained that because military personnel reinforcement for the tasks which have to be undertaken and the measures taken by the naval base, this does represent a threat for the country and because of that Cuba will not increase the personnel nor its military stationed on the perimeter of that installation.
In spite of this declaration, the government of Cuba does not make public that since the commencement of the arrival of the Taliban to the North American Base, in Guantánamo a special force troop unit is in place, in other words ready for combat, which has reinforced the mine field through the entire width and length of the perimeter of the base and maintains more active than ever the hidden cameras system surveylling the military installation.
The declarations continued by stating how the Cuban military personnel stationed on that perimeter is highly disciplined and qualified, enough to guarantee the security of the population of the frontier zone of any risk, and that Cuba will make an effort to conserve around that point the climate of distension and mutual respect which has prevailed during the most recent years, and even though the exact number of prisoners which will be held there is not known, it is more than willing to cooperate in whatever medical or other service they need.
In reality, penetration through that area towards Cuban territory is very difficult being that they would have to cross a stretch of approximately 150 meters of mined fields, and cross a fence which upon being touched shows on a board the exact contact location.
Even with all that and in spite of the small amount and manipulated information which is given, the people of Cuba discretely comment their ideas and fear of the coming of terrorist prisoners.
Oh, and speaking of terrorists, today marks the 8th anniversary of the horrendous crime of Kande Malera Pedroso and Ángel Luis Valverde Linfernal, riddled with bullets by Cuban boarder patrols on January 19, 1994, when these young men tried to reach the naval base in search of freedom, fleeing from the state terrorism imposed on Cuba by the Castro Brothers, whom have brought so many deaths and suffering to the Cuban people, since the commencement of their revolution, founded on terror and sowing death along its path.
From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November, "Frank País". Given to Martha Tamargo on the 19th day of January, 2002.
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Homeless handicapped man in protest across
from Office of Popular Power
by Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller
January 15, 2002 (Guantánamo, Cuba) – Luis Castañeda de la Cruz, 30 year old who has been confined to a wheelchair for more than 15 years, can be found, in protest, across from the provincial office of the Popular Power in this city. Due to his poor health, Castañeda de la Cruz had to travel to the capitol where he had a kidney operation. Upon his return to this city, last January 12th, he was faced with the harsh reality that he was now homeless because his home, which is classified as basic from the state, had already been occupied by someone else. Releasing he was now homeless, and having nowhere to live, he headed towards the Office of Municipal Popular Power, where he was seen by Mrs. Juana, whom referred him to the provincial office of the Popular Power, where he was seen by Josefina, social worker, who in turn referred him to the provincial office for social assistance where he was seen by Eiler Gamez Acosta, the director of said office, whose answer to Castañeda de la Cruz was that there was no asylum for young people, and referred him to the health department, where he was seen by Campeyo, director of that office, whom also told him that he did not have a solution to this case. Whom does this handicapped person need to address to solve this case when all of the organisms and entities which are responsible for having solutions do not have them? Today we can see this young man in a wheel chair, with a drainage bag collecting his urine, across from what the dictator Fidel Castro refers to as the maximum organism which represents the power of the people, living by the Grace of God being that when he was hospitalized the small amount of economic aid he received from social assistance was suspended. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank País”. Given to Martha Tamargo on the 16th day of January, 2002.
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Department of State Security Continues Harassment of Cuban
Nationals Repatriated from the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo
(Guantánamo, Cuba - January 15, 2002) - Angle Cabrera Jay, 41 years old,
who lives at Sta. No. 822, between Prado and Aguilera, in
this city and who was repatriated through the door of the North American
Naval Base in Guantanamo on April 20, 2001, has become a victim of
relentless harassment at the hands of the repressive system of the
dictator Fidel Castro.
During yesterday's morning hours, his home became the object of a
meticulous search which lasted approximately 4 hours in search of enemy
propaganda. In charge of the search was Major Calvino, Second in Command
of the Confrontations Unit of the Department of State Security, Orelvis
Frómeta, Operations Officer of the aforementioned unit, several policemen
from the National Revolutionary Police, and also Major Julio Perez Ascari
from the Department of Technical Investigations and Mrs. Rut, President of
the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, served as
a witness, and Nilda Jhons, responsible for vigilance.
According to Mr. Cabrera, some books were taken such as "The New Class"
"Castro began from One Revolution, Two", and they found several pamphlets
such as "Cubanet", two magazines titled "Dissident" and "Without Censure".
After having occupied his house they gave him a letter of advisement for
having literature not authorized by the State, which he refused to sign
and was threatened with arrest.
Angel Cabrera, as are many Cubans, is a victim of a totalitarian,
fundamentalist and exclusionary regime, that in order to maintain its
monopoly on power of the Castro dictatorship, it applies repressive,
extremely severe and unscrupulous methods against those that peacefully
oppose it.
From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate
of the Democratic Party 30th of November, “Frank País”. Given to Martha
Tamargo on the 11th day of January, 2002.
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Member of the opposition fined and his
chicken confiscated
January 14, 2002
(Villa Clara, Cuba) - Member of the opposition, Juan Pablo Córdoba, in the area of La Vigía, was stopped by two policemen in patrol cars bearing tag number 706. Juan Pablo was carrying some chicken in the back part of his bicycle. The chicken was confiscated from the young man and he was fined 1500 pesos. This took place on the 7th of January at 11:30 AM. It is noteworthy to point out that the police did not detain the young man nor did they give him a record of the items confiscated, which is why they ran after Juan Pablo and gave him another fine for 50 pesos in order to intimidate him from telling anyone what he had witnessed. From Santa Clara, Lester González Pentón. Given on the 13th day of January, 2002, during the radio broadcasting of the Program "Radio Democracia" on "La Poderosa" 670 AM.
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Member of the
opposition in Santa Clara is harassed January 13, 2002 (Villa Clara, Cuba) - On January 10th, a member of the mosquito control force arrived at the home of Felicia Matas Machado, Coordinator of the Human Rights Party Affiliated with the Andrei Zajarov Foundation in Santa Clara, and after having looked over the water tanks wanted to enter her home to check the bathroom. Felicia informed the man that her elderly mother, 90 years old, was in the restroom, and in a rude manner he threatened that unless she would allow him to come in that he would fine her, which he did in the amount of $150 (national currency). The next day two members of the same force went to Felicia's home while she was at her aunt's funeral, and found her mother alone at home, whom they then threatened with doubling the fine. They elderly lady refused to allow them to enter the house being that she was alone and was afraid that something would happen to her. In another incident, today, Sunday, January 13th, at 11:00 AM, across from the church located on Tristá Street and Juan Bruno Zayas, Felicia Matas Machado, was attacked by well-dressed lady. This lady asked Felicia when she was leaving the country, to which she responded that she did not know her. Then the lady started screaming: "Thief, you are going to pay for it", and started towards her to beat her but some young ladies passing by where able to pull her off of Felicia. We are well aware that these types of methods are used by organisms of the State Security which they use in order to create another image of the oppositionists before the eyes of their own people. From Santa Clara, Lester González Pentón. Given on the 13th day of January, 2002, during the radio broadcast of "Radio Democracia" on "La Poderosa" 670 AM.
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Wave of violence against
the Cuban population has escalated to alarming proportions. http://www.puenteinfocubamiami.org/cuba_latest2.html (HAVANA, CUBA, January 12, 2002) - The wave of violence against Cuban nationals, which began in the latter part of December 2001, to date has increased to an alarming magnitude. In the Province of Guantánamo, 11 people have already died due to injuries sustained in altercations where knives and other similar weapons were used. Similarly, the City of Havana, especially the municipalities such as Miguel del Padrón, 10 de Octubre and Marianao have been stage to brutal and violent acts. The mutilated bodies placed in bags and then abandoned in garbage tanks, others are robbed then stabbed to death and left in public throughways, have become part of the landscape in avenues, and other rural areas in the above mentioned municipalities. As a result, people fear to go out after dark. At the root of all these desperate acts is the immense hunger and misery in which the Cuban people have to live with. Reporting from the November 30's Press Bureau, Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo, President in Function of the Democratic Party 30 of November "Frank País". To the Information Bridge Cuba Miami. Given on January 11th, 2002. |
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Prisoner denounces confiscation of books in prison
(Guantánamo, Cuba - January 13, 2002) – Alberto Martínez Martínez, 17
years old, who is incarcerated in the provincial prison of Guantánamo,
awaiting his trial for the supposed crime of attempting to leave national
territory illegally, denounces officials from the Department of State
Security inside of the prison, which is headed by Captain Silvestre Obret
Herrera, who confiscates books and magazines which family members of the
prisoners bring to them. This morning, the young Alberto became a of
victim of this violation after his magazine titled "Democracy is a
Discussion" was confiscated from him.
Also, this young man reports that he has not been provided with any
toiletries for more than 40 days.
Martínez Martínez, the youngest political prisoner being held in this
penitentiary center, is awaiting trial for something which does not
constitute having committed and does not constitute committing a crime in
any place on earth, all the while the Cuban government wastes millions in
support campaigns for the 5 Cuban spies in prison in the United States who
have been charged with the proven crime of espionage.
From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate
of the Democratic Party 30th of November, “Frank País”. Given to Martha
Tamargo on the 10th day of January, 2002.
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Common prisoner gravely malnutrition
(Guantánamo, Cuba, January 13, 2002) – Common prisoner, Crecencio Rivalta Coyera, 40 years old, encarcerrated in the provincial prison "Combinado Guantánamo", is in a critical state of malnutrition. Rivalta is approximately 5 ft tall and weights approximately 66 pounds, and completely malnourished. In addition to always being under psychiatric treatment, he has ulcers and is currently suffering with through a crisis of severe chronic gastritis. In spite of repeated requests by the prisoner for medical attention, it has been denied. He has also requested a blanket with which to cover and protect himself from the penetrating cold in that humid dungeon and they have still not brought him one. At the present time, in spite of his critical state of health, this prisoner is on a hunger strike, in protest of the violations of the incarcerating Cuban regime. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party 30th of November “Frank País”. Given to Martha Tamargo on January 10, 2002.
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President of the Provincial Tribune causes accident while driving
drunk
(Guantánamo, Cuba, January 13, 2002) – At 4:30 AM, last December 31, on
the highway where most of the traffic of Carrera Larga runs through, in
the municipality of El Salvador, a Russian made car, Lada, bearing tag
number NSA464, which belongs to the popular provincial tribunal, highest
department of the so called Cuban justice in Guantánamo, crashed into
another car, instantly killing the horse and causing life-threatening
injuries to two minors which were passengers in said car.
The car was driven by Attorney Julio Pérez Rivera, President of this shady
department of justice, whom in his druken state got in the way of the
other car.
The people of this town ask themselves if this act will remain unpunished
as did the acts of embezzlement by Santiago Adolfo Nápoles, the prior
President of this department of justice.
Desde Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegado provincial
del PD-30-N “Frank País”. Dado a Martha Tamargo el día 10 de enero de
2002.
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C.A.S.A. (Cuban Anti-Slavery
Alliance) invites you to participate in an anti-Castro assembly: C.A.S.A will hold a solemn public assembly/peaceful protest on Friday, January 25, 2002, from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., in West Palm Beach, to protest the grievous treatment of the Cuban Jewish community by the Castro regime. Although Castro's oppression of Jews is typical of his treatment toward all who oppose his regime or do not conform to his requirements, this assembly will emphasize the Jewish aspect of the problem in Cuba. In part, this is meant to foster an understanding in the minds of American Jews of the reality of Castro-communist practices. There exists a portion of the American Jewish community who feel sympathy for communism, but who have never experienced and do not understand the barbarity of communism in practice. We wish to correct their erroneous views. If you are able to join us for any period of time on January 25th, please reply to this message for additional information. "No foreign policy can be sustained without the informed consent of the American people. Our government works best when citizens care enough to become involved." --- Senator Joseph R. Biden, Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee "I am not giving them hell - I am giving them the truth, and they think it's hell." - Harry S. Truman |
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Inhumane Conditions in the Cuban jails of Guantánamo (GUANTANAMO, 13 of January/Luis Torres Cardosa, Lux Infopress) – It’s been 40 days since Alberto Martinez Martinez was transferred to Combinado de Guantánamo, - no date has been set for his trial- this 17 years old youngster has not received any means for personal toiletry. Alberto Martínez is the youngest political prisoner in Combinado de Guantánamo, soon he will be sanctioned for the presumed crime of illegally leaving the country. This time he claims he was reading a magazine called “Democracy is a Discussion” but it was confiscated, being that the State Security confiscates all literature that is not related to communism or the communist party. On the other hand, political prisoner Ernesto Lucas
Corral informed that in wing AT 500 of this same prison, an ordinance
has been imposed prohibiting any form of correspondence between prisoners
and their relatives. The internal opposition views this action as an
isolation measure. Lucas Corral also pointed out that an uncertain number of prisoners in this jail sleep in planks of cane trash when there is no mattress for his assigned bed. Others lack a simple sheet to cover themselves in the cold nights. Equally, it has been denounced that the food given to
the prisoners is terrible: sometimes they are given 30 grams of bread and a
glass of tea for breakfast, 40 grams of soup and rice for lunch at about 10
in the morning, and the same portion at three in the afternoon for dinner.
That is all the food they receive in a 24 hours day. The only request made by this humble Cuban to his jailers has been a blanket to cover him with during the cold winter nights, but his request has fallen on deaf ears. Reporting from the city of Guantánamo, Luis Torres Cardosa, LUX INFOPRESS. Given to the Information Bridge Cuba Miami on January 13, 2002. In Fidel Castro's jails, "plantados" are the most stubborn political prisoners, the ones who have endured the harshes punishment. http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/plantados.html
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City of Havana and some adjacent municipalities in state of
alert due to Dengue Epidemic.
http://www.puenteinfocubamiami.org/cuba_latest2.html (HAVANA, CUBA, January 11, 2002)-The new year for government official in the city of Havana began by having to summon member of organizations of the masses CDR, UJC, PCC and FMC, to inform them that the City of Havana and specifically the municipalities of El Cerro, and 10 de Octubre are presently in a state of alert due to a Dengue Epidemic. The number of people infected with viral and hemorrhaging dengue has already ascended to 350. Included in this total are also those who have died from as a result of his epidemic. Reporting from the city of the Havana, Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo, President in Function of the Democratic Party November 30 "Frank País". For the Information Bridge Cuba Miami, given on January 11, 2002.
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Translated from Spanish to English - Article published in Diaro
las America, Saturday, January 12, 2002, Page 7-A
Paya's direct response to the seven United States congressmen
by Omar Rodriguez Saludes (Nueva Prensa Cubana)
Expanding on the information which we published Wednesday, January 9,
today we reveal this version of Nueva Prensa Cuba
LA HABANA (NPC) - Seven United States congressmen asked a group of Cuban
oppositionists in this capitol to vote by show of hands, to determine who
among them were in favor or against the commercial embargo and other
economic restrictions which the United States has maintained since 1962
against the Cuban government.
The proposal by the North American politicians came about after some of
the oppositionists expressed their sentiments regarding the embargo,
during a meeting which took place on the 7th of January in the Hotel
Nacional in this capitol.
The dissident Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, opposed the idea of having a vote,
and regarding the vote he stated: "In the first place, I'm opposed to it
because we do not represent the entire opposition. Secondly, I am opposed
because you could leave here with a prejudiced opinion which would divide
the opposition inside of Cuba and our exile, and it would give rise to an
imprecise and unjust image of the opinion of the opposition inside of
Cuba. We are definitively fighting so that Cubans inside of the island
can vote to elect their government and express themselves freely on any
subject."
According to Paya, in the meeting the seven congressmen said that the
embargo should be lifted. Paya, who is also the coordinator of the
Christian Liberation Movement, affirmed that the main objective of the
visitors in the meeting with the dissidents was to speak about this
subject.
"I also explained to them the approach being used to pose the problem is
incorrect, that the issue is not whether or not there is an embargo. The
issue is to ask whether conditions exist wherein Cubans could freely and
in a dignified manner participate in commerce, investments, and cultural
exchanges. To be able to do this our hands must first be untied, the gags
need to be removed from our mouths, so that we can freely express
ourselves, and after that ask us about other issues. That is our position
and nobody should misinterpret it, because we are living in a time where
the only ones who do not have a voice in Cuba are the Cubans, and everyone
wants to speak over us."
In addition to meeting with Paya, also present with the congressmen were
the dissidents Hector Palacio, Elizardo Sanchez, Julio Ruiz, Osvaldo
Alfonso, Oscar Espinosa, Pedro Pablo Alvarez, Gisela Delgado, Magaly de
Armas and Isabel Ramos, wife and mother of the political prisoners
Vladimiro Roca and Arturo Suarez, respectively.
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For Immediate Release For
More Information
January 8, 2002 César Cárdenas: (202) 225-8200 (877)
704-9087
ROS‑LEHTINEN
CRITICIZES THE DELEGATION THAT MET WITH CASTRO
Congresswoman Ileana Ros‑Lehtinen today condemned members of the congressional delegation who met in Havana with the Cuban dictator for giving him a New York Fire Department cap. "Whoever gave Fidel Castro this present has violated the memory of the thousands of individuals who lost their lives in the terrorist act of September 11th. What a shame that a Senator, Congressman or any U.S. citizen would present a symbol of democracy and liberty to Castro" said Ros‑Lehtinen. This visit and the offering of the cap is the same as approving of the slavery that the Cuban people have been subjected to by Castro for over 40 years. This insult to the victims of September 11th should be condemned. For Immediate Release For More Information
January 9,
2002 César Cárdenas:
(202) 225-3931
(877) 704-9087
Ros-Lehtinen
Welcomes News of
Cuban Dissident
Maritza Lugo’s Arrival
Congresswoman
Ileana Ros‑Lehtinen was overjoyed today to learn of the release of Maritza
Lugo, a Cuban human rights activists and former political prisoner.
"Maritza Lugo is a woman who defied the Cuban regime and its terrorist
antics, by never abandoning the cause of a free and just Cuba," said
Ros-Lehtinen.
In 1994,
Maritza Lugo, along with her husband Rafael Ibarra Roque, were among the
founders of the Cuban movement 30th of November "Frank Pais," named after
another leader of Cuban freedom. Her husband was arrested in 1994 soon
after founding the group and was sentenced in an unfair trail to 20 years
of jail. Lugo continued the struggle she and her husband began, and was
thrown in and out of jail for her political activities over 30 times
throughout the last 6 years.
Ros‑Lehtinen stated,
"It is saddening that Maritza Lugo could not reach the shores of freedom
with her partner in the struggle for freedom, her husband. No doubt she
will continue her work for the liberation of Cuba from within a free
society and a country, like this great United States, that has always
offered the Cuban people and so many other oppressed people the freedom
they are forbidden in their homelands."
For Immediate Release
Anti-Castro activist and political dissident, Maritza Lugo Fernandez, will arrive at Miami International Airport on Friday, January 11, 2002 at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Cuban Movement 30th of November "Frank Pais" is inviting all members of the media and the community at large in the Miami - Dade area to attend a Press Conference welcoming Martiza and her daughter to this Great Land of Liberty, after her arduous struggle for freedom and human rights in Cuba. This Press Conference will be held at 8:00 pm at Miami International Airport. ALL are invited to attend. For more information, please see the attached PRESS RELEASE Sincerely, Israel Abreu - Secretary General, Cuban Movement 30th of November "Frank Pais" Sergio Gatria - Director of Public Relations, Cuban Movement 30th of November "Frank Pais"
CUBA/IRAN: A REAL THREAT Por Manuel Cereijo JANUARY 2002 Dr. Miyar Barruecos, El Chomi. Dr. Luis Herrera. Cuba and Iran. Since 1990, Cuba and Iran have cooperated in the development of weapons of massive destruction. Dr. Miyar Barruecos, physician, very close to Castro, has been the force behind the throne in this alliance. Dr. Luis Herrera, from the CIGB, and one of the main scientists in the development of the CIGB and the biological weapon programs in Cuba, has been the operator, the facilitator, in the massive and huge cooperation between Cuba and Iran. Cuba just finished, May 2001, the construction of a Biotechnology Center in Teheran. Cuba served as the source of technology, selling of equipment, and project management for the Center. Iran has bought the best fruits of the CIGB, recombinant protein production technologies in yeast and Escherichia coli, as well as the large scale purification protocols for both soluble and insoluble proteins synthesized in or excreted by them. Iran can use these technologies to create bioweapons of massive destruction. Iran, with Cuba's assistance is capable of producinga bacteria known as Pseudomonas. The pathogen is not usually lethal to humans, but it is an excellent battlefield weapon. Sprayed from a single airplane flying over enemy lines, it can immobilized an entire division or incapacitate special forces hiding in rugged terrain otherwise inaccessible to regular army troops-precisely the kind of terrain in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and similar terrorist regions. Besides Cuban scientists, at least there are about ten scientists from the Biopreparat Russian Center working in Iran. The New York Times reported in December 1998 that the Iranian government dispatched a few scientific advisors attached to the office of the presidency in Moscow to recruit former scientists from the Rusian program. In May, 1997, more than one hundred scientists from Russian laboratories, including Vector and Obolensk, attended a Biotechnology Trade Fair in Teheran. Iranians visited Vector, In Russia, a number of times, and had been actively promoting exchanges. A vial of freeze-dried powder takes up less space than a pack of cigarettes and is easy to smuggle past an inattentive security guard. The Soviet Union spent decades building institutes and training centers in Iran and Cuba. For many years, the Soviet Union organized courses in genetic engineering and molecular biology for scientists from Cuba and Iran. Some forty scientists from both countries were trained annually. In 1997 Russia was reported to be negotiating a lucrative deal with Iran and Cuba for the sale of cultivation equipment including fermenters, reactors, and air purifying machinery. A report submitted by the U.S. Office of Technological Assessment to hearings at the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in late 1995 identified 17 countries believed to possess biological weapons. Among them: Cuba and Iran. The Cuba/Iran alliance posses a real threat to the national security of the United States. End Manuel Cereijo Este y otros excelentes artículos del mismo AUTOR aparecen en la REVISTA GUARACABUYA con dirección electrónica de: www.amigospais-guaracabuya.org |
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Prisoner sleeps on floor over two months in "Combinado
Guantánamo" Prison
(GUANTÁNAMO,
CUBA, January, 2002)
– Prisoner Jorge Sterling López, 30 years old, has been sleeping on the
floor of Ward A-500 in the provincial prison "Combinado Guantánamo" for
over two months because he does not have a mattress or a bed.
The following people were informed of this situation: Lieutenant-Colonel Jorge Chediak Pérez, Chief of the penitentiary center, Major Guillermo Martínez Céspedes, Major Pablo Reyes Cobas, Head of the Interior Order, Captain Silvestre Obret Herrera, Chief of the Department of State Security, and Captain Víctor Reyes Cobas, re-educator of the aforementioned Ward. In an act of civil defiance, this prisoner is currently on a hunger strike and as of yet he has not received a response. Things such as these that occur in Cuban prisons cause us to question why the regime of Fidel Castro is so cynical and rotten. Why do they claim to want better conditions for the 5 spies (in U.S. jails) being that in the dungeons of Cuba prisoners live in deplorable and inhumane conditions? Reported, Ferdinando Castro of Lardiller, Delegate in Guantánamo of the Democratic Party November 30 “Frank País”. For the Information Bridge Cuba Miami. Given on January 9, 2002.
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Mother of Political Prisoner Faints
(GUANTÁNAMO,
CUBA, January, 2002) - Gloria Esther Cabrera Lara, 64 years old,
mother of political prisoner, Lucas Corral Cabrera, fainted upon being
verbally abused last January 4th by the penal authorities in the
provincial prison "Combinado de Guantánamo", whom later denied, for the
third time, the conditional release of her son who is serving a 6 year
sentence of which he has already served 4 years and 5 months.
Corral Cabrera, who is 28 years old, was sanctioned under Case No. 209/97
for the supposed crime of illegally exiting National Territory.
In spite of his young age, he has suffered during his prison term repeated
beatings and psychological abuse, and also humiliations at the hands of
the incarcerating regime of the autocrat Fidel Castro.
Reported, Ferdinando Castro of Lardiller, Delegate in Guantánamo of the Democratic Party November 30 “Frank País”. For the Information Bridge Cuba Miami. Given on January 9, 2002.
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"Uncertain Christmas Eve and Passive
Christmas"
http://www.puenteinfocubamiami.org/cuba_latest2.html (GUANTÁNAMO, CUBA, January, 2002) - When I was a young boy, my parents taught me that the birth of baby Jesus was celebrated on the 24th of December, this was the reason the family got together to partake in Christmas Eve dinner. The food was abundant, the main dish being a delicious roasted pig, the tradition in the countryside, and the feast culminated with various tidbits; apples, grapes, pears, walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, imported nougats of crushed or whole almonds to the delight of young and old. On the next day, Christmas, there was a religious gathering in the local Baptist church which lasted all afternoon. Four decades later those memories are still fresh; the church decorated with a Christmas tree, which was decorated with many little stars covered in shiny paper. They also hung colored posters on the walls with messages of Christmas; the back wall was adorned as if it were a starry sky with one very large star representing the star which guided the Three Kings to the stable where baby Jesus was. During the evening, we children would travel through our imaginations to Bethlehem; the most beautiful part was the reenactments, the stable, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths laid on dry grass, the Three Kings being lead by the star, all of that caused our imaginations to soar. At the end of the afternoon and part of the night, we visited family and brothers in faith, sweet as honey for all, and even had re-heated pork for the more voracious appetites. La Caridad, was a neighborhood marked by Christian Faith and brotherly love, a land which is known today as the municipality of El Salvador, province of Guantánamo. There you could find the temple, with its old wooden walls and its zinc roof rusted, as a witness to a generation and time blessed by God. A faithful people with high morals. There, lost in the geography is the land, the place of my dreams, where I grew up climbing and going down steep hills among large coffee plantations. The cultivation of coffee made up the fundamental economy of the countrymen in the area. Forty years have passed and upon reaching the end of the year during the Castro age, Christmas festivities are only a memory from the past. When I speak about these things with people of my age group sometimes questions arise which are easy to answer: - What happened to tradition? - Who would be interested in doing away with it? I don't remember the exact time when it came to pass, maybe around the 70's, when the customs started to vanish. Somebody started teaching in schools that man came from monkeys, that Adam and Eve are not true, and regarding Jesus Christ: "completely Biblical legend".
I remember the Christian professor being ridiculed,
and all of a sudden they traded the roasted pig and tidbits for a
collective cooking pot; Christmas Eve was rescheduled to September 28th
and the family dinner turned into turmoil which would cause trouble
between neighbors, because the meat was on vacation.
As I am a man of honor and I never lie, it is true that on September 28, 2001, in a mountainous neighborhood named Jaragueca in the municipality of Songo La Maya, province of Santiago de Cuba, a lady took the life of a man named Mariano. As it happened, when the food was being served from the collective cooking pot a small piece of meat fell into the victim's plate and the aforementioned lady took it out with the serving spoon, which caused an argument in which the aggressor violently threw a rock at the head of Mariano, which killed him instantly. How shameful! I have never heard of anything like this happening in a family reunion. Also, New Year's Day is called the day of victory, but so that nobody will celebrate it in the traditional manner, it was transferred to July 26th. According to the government, it is named National Rebellion Day, in spite of the fact that this day should be a day of mourning; we all are aware of what happened. In reality, the birth of Jesus Christ is "only a historical religious story" and a large number of children are unaware that on a 24th of December, more than 2,000 years ago, there in a humble town in the Far East, the Savior was born. Only in a few homes is a Christmas tree put up and do the faithful attend churches in the city in order to commemorate this important event. The dinner is a matter of possibilities. With the profound economic crisis which the island is currently in, a large percentage of Cuban families cannot achieve their dream of being able to come together so that united they can devour a delicious roasted pig; those delicious tidbits I described before which were never missing during the end of the year festivities are not sold. I remember all of that Christmas ambiance culminated on the 6th of January on Three Kings Day; we all looked for fresh grass for the camels, who would come from the Far East loaded with gifts for Cuban children. We could not forget the water because these animals would probably be very thirsty. I don't know why the Three Kings don't come anymore, it must be because now a visa is required to enter, somebody must be denying them one, or maybe they are fearful that the toys will be confiscated by the general customs of the republic, to be sold later in stores that sell only in dollars. What is certain is that Cuban children do not receive toys from Melchor, Gasper and Baltasar; the government transferred the date to April 4th, wherein the Communist Kings always have some problem and to cover-up their problem they organize collective activities. When my thoughts entwine between the past and the present I always ask myself: - What happened to Christmas?
My only wish is that not too much time passes so
that the Cubans of today can partake in that joy which enveloped us when
we were children.
Meanwhile, the children
of this land will have an Uncertain Christmas Eve and a Passive
Christmas. Reported from the city of Guantánamo Luis Torres Cardosa, Independent Journalist. Correspondent of LUX INFO-PRESS. Given to the Information Bridge Cuba Miami on January 4th, 2002.
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SPECTER OR SPECTACLE: HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT, THE MESSAGE REMAINS THE SAME
CLC Decries Senators’ and U.S. Representatives’ "Pathetic Display of Appeasement In Havana" — SaysOffensive Behavior & Gift of an FDNY Cap to Castro Demands Apology To The American People & Victims of Terror The Cuban Liberty Council (CLC) today denounced as "deplorable and a disgraceful affront to the very heart of America’s war on terror" comments made in Havana on Friday, by U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in a visit to Cuba with Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), after the two emerged from a reported six hour meeting with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to crow about potential collaboration with Cuba on anti-terrorism efforts. The group similarly categorized the behavior of Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA) and five other Members of Congress, calling that delegation’s gift to Castro of a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) cap "a despicable offense to the memory of the victims of September 11th." In a firm reaction this morning in Miami, the CLC stated that for U.S. Senators and Representatives to allow themselves to be used in such a way by Castro — who just months ago toured his fellow rogue regimes in the Middle East and expressed his desire to "bring America to its knees", has consistently blasted the U.S.’s war on terror at the U.N. and in every public pronouncement, and is responsible for the murder of innocent American citizens — was "patently irresponsible" and "an insult to the intelligence of the American people, to the troops in the front lines in Afghanistan, and to all victims of terror." The group also took issue with Specter’s impression that Castro would not oppose the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, given that just last week regime officials railed against the move and Cuban attorney general Juan Escalona was quoted on CNN as stating — "It’s another provocation from the Americans. I hope 15 or 20 get out and kill them." "When so many people have lost their lives, families grieve, and America is at war precisely to rid the world of the rogue terrorist movements whose culture of hate against the United States Fidel Castro encourages and promotes, these comments and behavior are simply outrageous and warrant an apology," said a CLC official, "For U.S. Senators and Representatives to partake in such a spectacle at the very moment that American families must witness their loved ones pay the ultimate sacrifice in the front lines in Afghanistan, and as Castro so despicably assails U.S. efforts there against Osama Bin Laden and his rogue brethren, is simply unconscionable and displays, at best, a gross lack of sensitivity and good taste." Senator Specter’s comments last Friday came on the very same day that two more convicted Cuban spies were sentenced by a Federal Judge in Miami, Florida for working to infiltrate t |