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May 26, 2001 This is the translation of a radio program on WQBA 1140 AM, whose host was Ninoska Perez, on Wednesday, May 23, 2001. Ninoska Perez opened the program: He did not die – he was killed. That is what the widow of Marcelo Diosdado Amelo Rodriguez screamed. A political prisoner, another martyr of the dictatorship of Fidel Castro. He was serving his 3 year sentence. He was in the prison of Aguaderos in the Province of Santiago de Cuba. He was incarcerated because on the 13th of July, 2000, while enjoying his conditional freedom, he was arrested for his solidarity to render homage to the victims of the Tugboat named "13 de marzo" that was sunk under the direct order of Fidel Castro. Then Marcel Diosdado’s widow, Raisa Lara spoke: For more than 4 years he has suffered from chronic circulatory/arterial problems. He first manifested this illness while in the prison "Boniato", where he was serving an 8 year sentence. He was released on the 10th of June and arrested again on the 13th of July, 2000, the anniversary of the sinking of the Tugboat "13 de marzo". He again was incarcerated with his condition of chronic circulatory problems. On Saturday, the 20th, at approximately 2:00, he was playing dominos with fellow prisoners, and according to the prisoner that I spoke with yesterday when I went to pick up his belongings, they told me that he complained of a pain. The prisoners helped him to go to his bed. The prisoners laid him down and tried to get him a doctor. The doctors did not attend him in the time or the form necessary. Approximately 1½ – 2 hours later they came to give him duralgina and left him in his cell bed. He continued to complain of strong pain in his leg. At 4:30 am his cell mates began knocking on windows, doors on anything they could, asking for someone to help him because he could not take the pain anymore. At approximately 5:00 am they brought him to Saturina Lora, the provincial hospital of Santiago de Cuba, and they just left him there for about ½ hour – he arrived there with all of his senses intact, he could see, and spoke with me several times. He spoke with me and told me that he had had a strong pain and they did not take him to the hospital when he had asked to go. When they decided to take him it was already too late, the aorta artery had broken into two parts. At that time between 5:00 am / 6:00 am he had already spent 14 hours dead from his waist down. The doctor which had been seeing him for 3 years was there and said there was nothing at this point that could be done for him because they did not give him the medical attention that he needed at the time when he needed it. If they had treated him when he felt the pain, perhaps they could have saved his life. He was 53 years old. In the hospital I screamed out that he did not die from his illness – he died because they killed him. They knew what they were doing and knew that he would die. In the casket his eyes were bulging and Dr. Leo, who was there, said that that was a consequence of his pressure being too high. For more than one month I had been asking to free him because of his condition. At the burial there was a huge solidarity from our brothers in Santiago, Guantanamo, Las Tunas and other municipalities. The burial was not the peaceful burial that he wanted. It was a burial that took place under a strong repression, there were beatings, hitting with sticks. There was no consideration to age, size, sex, to those who were there pacifically at the burial. What we wanted to do was to carry the casket on our shoulders to the cemetery, or at least most of the way. When we were about 1 ½ blocks from my house the political police, rapid-response brigade, and other officials interfered. When the people saw what was happening they joined us. There they began to scream "Down with Fidel!", "Freedom!" All we wanted to do was to take Marcelo to the cemetery in peace. They broke all of the floral wreaths that the movements had made. They stepped on them. The casket, which was in the car now, almost fell to the floor. They deviated the car and began to drive at a speed with two patrol cars leading the way as if they were transporting someone who was injured, not a cadaver. When we reached the cemetery, my sons almost did not get to see him there because they had put him in a common grave, they did not put him in the individual grave they had given us. They did not allow me to bury him in an individual grave. It all happened very quickly, after I found out that he was ill. From the day that he was detained on the 13th of July, at his home, not even at the time when he was participating in the activity because he could not walk, the head officer of the Security of the State of Santiago, Emilio Perez, came into my living room and said that if the activity was done, that it would be "through his balls (testicles)" that Marcelo would be arrested and charged with bogus charges. All that "activity" entailed was to throw flowers into the ocean for the victims that had died on the Tugboat "13 de marzo". He did not have anything to do with that and yet they accused him of that constantly. He is being remembered as another Cuban martyr. They are going to put Marcelo’s name on the new independent library. As father, husband, brother and friend he was the best. Up until the last moment he was asking about his mother, brother and his children. The children were able to see him alive at the end. He was always the admiration of all. He is another martyr against the Castro regime. Marcelo Diosdado’s mother, Nelsa: They have committed a huge crime against my son. I was away in Camaguey and they went to get me. I last saw him on April 19th. He said remember that visits are on the 1st of the month. I told not to worry, that I would be there. As a Cuban mother I feel very hurt because those were his ideals. Those were his ideas and they should be respected. He gave his life for his ideal. He has been fighting 9 years for the cause. In Cuba there are people that are now realizing the truth. Through the years he began to notice that in Cuba there are no rights to anything. That was his motivation, he joined the cause – to try to fix that. He embraced the human rights movement. I want to tell the world that they have to support the entire group of men and women that dedicate themselves to fight against this tyranny. I know that I will not see the end. I am now 82 years old but the world will come to see it. It would be the happiest day of my life to see this end. Marcelo Diosdado’s son, Hector Amelo Naranjo: I feel infuriated with what has happened to my father – he is my idol. I can not see him physically, because he has died – no, in actuality they killed him. This demonstrated to me how a man should defend his ideals, that when he feels he needs to, he must fight for his people and defend the ideals that are inside of him. Today I am reflecting on something that we spoke of one day. He told me that these people are very dangerous, that he knew them to the core and that they were a mechanism capable of doing things which we could not even imagine. We must follow his example, he always rebelled against them. He never felt fear. They were not able to break him – not even in his death. I feel very bad, I can not get use to the idea that he is dead. He was a man so full of life, so vigorous in all that he undertook, that today it is still difficult to accept what has actually happened. |
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May 25, 2001 Cuban Prisoner of Conscience Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet Cuban Prisoner of Conscience Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet placed alongside a Paranoid Schizophrenic Inmate and his Bible is taken Away Once More May 2001 On her two last monthly visits in April 18 and May 15, 2001 to the maximum security prison "Cuba Si" in the eastern province of Cuba, Elsa Morejon was informed by her husband, prisoner of conscience, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, that prison authorities had placed a paranoid schizophrenic inmate in his cubicle cell, that his Bible was taken away once more, and all his mail is intercepted, read, and confiscated. Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez, is a devout Christian, follower of Ghandi and Martin Luther King, and presides the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights, a humanitarian organization (considered illegal by Cuban authorities) that promotes the defense of all human rights, particularly the right to life, through nonviolent means. Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet has repeatedly been subject to hostile acts against his physical and mental integrity since March of 1998 for his human rights struggle in Cuba, suffering the repression all those who oppose the Cuban regime face:
We hold the Cuban government responsible for the physical and mental well being of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and urgently ask all dignitaries of democratic nations, human rights, and health organizations, the international press and all men and women of good will to demand the unconditional and immediate release of this Cuban physician, whose only crime is to honor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in his own country. This is an urgent appeal to all entities and individuals in the world able to intercede in this case. For more information: Free-Biscet.org All documented facts were obtained directly through live estimonies from Cuba via telephone. Support Committee for the Lawton Foundation, U.S.A. |
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May 24, 2001 Oppositionist being harassed By Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo May 16th, 2001 The oppositionist Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Provincial Delegate of the Democratic Party November 30, "Partido Democratico 30 de Noviembre", in the County of Guantánamo, was stopped in a public road by two officials of the Security of the State, in the corner of, Sandino and Flor Crombet. He was verbally threatened by the well-known official by the name of Oalis, expressed Mr. Luis Torres Cardoza. The oppositionist Castro de Lardiller and his wife are subjected to constant checkups in their place of residence. They also have been fined. Mrs. Abacales Márquez Abascar also expressed that: "They want to economically drain the Lardiller family, because they know that Mrs. Lardiller supports their family as a manicurist." "They have our destinies marked, maybe my husband will end up in prison, but it doesn't matter, we will continue until the freedom of our homeland is achieved", concluded Mrs. Lardiller." From the Center of Information in Democracy “Centro de Información Sobre Democracia”, reported Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo, Cuba. Received via phone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 24, 2001 Conversation with Mercedes Constantin Figueroa The following is conversation between Mercedes Constantin Figueroa from La Habana, Cuba and Martha Tamargo from Miami, Florida, held on May 21, 2001: Mercedes said: Rene Montes de Oca’s mother and brother were here. They were sent a telegram that his trial would be May 23rd – they (the government) won’t say where is. Jose Orlando Bridon’s trial is May 25 at Carmen and Juan Delgado. The government is trying to suffocate me. On Friday (May 18) Cucalo was with me and there were members of the 24th (Movimiento 24 de Febrero) and of the 30th (Partido Democratico 30 de Noviembre). They came at night because during the day they were not allowing anybody to get through. 16 agents from the security of the state – here at my front door, in my house, down the hallway. The rapid response team, trucks – it was horrible. They had four blocks surrounded. They acted as if I had bombs. I only have ideas and words - I say "down with Castro" thousands of times. They would not let the old man that brought me my phone book and phone bill in. I said "how much do we have to endure? Enough!" How can they abuse this old man who is only trying to make a little bit of honest money by bringing me some of my things. We are not free. We can’t do anything. |
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May 24, 2001 Bush Aid to Oppositionists The following is conversation between Mercedes Constantin Figueroa from La Habana, Cuba and Martha Tamargo from Miami, Florida, held on May 21, 2001: When asked what Mercedes thought about the aid that the US wants to give to the oppositionists she responded: I want to say thank you to the government of Bush. In the words of Napoleon "a war cannot be held without money". Here we don’t want money for luxuries, perfumes, or anything of that sort. We want it because oppositionists endure many hardships because everything here is controlled by Fidel Castro so the unfortunate people aren’t allowed to work. They are hungry. Cuba should defend itself. Why? Because Cuba never immigrated. Cuba is Cuba the beautiful. We should not have to immigrate. Our brothers are suffering and crying because they are far from their home, their country. We give thanks to the United States government which has taken us in and has embraced us. Viva Lincoln (Diaz-Balart) and the US President! We love you our American brothers. What we do not want is Castro’s dictatorship nor communism – never. The government belongs only to 4 or 5 individuals. It is not a government of the people where the people do not earn dollars and don’t have even enough money to buy medicines for their children. This is a very grave situation – the children are undernourished. Schools – what for? The teachers are fatigued with hunger and there are many necessities. Hospitals – what for? They are filthy because there are not antiseptics to disinfect. Why do we want things to be facilitated for us by the government – that is bad. The people have to be taught to work, fight and to defend its own rights. Not to say lies. The only thing I want is to work, as I have for years, to defend my country, to defend myself. Here they do not let me work. I will never work for the government of Castro. But every day it is getting harder and these unfortunate people who do not steal or lie. They go to the churches hungry and with bare feet. You have to live in Cuba during these times to know the reality. Tell all of my American brothers that are with us over there that we send them all of our affection. And to those that are over there because they were thrown out of here that if each of them send $1 we can take care of what needs to be done. Down with Castro! Cuba without Castro! In the words of our brother, Jorge Mas Canosa, may God rest his soul, "Onward, onward!" In another conversation with oppositionist, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of Democratic Party 30th of November "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre", in Guantanamo, Cuba, on May 18, 2001, she asked him the following: Ms. Tamargo: Give me your opinion about the American government helping you with dollars Mr. Lardiller's response: That aid is very important to us. It is very important because the government maintains the opposition in Cuba economically suffocated. They do not give oppositionists work. As a means of persecution, every time they (the government) sees them (oppositionists) doing something they sanction them with huge fines of 1,500 pesos. This is the case of my wife who was taken out of the store (her job) by police. The government has the opposition economically suffocated. Therefore, that aid is of utmost importance, very important. For the purchase of things necessary for our work - for our own nutrition. The government has us totally blocked. |
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May 23, 2001 Prisoner of Conscious Faces New Accusation by Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller May 20, 2001 Prisoner of conscious, Jorge Luis Larrazabla Zulueta, is the victim of the abusive power of the prison authorities, on this occasion when the Major cedi accused him of the offense of disrespect to the image of the dictator Fidel Castro. In addition, this Major abuses his power by making it impossible, by all means, for this prisoner, a victim of the organs of repression of the totalitarian regime, to be admitted into the teaching hospital. Larrazábal Zulueta suffers from coronary hipertension and needs to be hospitalized for the treatment of his illness. From Guantánamo, Cuba, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre". Received vía telephone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 23, 2001 Anti-Government Signs by Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller May 19, 2001 (Guantanamo, Cuba) Randy Cabrera Mayor was placed in a cell known as a *"tapiada" of maximum severity for putting up signs in the prison on the night of May 17th, until dawn of the 18th , denouncing the acts in violation of the prisoners' rights that are committed daily in the prison. One of the signs read: "Down with Fidel and Down with the Dictatorship". This 30 year old political prisoner is currently completing a 26 year prison sentence, which commenced in 1989, for various political offenses and he is currently in the provincial prison of Guantánamo, where the prison directors have been increasing the abuses against these prisoners, such as suspension of visits, and deprivation of medical attention. Randy suffers from kidney stones which cause him to have constant renal cystitis. * a "tapiada" is a very small cell made of sheets of metal with a small opening toward the top so that the sun comes in and heats the cell to unbearable temperatures. It is white on the inside so that the sun reflects off of the walls and make it hard for the people inside the cell to see. There is a hole in the ground of the “tapiada” which is used as a toilet. From Guantánamo, Cuba, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre". Received vía telephone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 22, 2001 24 Children Hospitalized with Asphyxia by Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller May 18, 2001 (GUANTANAMO, CUBA) On May 16, 2001, 24 children age two and three and lab assistants in a child care facility in Guantanamo, had to be taken to the general hospital with asphyxia. This occurred when the cleaning lady put a bottle of active chlorine - given to her by Mr. Ricardo Hidalgo Osmeida, administrator of this facility located at "Calle 4 Este", from "Pinto a la Avenida", Guantánamo. These poisoned small children were taken from the general hospital to the children's hospital Pedro Agustín Pérez, where there was not enough oxygen equipment for all of the children, and they were released as they each were able to recover. The lab assistants were admitted into the observation room of the general teaching hospital. At this moment three children remain hospitalized: two of them in intensive care they are in critical care; and one in the intermediate care in said children's hospital. The ministry of public health does not provide sanitation products to these facilities, it is their obligation to do so, and specially for the bathrooms, causing the administration to fend for themselves by obtaining this toxic product that caused the unintentional asphyxia of the 24 children. From Guantánamo, Cuba, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre". Received vía telephone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 21, 2001 American Government Financial Aid Regarding the recent aid that the US would like to give to the opposition in Cuba, Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami spoke by telephone with oppositionist, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of Democratic Party 30th of November "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre", in Guantanamo, Cuba, on May 18, 2001, and asked him the following: Ms. Tamargo: Give me your opinion about the American government helping you with dollars Mr. Lardiller: That aid is very important to us. It is very important because the government maintains the opposition in Cuba economically suffocated. They do not give oppositionists work. As a means of persecution, every time they (the government) sees them (oppositionists) doing something they sanction them with huge fines of 1,500 pesos. This is the case of my wife who was taken out of the store (her job) by police. The government has the opposition economically suffocated. Therefore, that aid is of utmost importance, very important. For the purchase of things necessary for our work - for our own nutrition. The government has us totally blocked. |
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May 20, 2001 Cuban Youth Violence By Ferdinando Castro of Lardiller May 17, 2001 (GUANTANAMO, CUBA) The press and the official television at the service of Fidel Castro criticizes and accuses the government of the United States for the violent acts in North American schools. Here we find similar facts in the Cuban schools. In hours of the morning, of April 3, a group of students of the basic high school Pedro Pablo, located in the south area of the city of Guantánamo, invaded with machetes, tubes, sticks and stones the basic secondary, Pedro Agustín Pérez, located in the area center of this city. When entering violently through the door located in the street Jesus del Sol, they brutally pushed a teacher that served as guard at this door, causing injuries to her body. Also, among those injured is a professor with a machete wound in a hand. The students: Berlidio, with lesions in a shoulder, and Joandy, with lesions in his arm. Another student that walked down the street accompanied by her mother was brutally hit with a machete in her back, and when falling to the floor, she suffered strong lesions in the face when being impacted against the sidewalk. The mother begged them not to hit her anymore. The director and the professors, had to leave to the front and contain their students until the police forces arrived and surrounded the school. I should point out that a similar incident happened some months ago in the basic high school, Reginorario Boti, when a student waited for her friend in the stairway of the school, when she was going up, her friend emptied from above a can with urine and body wastes. When the harmed girl's father went to claim, students of this school stoned him, causing injures to his skull that have endangered his life. The youth in this city lack guarantee and respect amongst themselves. Last Saturday March 28, in a dance at the Disco Paradise, a youth stabbed another. And that same night, in an activity of the Juvenile Center the Bamba, another youth got drunk, and without any provocation, broke a bottle, and began to cut everyone in sight. This is the way the youth in my County behaves. Incidents like the ones I have just described occur every Saturday in popular parties. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of the Democratic Party 30 of Noviembre, “Delegado del Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre”. Received via phone by Martha Tamargo of the InformationBridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 19, 2001 Cabrera Mayor under Constant Harrassment By Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo May 16, 2001 (LA HABANA, CUBA) In the penitentiary located in the Province of Guantanamo, is where the political prisoner Randy Cabrera Mayor is serving his prison term, he was sentenced to 26 years of incarceration charged with "treason and evasion," for not joining the military service when he was 18 years old. Cabrera Mayor is under constant harassment in the prison, as we were informed by Luis Torres Cardoza. In addition, we were also informed that the officials in this prison unit, known as Mayor Yeiliá and the re-educator Arnaldo, suspended his visits and pavilion priviledges, measures which were taken because of Mr. Cabrera Mayor's stance on not wearing the common prisoner uniform and for not eating the so called "food" that is given to the prisoners there. From the Center of Information on Democracy, La Habana, Cuba, reported by Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo. Received by telephone by por Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. Cabrera Mayor Bajo Constante Acoso Por Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo 16 de mayo de 2001 En el centro penitenciario ubicado en la provincia de Guantánamo se encuentra confinado el preso político Randy Cabrera Mayor, el cual fue sancionado a 26 años de prisión bajo los cargos de traición a la patria y evasión, al negarse a pasar el servicio militar general cuando tenia 18 años de edad. A Cabrera Mayor lo mantienen bajo constante acoso dentro de la prisión, así nos hizo saber el señor Luis Torres Cardoza. Además se conoció que los oficiales de esta unidad carcelaria, conocidos por el Mayor Yeiliá y el reeducador Arnaldo, le suspenden las visitas y el pabellón, medidas tomadas por la posición adoptada por el Sr. Cabrera Mayor de negarse a usar el uniforme de preso común y comer los mal llamados alimentos que ahí se ofertan a los reclusos. Al cierre de esta información nos expresó la esposa del preso político, señora Yesenia Rodríguez Aguilar, que es inhumano el proceder de estos oficiales, pues aún sabiendo que ellos perdieron un hijo, ahora la privan de poder quedar embarazada. Desde el Centro de Información Sobre Democracia, La Habana, Cuba, reportó, Luis Osvaldo Manzaneira Cúcalo. Recibida vía telefónica por Martha Tamargo del Puente Informativo Cuba-Miami. |
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May 16, 2001 Inspite of Castro's Intent to Make Believe that No Problems Exist in Cuba by René Montes de Oca Martija May 6, 2001 (La Habana, Cuba) On the first day of May of the current year, several people began protesting at the bus stop at the roadway of "Luyanó y Diez de Octubre." This happened because a lady who is of the black race, who was going to the hospital, was at the bus stop at 5:00 am and at 7:30 am had not been able to get on a bus, due to all of the transportation being deviated because of the processions for the first of May, while the Cuban people are victims of disdain by the Cuban government. The lady said: "there is no one who can overthrow this system but there is no one who can fix it either" and she added that Castro is shameless. She went on to say Fidel expressed in his recent discussion that the prostitutes are all university students and added: "it is a lack of respect that what he did was a university of prostitutes, with the exception of those people that because of their family values did not resign their human digity." From La Habana, René Montes de Oca Martija, Secretary General of "Partido Pro Derechos Humanos de Cuba". Denouncement received by telephone by Martha Tamargo of the Informaiton Bridge Cuba-Miami. May 3, 2001. |
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May 16, 2001 They Hinder Medical Attention to Political Prisoner By Ferdinando Castro of Lardiller May 13th, 2001 (GUANTANAMO, CUBA) The situation continues to be more than difficult for the political prisoner Randy Cabrera Mayor, who is not able to receive medical attention because the authorities of the prison do not fulfill the schedules for consultation in the educational General Hospital of Guantánamo. Randy suffers of kidney stones that cause him a renal cystitis. This prisoner that is completing a sentence of 26 years of prison, 12 of which he has already served, has been sanctioned in several occasions starting from the year 1989. He was first sentenced for refusing to serve in the obligatory military service, then, for "betrayal to the homeland," evasion, and illegal exit. The re-educator Arnaldo, has constantly besieged this 29 year-old prisoner for refusing to use the common prisoner's uniform, as well as for not eating the food of the prison. For all of the above, he was denied the corresponding pavilion on April 25, and his visits for the month of June were suspended. From Guantánamo, Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, Delegate of the Democratic Party November 30, "Delegado del Partido Democratico Noviembre 30". Received via phone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 15, 2001 Political Oppositionist Threatened By Eduardo Alberto Quintana Arbois, May 13th, 2001 (GUANTANAMO, CUBA) This past March 8th, in the intersection of Calle Sandino and Crombet, two officials of the Security of the State, traveling in a Motto, with tag number N0118, stopped the peaceful oppositionist Ferdinando Castro de Lardiller, whom is a Delegate of the Democratic Party November 30 in Guantánamo. The officials informed Castro de Lardiller that they knew everything that was going on inside his house and they were pretty tired of it, to keep in mind that his wife was a manicurist. I wish to point out that this oppositionist lives under constant surveillance and persecution in addition, they have positioned in front of his house, an observation point. From Guantánamo, Eduardo Alberto Quintana Arbois, of the PD30N. Received via phone by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami. |
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May 13, 2001 Solidarity with Antúnez by Eduardo Alberto Quintana, May 10th, 2001 (GUANTANAMO, CUBA) A sequence of fasts were made in Guantánamo by members of the opposition, in support of our valiant brother and prisoner of conscience, Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez." The sequence of fasts began with the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy "Movimiento Cubano Jóvenes por la Democracia", and the Democratic Party November 30 Frank Pais, "El Partido Democratico 30 de Noviembre, Frank Pais", as well as the Leaders of the opposition of the County, this Sunday, April 29th, from 7:00 in the morning until 12:00 pm in Santa Catalina Catholic Church, located in the center of the city, where there is the largest number of pedestrian traffic, located on Pedro Agustin Pérez Street, between Crombet and Aguilera. In addition, the fasts were accompanied by prayer by all of those present at the mass, in a petition for the recovery of brother Antunez who is in a grave state of health. The fasts culminated on Tuesday, the 1st of May, with the participation of 51 oppositionists and the participation of: "Movimiento Cubano Jóvenes por la Democracia" (Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy), delegation of "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre" (Democratic Party 30th of November), "Consejo Unitario de Trabajadores" (Unitarian Counsel of Workers), "Colegio Médico" (Medical School), Club de Prisioneros y Ex-prisioneros políticos (Political Prisoners and Ex-political Prisoners Club). We would also like to emphasize the participation of 14 political prisoners of the "Movimiento Pedro Luis Boitel" (Pedro Luis Boitel Movement), whom are improsoned in the Provincial Penitentiary Center of Guantánamo, Combinado. From Guantánamo, Cuba, Eduardo Alberto Quintana, Secretary of Religious Affairs and Public Relations of "Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre" (Democratic Party 30th of November), received by telephonically by Martha Tamargo del Puente Informativo Cuba-Miami. |
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May 12, 2001 Continuation of reports given by Rene Montes de Oca before his arrest a few hours later by the Cuban Department of Security of the State, on May 8, 2001 Political Police Unleash a Strong Military Operative (LA HABANA, CUBA) Political police unleashed a strong [operation] in various municipalities of Cuba, especially in the City of La Habana in order to capture Rene Montes de Oca Martija, leader of the "Partido Pro-Derechos Humanos afiliado a la Fundación Andrei Zajarov" (Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation). On May 6 of the current year, in the morning hours, the Cuban political police unleashed a strong wave of military operatives in Sagua la Grande and other municipalities in Villa Clara. They were also extended to the neighborhoods of Mazorra, Valuarte, Rio Verde, Mulgoba, Santiago de las Vegas, in the Municipality of Bolleros, City of La Habana. Ester German Valdez, the wife of the dissident, was openly followed by five agents from the Department of the Security of the State. Among those following her were some young people in a blue car with tag HK01964. The agents followed her from the neighborhood of Rio Verde to Santiago de las Vegas where she attended the funeral of activist, Alberto Dominguez Riesco, of the Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation. Death of Alberto Dominguez Riesco Activist, Alberto Dominguez Riesco, of the Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation Dies and Receives Ticket to Freedom On May 6th of the current year [2001], in the morning hours, Alberto Dominguez Riesco died of a heart attack. This distinguished activist of the Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation left this world with his eternal dream unfullfilled, of dying in a land with freedom. On May 10th he was to go to the Department of Refugees of the United States in the City of La Habana with all of his documentation to go to the country that embraces all of the dispossessed people of the world. Alberto was a political prisoner who faught for the freedom of Cuba from 1959 up to his last breath. He was a Christian, practitioner of the Baptist religion. Although he did not reach his desired dream, God embraced him in his blessed arms, so that he could rest from the suffering and agony he endured from the cancer known as communism that corrodes the spirituality of the people and that lacerated so much the heart of this dignified brother. Our condolences go to his wife, Gladys, and his son, Alberto, from your brothers in Christ and the members of the Partido Pro-Derechos Humanos de Cuba afiliados a la Fundación Andrei Zajarov" (Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation). Reported telephonically by Rene Montes de Oca Martija, Secretary General of the "Partido Pro-Derechos Humanos afiliado a la Fundación Andrei Zajarov" (Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation), La Habana, Cuba, and received by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami, Miami, Florida, on May 8, 2001 |
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May 12, 2001 Rene Montes de Oca Martija - reports before his arrest On May 8, 2001, a few hours before Rene Montes de Oca Martija’s arrest, he gave the following reports from La Habana, Cuba, which are translated below: In spite of the government of Cuba accusing the North American government of being responsible for the death of thousands of people in the straights of Florida and for the separation of families, the facts reveal a different reality. The refugee department of the United States, Interest Section in the City of La Habana, has given visas to thousands of Cubans so that they can go to the U.S. However the political police manipulate the lives of human rights activists and independent reporters. In some cases they hold their "white card" and in other cases they hold their loved ones’ "white card" which provokes the separation of families and is premeditated as such by the government of Cuba. A few such cases are: Florentino Ledesma, Osvaldo de Cespedes, Manuel Vazquez, Marcos Lazaro Torres Leon, Gustavo Cordero, Odalys Victor, Roberto Venancio, Carlos Alberto Dominguez, Osmin Montano, Armando Ortega, Jesus Manuel Cruz Santobenia and Carlos Culimbe. The latter four brothers are members of our Organization. Project Varela The National Executives of the "Partido Pro-Derechos Humanos afiliado a la Fundación Andrei Zajarov" (Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation) invoked all of its members to support the collection of signatures of the Varela Project. This project was designed by an educated team from the Christian Liberation Movement and its President Osvaldo Jose Paya Sardina. It is not only a obsional project but it is founded in the honesty and wisdom of people which undoubtedly make a supreme effort to look for an objective and practical solution for all the Cuban people and in that way avoid more pain and suffering to the entire Cuban family. For the moral/spiritual reconstruction and for the transition in our country, a fundamental factor which is necessary is forgiveness and tolerance which emanate from Christian love. Let it be understood, we are not speaking about associating with a system that violates the most basic of human rights. Bones Day (Mother’s Day) in Cuba The Cuban government assigns quotas of bones of horses or cows, the species of which is as of yet undetermined. The official offer is in honor of Mother’s Day. In the morning hours of May 8th, two state workers were stationed on "Josefina Este" and "10 de octubre", in La Vibora, in the City of La Habana, inspite of the car with tag number 17469 being full of the product called "osio" (bones) the people feared that there would not be enough. According to some, it is their only chance of celebrating Mother’s Day. I heard a lady say "the meat is for the officials and the tourists and the bones are for the Cuban public." This is contemplated among the rights the revolution guarantees to the Cubans and specifically the Cuban woman. In conclusion, Mother’s Day will be Bones Day – excuse me, I mean a mother of a day! Reported telephonically by Rene Montes de Oca Martija, Secretary General of the "Partido Pro-Derechos Humanos afiliado a la Fundación Andrei Zajarov" (Human Rights Party Affiliated to the Andrei Zajarov Foundation), La Habana, Cuba, and received by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami, Miami, Florida, on May 8, 2001 |
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May 09, 2001 Emilio Leyva was Arrested by René Montes de Oca Martija, May 5th, 2001 The National Directors of the "Partido Pro Derechos Humanos," (Pro Human Rights Party), vigorously protest against the arbitrary arrest of Emilio Leyva, Executive member of our Party. The activist was stopped on April 30th, in the morning hours. We have to point out that this valiant brother was taken to 100 and Aldabó, location of the official organism of repression. Still, we do not know the reason for his arrest. Lázaro Miguel Rodríguez Capote went to the above mentioned organism to learn about the situation of our brother, and they refused to give him any type of information. For the 1st day of May, el Partido Pro Derechos Humanos de Cuba, (The Pro Human Rights Party of Cuba) had a civic pacific activity programmed in the home of Emilio, and on the 2nd day of May, several activists were planning to present themselves at 100 and Aldabó and claim the immediate release for this Human Rights activist. From Havana, René Montes de Oca Martija, Secretario General del Partido Pro Derechos Humanos de Cuba (Secretary General of the Pro Human Rights Party). This was received via telephone, by Martha Tamargo of the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami, this 3rd day of May, 2001. |
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May 09, 2001 Why do They Abuse My Family? May 3, 2001, La Habana, Cuba by René Montes de Oca Martija Translation: On the past 20th day of April, of the current year, I decided to get out of the prison that I was in the "El Bachi Plan" a camp pertaining to Canaleta prison in the Province of Ciego de Avila. Basically, what drove me to this was a series of bribes by the State Security against my family, whom on several occasions they tried to fool, abuse (because it was not enough to transfer me more than 300 kilometers from the City of La Habana where I actually reside), they sent them to camps that were up to 18 kilometers away, as in the case of the jail "Palma Mocha" in Aguilena City. He refers to the case published by Cubanet on April 6th, of this same year, which can be found in the following link: http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y01/apr01/06a2.htm (Above item not English & not checked by PRODOS Institute) On the other hand, if I was in prison it was precisely because the Security of the State blackmailed me and charged me with a "presumed" crime of threat, due to a fast I did on the 4th of July of 2000, for 41 days in protest of the military forces imposed on the people of Cuba for 41 years. I should point out that I have been detained by the Security of the State of Cuba on 76 occasions, whom have also linked me to presumed criminal infractions on different occasions, as in this occasion, wherein I was taken to prison, sentenced to one year and 9 months for the supposed crime of threat, in case #147 of the year 2000. Precisely on that day, April 20th, when I got out of "El Bachi Plan," I traveled to La Habana in a civil protest against the injustices imposed by the government of Cuba on the people of Cuba. As a victim of that injustice, I do not have any reason to accept any legal opinion, nor judicial, nor legislative, nor executive of those who exercise today their power by force, threat, coercion and repression. Primarily because of the moral condition of those that are in power, because of the inhumane conditions and the legitimacy of a system, I do not accept under any circumstance. Precisely because I am a defender of human rights, because I am Christian and since I was a young boy I have been persecuted, not only politically, but also because I come from a religious family. I am presently on the streets and I will continue my system of civic pacific fight without the observance of any kind of spontaneous order to what the Security of the State of Cuba or the Cuban authorities say. I am aware that I am exposing myself to 4 or 5 more years of prison, which I can be sentenced because of this, but in the end they do not need a reason. The Security of the State does not need a reason to take me to prison and the proof of this is that I was sentenced to one year and nine months without committing any crime. Nevertheless, they are planning on conducting a new trial on Case 237, of the year 2000, because of a supposed crime of assault - and since I have nothing to hide, I have to specify that it was an unfortunate incident wherein my ex-wife, Mrs. Loraima Rodriguez, was accidentally injured, and here some people who call themselves oppositionists made it their job to take pictures and give them to the Security of the State, which are the ones that they used against me in the tribunal, and are the ones they are expecting to use now in another case in which they want to link me to the supposed crime of beating. I hereby re-affirm, that I will remain on the streets. Under no circumstances will I turn myself in, I will not be in hiding, but I will be active because I know of many people in Ciego de Avila and in other locations in Cuba, that I have won over in the prisons, activists that are common prisoners which I know are salvable. They are people that have great dignity, and of high prestige. They are people who were raised well and they come from good families, but the system itself has turned them into that, as they say, a class of delinquents, criminals, people that have not seen an alternative for their life that was not a crime, which is caused by the system itself so that the people of Cuba will not have the moral strength to reclaim their rights. In the words of our apostle: "guilty is not only he who commits a transgression, if not the one that forces the people to commit offenses and later sanctions them," which is what Fidel Castro currently does. I would like to tell you that my son, 12 years old, has been a victim of a fierce aggression at the hands of the political police through other children (for example: Antonio Adolfo de la Torre, Orlando and Joel), who have beaten him on 5 occasions, for the sole reason of being the son of a counter-revolutionary in Cuba. These "champions of human rights", told me, that all of that was justified because my son openly expressed his beliefs against the system. I should also point out that, prior to the separation process from the mother of my son, she was thrown out of her workplace, she used to work in a psychiatric hospital in the City of La Habana. Her expulsion was due exclusively to the fact, that she refused to be a participant in the fabricated story that the Cuban political police used, to be more precise, a case fabricated by the Mayor Yusman, chief of the Unit of Guajay, who wanted to use her like a puppet so that she would accuse me and be a party to an act so barbaric and so unworthy. Also, my son was under pressure from the police, from the house to the school, he could not go out on public activities. He practically became a prisoner of the Castro regime, which is why I asked before the National and International public opinion, Pope John Paul II, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the European Community, the North American government, the Senators Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros and Bob Menendez, and the International Red Cross for them to take an interest in the freeing of my son, so that he will be allowed to leave Cuba since he is in need of two operations: one on his right testicle, and he also suffers from scoliosis, an illness for which he cannot get medical attention in Cuba exclusively due to the fact that he is the son of a defender of Human Rights. Lastly, I would like to say that whatever situation that occurs to my family , I hold the regime responsible. And, in addition, something which is very important, I do not hold myself responsible for whatever violation that may occur against the physical and spiritual integrity of Aida Valdez Santana, Lorenzo Pecoso de León, Gladys González Noi, Antonio Díaz Quintanal, Mesías Sánchez Segura, or René Jorge González, they were precisely the people that facilitated the pictures and the means to the Security of the State which resulted in my incarceration. I forgive them and I will never be responsible for any actions against them, because there is no need for vengence in me. I forgive them because Christ was perfect and in his condition of perfection he was capable of forgiving us sinners. I would like for that to be very clear before the public national and international opinion. The only person responsible for whatever terrorist act against any person or against their physical or spiritual integrity, like mine or that of my family, is Fidel Castro and the Security of the State of Cuba. From La Habana, Cuba, René Montes de Oca Martija, Secretary General of the Human Rights Party of Cuba. Denouncement received by telephone by Martha Tamargo from the Information Bridge Cuba-Miami, May 3, 2001. |