ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERMENTS WORLWIDE
2007-11-24.
November 23, 2007. Cuban government repressive forces brutally beat
members of families who live in a poor neighborhood in Havana and
destroyed the furniture and personal belongings of a human rights
defender. The activists arrested are threatened with being prosecuted.
On November 22, 2007 at nine in the evening, more than 30 officials of
the Cuban political police and Cuban State Security violently invaded
the poor neighborhood named Cambute in San Miguel del Padrón in Havana,
Cuba ransacking the home of the 30 year- old activist, Juan Bermúdez
Toranzo, where a vigil on behalf of the freedom of all Cuban political
prisoners was taking place.
Cuban repressive forces brutally beat all families and neighbors
present, including women and children. Juan Bermúdez Toranzo was dragged
along with his 2 year-old son from his bedroom to the street outside
where he was thrown into a patrol car with other activists of the Cuban
Foundation of Human Rights.
Four activists and an evangelical pastor where taken away to the
Eleventh Police Unit at San Miguel del Padrón in Havana where they
remain "under investigation". State Security advised Nery, the wife of
Bermúdez Toranzo, to begin looking for a lawyer since formal accusations
are on the way for those arrested.
The detainees are: Juan Bermúdez Toranzo (national vice-president of the
Cuban Foundation of Human Rights), Osmar Osmani Balmán del Pino
(delegate of the Cuban Foundation of Human Rights in the Municipality of
San Miguel del Padrón),
José Luis Rodríguez Chávez (vice-president of the Cuban Foundation of
Human Rights in the city of Havana), William Cepero (president of the
Cuban Foundation of Human Rights in Old Havana District), Yordis Ferrer
(Pentecostal Evangelical Pastor who came to the aid of Juan Bermúdez
Toranzo's wife Nery as repressive forces where beating her up).
Activists as well as family members of those arrested decided to carry
out a sit-in in front of the Eleventh Police Unit in Havana all last
night (November 22) where we will remain protesting the unjust arrests.
These dedicated human rights defenders are in prison only for their
activities on behalf of the rights of poor Cubans who, like them, live
in impoverished neighborhoods. Juan Bermúdez Toranza founded an
independent labor union of bicitaxis (Cubans who try to make a living on
their own by transporting Cuban citizens but who are repressed and
prohibited by the government from obtaining a license to work.) On the
12th of November past these activists had carried out an activity in the
streets of Cambute on behalf of the children of this poor neighborhood.
Testimony provided from Havana, Cuba by Juan Carlos González Leiva,
President of the Cuban Foundation of Human Rights and Executive
Secretary of the Council of Human Rights Rapporteur in Cuba. Recorded
and translated to English by the Coalition of Cuban-American Women/
LAIDA CARRO. Tel: + 305-740-0934 Fax: + 305-740-7323 Email:
Joseito76@aol.com
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=12739
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