Cuban man still imprisoned, parents harassed - Amnesty International

Document - Cuban man still imprisoned, parents harassed

Further information on UA: 92/12 Index: AMR 25/025/2012 Cuba Date: 26
October 2012


URGENT ACTION

cuban man still imprisoned, parents harassed

Prisoner of conscience Antonio Michel Lima Cruz was released from prison
in Cuba on 24 October. His brother Marcos Máiquel Lima Cruz, also a
prisoner of conscience, still has a minimum 10 months to serve. Their
parents continue to be harassed.

On 24 October, Antonio Michel Lima Cruz was released from La Ladrillera
prison in the eastern province of Holguín, having completed his
sentence. He and brother Marcos Máiquel Lima Cruz had been detained on
25 December 2010 at their home in Holguín. They had been playing songs
by a Cuban hip-hop group, whose lyrics criticize the lack of freedom of
expression in Cuba; they also danced in front of their house whilst
holding the Cuban flag. Antonio Michel Lima Cruz and Marcos Máiquel Lima
Cruz were sentenced to two and three years in prison respectively for
"insulting symbols of the homeland" (ultraje a los símbolos de la
pátria) and "public disorder" (desórdenes públicos). It is believed that
their imprisonment was politically motivated, making them prisoners of
conscience.


Their parents Marco Antonio Lima Dalmao and Adisnidia Cruz Segreo have
been subjected to constant harassment – including frequent short-term
arbitrary detention – in relation to their peaceful activities as
government critics. A group of approximately 10 police officers and 10
officials from the Department of State Security forced their way into
the parents' home on 11 August without a warrant. They were both
arrested and had materials confiscated, including laptops and mobile
phones. During the arrest, Marcos Antonio Lima Dalmao, who has a history
of cardiac problems, started to experience chest pains and was taken
briefly to hospital before being transferred to the Department of State
Security's provincial headquarters (known as Pedernales) in Holguín
Province. Both he and Adisnidia Cruz Segreo were held without charge
until 15 August.

Two unknown individuals attempted to violently mug Marco Antonio Lima
Dalmao on 28 September as he was heading to a meeting with other
government critics, before fleeing as bystanders intervened. His wrist
was fractured in two places. Immediately following the incident he
became aware that he was being filmed from across the street by an
unknown individual on a motorcycle. He believes that the authorities had
been trying to capture footage of his involvement in a violent clash in
order to use it against him.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

Calling on the Cuban authorities to release Marcos Máiquel Lima
Cruz immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience,
detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of
expression;

Calling on them to immediately cease the harassment of Marco
Antonio Lima Dalmao and Adisnidia Cruz Segreo, and all other citizens
who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and
association.


PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 DECEMBER 2012 TO:

Head of State and Government

Raúl Castro Ruz

Presidente de la República de Cuba

La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +53 7 83 33 085 (via Foreign Ministry); +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban
Mission to UN)

Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)

Salutation: Your Excellency



Attorney General

Dr. Darío Delgado Cura

Fiscal General de la República,
Fiscalía General de la República, Amistad 552, e/Monte y Estrella,
Centro Habana,

La Habana, Cuba

Salutation: Dear Attorney General





And copies to:

Interior Minister

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra

Ministro del Interior y Prisiones

Ministerio del Interior,
Plaza de la Revolución,
La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban Mission to UN)

Email: correominint@mn.mn.co.cu

Salutation: Your Excellency

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
date. This is the first update of UA 92/12. Further information:
http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR25/011/2012/en


URGENT ACTION

cuban man still imprisoned, parents harassed
ADditional Information

Antonio Michel Lima Cruz was due to be released on 25 December, but was
given an early release due to a policy which grants prisoners a
two-month reduction in their sentence every year for "good conduct"
("buena conducta"), applicable after one year in prison. This means that
Marcos Máiquel Lima Cruz may be released on 25 August 2013.


Antonio Michel Lima Cruz was incarcerated at La Ladrillera prison in
Holguín Province, where his brother Marcos Máiquel is still held.
Following his release, Antonio Michel Lima Cruz told Amnesty
International that he continues to suffer from prostate problems, which
began during the six months he and his brother were held in pre-trial
detention in Pedernales where he received no medical attention. During
his time at La Ladrillera, Antonio Michel Lima Cruz said that he did not
receive sufficient medical treatment and the medication he was provided
with was not effective, forcing him to depend on medication supplied by
family and supporters.


Antonio Michel Lima Cruz and Marcos Máiquel Lima Cruz are members of the
Cuban Council of Human Rights Rapporteurs (Consejo de Relatores de
Derechos Humanos de Cuba) – an island-wide umbrella group of
organizations – and the Republican Youth Impact Movement (Movimiento
Impacto Juvenil Republicano). Both organizations have been denied
official recognition, which is the case for all groups deemed to be
critical of the government. The brothers are both independent
journalists and were co-founders of the online newspaper Candonga, which
was closed by the Cuban authorities in 2009.


Marco Antonio Lima Dalmao is the Holguín Province coordinator of the
organization Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unión Patriótica de Cuba, UNPACU),
an umbrella group of Cuban dissident organizations operating in and
around the province of Santiago de Cuba, which seeks democratic change
by non-violent means. Adisnidia Cruz Segreo is a member of the Ladies in
White, a movement that campaigns for the release of political prisoners
and for the lifting of restrictions on fundamental civil and political
freedoms in Cuba. Both are regularly arbitrarily detained for short
periods. Adisnidia Cruz Segreo was held without charge for several hours
on 21 October to prevent her from attending mass with other Ladies in
White. Marco Antonio Lima Dalmao was last detained on 13 October when he
was arrested on the street and held for five hours before being released
without charge.


Name: Antonio Michel Lima Cruz (m), Marcos Máiquel Lima Cruz (m), Marco
Antonio Lima Dalmao (m), Adisnidia Cruz Segreo (f)

Gender m/f: both


Further information on UA: 92/12 Index: AMR 25/025/2012 Issue Date: 26
October 2012

http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/025/2012/en/99847b7a-722d-464b-b9bf-f1131de5d15e/amr250252012en.html