Journalist provides prisoners a voice

Diosdado González

Ivan Hernandez

One of the more courageous and persistent chroniclers of the Cuban dissidence movement is independent journalist Carlos Serpa Maceira, a correspondent for Agencia de Prensa Sindical Press and Buró de Prensa del Puente Informativo Cuba Miami whose work can be found at Miscelaneas de Cuba and other sites. Through his efforts, the Damas de Blanco and others in the opposition are able to deliver the message to the rest of the world. For no better proof of Serpa's effectiveness, consider that the dictatorship knows very well who Serpa is, and has taken steps to try to silence him, but to date, has failed.

Earlier today, Miscelaneas de Cuba — an outstanding Sweden-based source of information on Cuban dissidents — published two dispatches from Serpa on the latest injustices suffered by two political prisoners.

In the first, Serpa reported that officials at the Kilo 5 1/2 prison had denied prisoner Diosdado González Marrero a visit with a Catholic priest. A democracy and human rights activist, González — a former Uncommon Political Prisoner of the Week — was one of the Group of 75 dissidents imprisoned during the "black spring" of March-April 2003. He is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Serpa, with Gonzalez's wife, Alejandrina García de la Riva

Also a member of the Group of 75 is journalist Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence.

Serpa reports that the dictatorship has censored Hernandez's communications with his family.

"He sends us letters, but they do not arrive at my house," said Hernandez's mother, Asunción Hernández Carrillo.

Serpa, with Asunción Hernández Carrillo