Journalism in Cuba — not the propaganda practiced by the state-run rags, but real meat-and-potatoes reporting of conditions on the ground — has always been a high-risk profession. These Cuban journalists could tell you all about it, except they are in jail.
Repression has recently been on the uptick in Cuba, and bearing a lot of the brunt of the arrests, beatings, etc. are those journalists unafraid enough to continue their work, both in and out of prison.
Journalists like Jorge Moliné Tapia, who was thrown into a punishment cell at the Canaletas prison after he reported on corruption among the guards and other prison officials.
And like Jorge Alberto Liriano Linares, who suffered a similar retaliation after he reported on human rights abuses at another prison.
And like Mario Echeverría Driggs, who was arrested and detained after police caught him interviewing AIDS patients in a Havana park.
And like Ainí Martín Valero, who was arrested for taking photographs of police officers hassling an old man.
And like Raúl Parada Ramírez, who was arrested and jailed for three days for covering opposition activities.
And like Carlos Serpa Maceira, who was beaten by a Castroite mob on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, while covering an otherwise peaceful march by the Damas De Blanco.
"The practice of journalism every day becomes more dangerous," said Echeverria. "The lack of liberty to practice it has reached its limit."
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