AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. CUBA

Renewed Crackdown on Peaceful Government Critics

August 1997 SUMMARY AI INDEX AMR25/29/97

DISTR: SC/CO/GR

Amnesty International is concerned at renewed and intensified action by the Cuban authorities to stifle peaceful political dissent in the country in the run up (o the Fifth Congress of the Partido Comunista de Cuba, Cuban Communist Party, the only political party permitted in Cuba to be held in October this year Since the end of April 1997, the organization has received reports of some 100 short term detentions of members of different unofficial organizations, including independent press agencies, who have been attempting to peacefully challenge official positions in many different( spheres, including politics and human rights Since April, at least eight people have been brought to trial and sentenced to prison Some 28 others are believed to be facing possible trial While some have been charged with offenses which are overtly political in nature, others have been charged with offenses which are believed to have been fabricated or unfairly brought against them as a punishment for their political views Many of her activists have been threatened with imprisonment if they do not give up their activities or leave the country At least two journalists have succumbed to such threats and left Cuba Others have been subjected to other forms of intimidation, such as physical attacks by individuals believed to be working for the authorities, anonymous telephone threats, loss of employment or threats against other members of their families Still others have been subjected to "actos de repudio", "acts of repudiation" These are meetings organized in the workplace or local neighborhood where government supporters verbally and sometimes physically abuse the person concerned for being a 'counter revolutionary" Some have had their telephone lines cut off or been ordered by police not to go out on certain day s Still others who have attempted to travel to Havana or elsewhere have been ordered to return to their home towns.

The renewed crackdown is the most widespread since the round up of dozens of members of unofficial groups supporting the project known as Concilio Cubano, Cuban Concilium, in February 1')9t., and appears to be more serious in its intent It has coincided with reports during June and July of bomb explosions at three Havana hotels which caused minor injuries Many of those who have been detained recently have reportedly been questioned about possible links with particular Cuban exiles or exile organizations or have been told that they are under investigation for their possible involvement in sabotage attempts.

Amnesty International condemns human rights abuses committed by both governments and non governmental entities and acknowledges the right of the Cuban authorities to take appropriate action, in accordance with international human rights standards, to investigate and prosecute those suspected of committing acts of violence. However, while it cannot rule out that certain individual members of unofficial organizations in Cuba may have been involved in violent activities, Amnesty International believes that the majority of those detained since April 19')7 have been targeted because of their peaceful political beliefs and that the Cuban authorities are trying to deliberately discredit them by linking them to such activities In most cases, Amnesty International is seeking their immediate and unconditional release on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly In cases where there is credible evidence that those concerned may have been involved in violent activities, Amnesty International urges the Cuban authorities to ensure that they are granted full Judicial guarantees, including immediate and adequate access to a lawyer of their choice, in accordance with international standards for a fair trial.

Amnesty International is also calling on the Cuban Government to publish immediately a list of all those detained in connection with their activities as members of unofficial groups, together with the reasons for their arrest and any possible charges they may be facing; to cease all forms of intimidation and coercion directed towards members of unofficial groups who are seeking solely to exercise their fundamental human rights as established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and to bring Cuban legislation into line with international human rights standards.

The attached document includes a list of 150 detentions which have taken place since April 1997, as well as details of some of the cases of concern to Amnesty International. Given the severe limitations on the reporting of human rights violations, the real figure may well be higher. All those listed are said to be members of unofficial organizations of different kinds, ranging from political and human rights groups to women's organizations, independent press agencies and trade unions, and an independent medical association.

KEYWORDS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE I / ARBITRARY ARREST / POLITICAL ACTIVISTS /JOURNALISTS /TRIALS /INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION /EXILE/ INTERNAL EXILE / POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CRIMINAL CHARGES / REARREST / HARASSMENT / TORTURE /ILL TREATMENT / PRISON CONDITIONS / ILL HEALTH / WOMEN /HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS /ENGINEERS / EDITORS /ACADEMICS / LAWYERS / ECONOMISTS / DOCTORS / HUNGER STRIKE / LEGISLATION / MEC / BOMB ATTACKS / PRISONERS' LISTS / PHOTOGRAPHS /

This report summarizes a 38 page document (9,634 words): CUBA Renewal Crackdown on Peaceful Government Critics (Al Index: AMR 25/29/97) issued by Amnesty International in August 1997. Anyone wishing further details or to take action on this issue should consult the full document.

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 8DJ, UNITED KINGDOM

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Cuba: Renewed Crackdown on Peaceful Government Critics

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT

Amnesty International urges the Cuban Government:

To release immediately and unconditionally all those detained or imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly;

To publish immediately a list of all those detained in connection with their activities as members of unofficial groups, together with the reasons for their arrest and any possible charges they may be facing;

To grant full judicial guarantees, in accordance with international human rights standards, including immediate access to a lawyer of their choice, to all those who remain in detention and are accused of politically motivated offenses;

To cease immediately all forms of intimidation and coercion directed towards members of unofficial groups who are seeking solely to exercise their fundamental human rights as established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

To ratify the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to bring Cuban legislation into line with international human rights standards so that the fundamental human rights of all Cubans are protected.