Media Briefing
AI Index: AMR 25/003/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 018
29 January 2007
Cuba: Amnesty International's human rights concerns
For the past 40 years, Amnesty International (AI) has campaigned against
human rights violations committed by the Cuban government, in
particular, the imprisonment of political dissidents and journalists as
a result of severe restrictions on the freedom of expression, freedom of
association and assembly.
AI has also expressed serious concern about the negative impact of the
US economic embargo on the ability of Cubans to fully enjoy their human
rights.
Freedom of expression and association
Severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association affect
thousands of people across Cuba.
In Cuba, all print and broadcast media are under state control. Also,
access to the internet is severely limited outside governmental offices
and educational institutions.
Dissidents and critics of the regime, including journalists are
frequently arrested and detained, some of them on charges of
"pre-criminal dangerousness".
During 2006, there was a rise in the harassment and intimidation of
independent journalists and librarians.
From January to August 2006, Journalist Guillermo Fariñas staged an
intermittent hunger strike to obtain access to the internet, without
success.
Armando Betancourt Reina, a freelance journalist was arrested on 23 May
2006 as he took notes and photographs of evictions from a house in the
city of Camagüey. He was charged with public disorder. Armando
Betancourt was reportedly held incommunicado for a week at the police
station before being transferred to Cerámica Roja prison in Camagüey on
6 June 2006.
Prisoners of conscience
At least 67 prisoners of conscience – people such as teachers,
journalists and human rights defenders detained for their peaceful
activities -- are currently held in prisons across Cuba, following
unfair trials that failed to uphold international standards.
AI is currently reviewing the cases of dozens of other prisoners who
could also be considered prisoners of conscience.
13 men and women are serving their sentences outside prison because of
health concerns.
1 prisoner of conscience was released during 2006.
Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a bricklayer and plumber, was arrested on 20
March 2003 whilst taking part in a hunger strike at the Fundación Jesús
Yánez Pelletier in Havana to demand the release of Oscar Biscet and
other political prisoners.
He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in 2003 on charges of
showing "contempt to the figure of Fidel Castro", "public disorder" and
"resistance". In November 2005 he was sentenced to an additional 15
years for "contempt" and "resistance" in prison. In May 2006, he was
again tried on the same charges and sentenced to an additional
seven-year term. He is now serving a prison sentence of 25 years and six
months.
Arbitrary arrests
Amnesty International receives almost daily reports of political
dissidents, independent journalists and critics being arrested for
carrying out dissident activities or reporting on the human rights
situation in Cuba and sent to prison where they await trial. In some
cases they wait for months or even years while in others they are tried
and sentenced within a few days.
Prisoner of conscience, Julio César López Rodríguez, Vice President of
the Frente Línea Dura and Director of an independent library, was
arrested on 22 July 2005, whilst he tried to participate in a peaceful
demonstration in front of the French Embassy. He has been campaigning
for many years for political reform and the defence of human rights, and
kept anti-totalitarian books in his library. He has been held without
charge or trial.
Detention without charge or trial
Scores of people across Cuba are held without charge, and in some cases
without trial, on suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities or on
unclear charges.
Prisoner of conscience Emilio Leyva Pérez, President of Hard Front Line,
Frente Línea Dura and delegate of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society,
Asamblea para promover la Sociedad Civil, was arrested on 13 July 2005
whilst participating in a peaceful event in Havana, He has been held
without charge or trial. He was declared a prisoner of conscience in the
past after he was detained in February 2002. On that occasion, he was
held without being tried until he was released in June 2004.
Unfair sentences
Political dissidents and critics are often sentenced for a crime known
as "social dangerousness". This is a pre-emptive measure that is defined
as the "proclivity to commit a crime" and targets any behaviour contrary
to the "socialist morale" like "drunkenness", "drug addiction" and
"anti-social behaviour" but it is applied to political dissidents,
independent journalists and critics. People tried for "dangerousness"
are sentenced for up to 4 years of prison while the law provides for
"therapeutic treatment", "re-education" or "surveillance by the
Revolutionary National Police."
Alexander Santos Hernández, national coordinator for the Eastern
Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democrática Oriental, ADO) was arrested on
5 June 2006 and sentenced in a summary trial to 4 years for "social
dangerousness".
In November 2004, he previously served a six-month prison term on a
conviction of "disobedience" for collecting signatures for the Varela
Project which aimed at requesting a national referendum on democratic
reforms.
Harassment and intimidation of dissidents and critics
During 2006, there was an increase in the public harassment and
intimidation of critics and political dissidents by quasi-official
groups in so-called acts of repudiation.
Acts of repudiation or demonstrations staged by government supporters
targeting political dissidents and critics are on the increase.
According to them, the act of repudiation and demonstrations are
organized with the collusion of the authorities. AI believes that acts
of repudiation could amount to psychological torture given the strain
they can cause on the victims and their relatives. Physical aggression
has also been reported during some acts of repudiation.
Juan Carlos González Leiva, President of the Cuban Foundation for Human
Rights, was the target of several acts of repudiation at his home in the
city of Ciego de Avila. He and his family were repeatedly threatened by
demonstrators. He was arrested in March 2002 for "disrespect", "public
disorder", "resistance" and "disobedience" and spent two years in prison
without trial. In April 2004, he was sentenced to four years'
imprisonment to be served at his home.
Death penalty
Cuba retains the death penalty for serious crimes, such as acts of
terrorism. However, in recent years it has only rarely been applied.
The last known execution took place in April 2003 when three young men
were sentenced to death for hijacking a boat in order to flee the island.
To AI's knowledge, there are currently around 40 people on death row
across Cuba but the exact number is difficult to determine given the
restricted access to court and official documents.
Amnesty International considers that the death penalty is the ultimate
form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and opposes
its use in all circumstances.
Impact of the US embargo
Amnesty International has called for the US embargo against Cuba to be
lifted, as it is highly detrimental to Cubans' enjoyment of a range of
economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to food, health
and sanitation – particularly affecting the weakest and most vulnerable
members of the population.
According to UNICEF, the availability of medicines and basic medical
materials has decreased in Cuba as a consequence of the US embargo
against the island (1).
AI also believes that the US embargo has undermined freedom of movement
between Cuba and the US and restricted family reunifications.
(1) Report of the UN Secretary General to the UN General Assembly on
Item 27 of the provisional agenda "NECESSITY OF ENDING THE ECONOMIC,
COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL EMBARGO IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AGAINST CUBA", 20 September 1995.
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/50/plenary/a50-401.htm
Public Document
****************************************
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in
London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web:
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGAMR250032007
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