July 31, 2007
The Cuban government has stepped up pressure on families and friends of
Arena Box-Promotion stars Odlanier Solis, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Yan
Barthelemy and the freshly signed Erislandy Lara and Guillermo
Rigondeaux. There have been temporary imprisionments and houses and cars
which were given to the Olympic champions for their achievements have
been confiscated.
Solis, Gamboa and Barthelemy were shocked when they heard about these
reprisals. They don't want to comment on the incidents as they fear
further attacks on their families.
"In Cuba there have been rumours that Solis, Gamboa and Barthelemy
helped Rigondeaux and Lara escaping from the team. That is a lie," says
Arena-CEO Ahmet Öner. "Rigondeaux and Lara defected by themselves. It
took some days until they tried to get in contact with us. It was not
Arena who 'got them out' with anyone's help. They wanted to leave and
they wanted to come to us. That's a fact."
With the official sanctions in Cuba, there are rumors that there are
members of the Cuban military intelligence service observing Arena's
environment in Germany.
"In the first place I found it quite funny that Fidel Castro seemed to
attack Arena," said Öner. "But now it's getting serious. I cannot
understand why our athletes, their families and friends are threatened
and persecuted just because they fight for us. The guys just want to do
what they do best: boxing and earning money for themselves and their
families. We are giving them the chance to do so. How can that be
considered a crime? Nobody should be terrorized for wanting to live
their life in peace and freedom. It's harassment like this that makes
Cuba a state without the rule of law. Freedom and human rights should be
respected all over the world including Cuba."
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