This week marks the two-year anniversary of the most severe crackdown on civil society that Cuba has seen in recent history. In the two weeks that followed, 75 human rights advocates, independent librarians, and journalists were arrested, tried, and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison for exercising their fundamental rights.
Two years after the arrests, despite appeals from foreign governments, international human rights organizations, and the United Nations, 61 men remain imprisoned solely for exercising and promoting basic human rights. Human Rights First renews its call on the Cuban authorities to order the immediate and unconditional release of all sixty-one.
“It is unacceptable that after two years, 61 human rights advocates, journalists, and librarians remain imprisoned in Cuba, even as Cuba claims an international voice on human rights issues,” said Michael McClintock, Director of Program at Human Rights First. “Human rights defenders in Cuba have been imprisoned to make a political point,” said McClintock, "and justice has not been allowed to get in its way."
Although 14 dissidents have been released on parole for medical reasons, many of the remaining human rights advocates, journalists and librarians continue to be held in poor conditions and are not receiving adequate medical treatment for life threatening ailments.
Human rights activist Hector Palacios, serving a 25 year sentence, is suffering from serious heart problems, according to reports received from his wife, Gisela Delgado. For over a month, Mr. Palacios has suffered from dangerously high blood pressure and is not responding to the medical treatment. His health problems have been aggravated by harsh prison conditions, and Human Rights First has repeatedly urged the Cuban government to order his immediate and unconditional release.
Additionally, family members of the imprisoned dissidents have reported threats and other forms of intimidation in what appear to be reprisal measures for their nonviolent protest and their reporting of prison conditions and rights violations to international human rights organizations. Independent journalists have also reported intimidation and arrest as a result of their reporting on human rights issues.
“As poor conditions and inadequate medical attention lead to a real risk of death in custody for some, justice for Cuba’s human rights defenders is becoming a growing international priority,” noted McClintock. “The Cuban government should be protecting these human rights defenders, not persecuting them,” he added.
More on Human Rights Defenders
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hr_defenders.htm
