Uncommon Sense

A challenge for those opposed to Cuba 'embargo'

If you can show how the lifting of U.S. restrictions on travel to and trade with Cuba will improve conditions for Cuban political prisoners, I will cease publication of this blog.

Meanwhile, I will be reading what Amnesty International has to say about continuing repression in Cuba.

And you can read about this week's Political Prisoners of the Week.

U.S. House panel betrays Cuban political prisoners

When considering what American policy should be on Cuba, there is for me one non-negotiable condition:

Until all political prisoners are released, there should not be further softening of U.S. sanctions on the Castro dictatorship. That includes no unabated travel by American tourists, and no easing of payment terms for the dictatorship when it goes to market to by American farm products.

Cuba's political prisoners exhibit unparalleled courage in the face of great horrors inflicted on them by the Castro regime. The least we could do is follow their example and show some backbone and insist that no change in American policy — which is inaccurately described as an "embargo" — is possible until all political prisoners are released.

The vile nature of the Castro dictatorship is revealed by the simple fact that it imprisons Cubans who did nothing more than demand and demonstrate their God-given liberties. Anyone who doesn't recognize this is either ignorant or a fool.

The last thing the American government should do is pass legislation that will only further enrich such a system.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday showed where it stands when it voted 25-20 to lift remaining limits on travel by Americans to the island and easing of rules governing how the dictatorship must pay for American agricultural products.

The fate of the legislation is uncertain — I'm guessing this is a fight President Obama is not eager to fight — but a momentum is clearly on the side of the Castros.

Supporters argue that American tourists will be missionaries for freedom and democracy, their zeal oozing over the island as they soak up the sun on Cuban beaches and dance the rumba at Havana nightclubs.

They, however ignore the inconvenient truth that citizens of about just any country other than North Korea are free to travel to Cuba, and the Castros trade with the rest of the world, and Cuba is still one of the most repressive places on Earth. And already, the United States is Cuba's No. 1 foreign supplier of food.

Of course, the debate isn't really about Cuba, and it's especially not about Cubans.

This bill is about some in Congress seeking to provide an economic sop for farm interests looking to make some extra bucks dealing with a dictator.

And to give American tourists a "freedom" not enjoyed by the Cuban people for more than 51 years.

Nothing in this measure will ensure that living conditions for political prisoners will improve. Nothing ensures that a single political prisoner will be released.

Cubans, especially those imprisoned in the Castro gulag because of their faith in freedom and faith in Cuba, deserve better than that.

Amnesty: Cuba creates fear by limiting expression

A new Amnesty International report details how the Castro dictatorship keeps its grips on power by going after anyone who uses their God-given right to free expression to challenge the regime.

Here is the news release on the report:

Cuba’s repressive legal system has created a climate of fear among journalists, dissidents and activists, putting them at risk of arbitrary arrest and harassment by the authorities, Amnesty International said in a report released today.

The report “Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in Cuba” highlights provisions in the legal system and government practices that restrict information provided to the media and which have been used to detain and prosecute hundreds of critics of the government.

“The laws are so vague that almost any act of dissent can be deemed criminal in some way, making it very difficult for activists to speak out against the government. There is an urgent need for reform to make all human rights a reality for all Cubans,” said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Americas Director at Amnesty International.

Yosvani Anzardo Hernández, the director of the Candonga online newspaper, is one of many Cuban independent journalists who have been arbitrarily arrested, interrogated and intimidated by the authorities.

In September 2009 he was arbitrarily detained for 14 days, before being released without charge. At the time, police also confiscated his computer, which hosted the website, and disconnected his telephone line.

Although Yosvani Anzardo is resigned to not continuing with the site, he still does not understand why it was closed. “We were hoping that the government understood that what we were doing was exercising a right, we didn’t hurt anyone”, said the journalist. “We tried very hard to give information about what was happening in the country. They [the authorities] considered this to be dangerous.”

The Cuban state has a virtual monopoly on media while demanding that all journalists join the national journalists’ association, which is in turn controlled by the Communist Party.

The authorities have also put in place filters restricting access to blogs that openly criticize the government and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

The Cuban Constitution goes even further in curbing freedom of expression by stating that “[n]one of the freedoms which are recognized for citizens can be exercised contrary to what is established in the Constitution and law, or contrary to the existence and objectives of the socialist state, or contrary to the decision of the Cuban people to build socialism and communism.”

The Penal code specifies a range of vague criminal charges that can also be used to stifle dissent, such as “social dangerousness”, “enemy propaganda”, “contempt of authority”, “resistance”, “defamation of national institutions” and “clandestine printing”.

Provisions of Law 88 on the Protection of National Independence and the Economy of Cuba have also been used to repress criticism and punish dissidents who work with foreign media.

With a judiciary that is neither independent, nor impartial, critics of the government find that an unlimited range of acts can be interpreted as criminal and end up facing trials that are often summary and unfair.

Cuban authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country but Amnesty International knows of at least fifty-three prisoners of conscience who remain incarcerated in the country for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

One of seventy-five dissidents arrested in the ‘Black Spring’ crackdown in 2003,independent journalist Pablo Pacheco Avila was sentenced to a 20-year jail term for writing articles for foreign and online newspapers, being interviewed by foreign radio stations, and publishing information via the internet.

Despite some prisoners of conscience being released on health grounds, including Ariel Sigler Amaya in June 2010, most of them, including Pablo Pacheco Avila, are still imprisoned.

The Cuban government has sought to justify its failure to protect human rights by pointing to the negative effects of the embargo imposed by the US.

“It is clear that the US embargo has had a negative impact on the country but it is frankly a lame excuse for violating the rights of the Cuban people”, said Kerrie Howard. “The government needs to find solutions to end human right violations, instead of excuses to perpetrate them.”

Amnesty International calls on the Cuban government to revoke or amend legal provisions that unlawfully limit freedom of expression, end harassment of dissidents, release all prisoners of conscience, and allow free exchange of information through the internet and other media.

“The release of all prisoners of conscience and the end of harassment of dissidents are measures that the Cuban government must take immediately and unconditionally”, said Kerrie Howard.

“However, to honour its commitment to human rights, Cuba must also dismantle the repressive machinery built up over decades, and implement the reforms needed to make human rights a reality for all Cubans.”

Fariñas' mother begs the Castro government to save his life

The mother of Cuban independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas, on hunger strike since Feb. 24, is pleading with the Castro dictatorship for "an act of goodwill" that might save her son's life.

Alicia Hernández is also begging that the international community intervene with the dictatorship.

Reports this week describe Fariñas' health has deteriorating dramatically, despite receiving IV nourishment for some three months at a Cuban hospital. He has suffered terrible fevers and pains, and doctors recently diagnosed a blood clot in his neck.

A hunger strike against the Castro dictatorship is a dangerous — and maybe futile — act because the regime cares only if they die to the extent that it might prove embarrassing to the government. Otherwise, the Castros don't give a damn.

But despite the odds against him, Fariñas has remained steadfast in his demands: The release of some two dozen critically ill Cuban political prisoners.

The release of one prisoner, and the transfer of 12 others to jails closer to their families, won't cut it.

It cannot be stated enough. If Fariñas dies, his blood will solely be on the hands of the Castro dictatorship.

The Group of 52, Cuban Political Prisoners of the Week, 6/27/10

Editor's note: I am a little early with next week's Political Prisoner of the Week entry. Here's why:

Each March, on the anniversary of the Cuban "black spring" of 2003, I have published a version of the following as a reminder of the journalists, human rights activists and other dissidents arrested then who remain in jail. In the wake of the release of Ariel Sigler Amaya, I felt it appropriate to again remind anyone paying attention of these brave Cubans suffering because of their faith in freedom and in their fellow Cubans. (It has been updated to reflect recent events.)

Some 75 Cuban journalists, librarians, human rights activists and other dissidents were arrested and imprisoned during the "black spring," which started March 18, 2003.

Fifty-two of them remain in Raul Castro's gulag, as of June 24, 2010.

There are hundreds, if not thousands more political prisoners jailed in Cuba because of their opposition to tyranny and dedication to freedom. Their suffering is no less that that experienced by those arrested during the "black spring," and they are no less deserving of your prayers and solidarity. (You can read about many of them by clicking on the names on the right side of this page.)

But the Group of 75 — which now stands at 52, after a series of paroles for medical and other reasons, Reinaldo Labrada Peña completing his sentence and Orlando Zapata Tamayo dying as the result of a hunger strike — is deserving of special consideration because they were at the front lines of the struggle to bring real change to Cuba, to bring nothing less than real democracy, freedom and human rights, whether they were activists gathering signatures for the Varela Project or journalists telling the story of Cuba, the real Cuba, for the world to know.

The dictatorship could not stand it so, as the world focused on the imminent U.S. invasion of Iraq in the spring of 2003, Fidel Castro struck back, and struck back hard, arresting 75 dissidents and sentencing them to prison terms of up to 28 years for daring to oppose his dictatorship.

And the world barely raised a whisper of protest. The United Nations subsequently elected Cuba to its Human Rights Council and the European Union repealed diplomatic sanctions implemented in response to the crackdown, even though most of those arrested remained in jail.

But in the past four months, since Zapata's death, many who previously chose to ignore the Cuban human rights situation or worse, to appease the Castro dictatorship, have turned on Havana, demanding the release of the Group of 75 and other political prisoners. The Castros have been unmoved, but the pressure has been real.

As horrific as Zapata's suffering was — simply put, he was murdered by the regime — his death has not been in vain. More people now know about the reality of the Castro gulag, and more importantly are now speaking out against it.

We are that much closer to his fellow prisoners being free.

Fidel Castro's action in 2003 was not just an attack on Cuban liberty, it was an assault of freedom everywhere. As long as a single Cuban is jailed because of something he wrote or because he believed every Cuban should have a real vote, we are all less free.

To appease the tyranny in Havana and expect a change in behavior by the dictatorship is as deplorable as the crimes committed by the Castros.

So that's why it is incumbent we all do something on behalf of the Group of 52.

Tell someone why the embargo should remain in place.

Tell someone that Raul Castro is no different than his big brother.

Tell someone Oscar Biscet's story.

Tell someone about Ariel Sigler Amaya, who has been left a shell of his former self after seven years in the gulag. He has been released from prison, and his spirit is strong, but his physical recovery has only begun.

Tell someone about Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

If you are Catholic, tell your church leaders to work for the release of all Cuban political prisoners.

Say a prayer.

The Group of 52 is:

Pedro Argüelles Morán

Victor Arroyo Carmona

Mijail Bárzaga Lugo

Oscar Biscet González*

Marcelo Cano Rodríguez

Antonio Díaz Sánchez

Eduardo Díaz Fleitas

Alfredo Domínguez Batista

Adolfo Fernández Saínz

Efren Fernández Fernández

José Ferrer García

Luis Ferrer García

Alfredo Felipe Fuentes

Próspero Gaínza Agüero

Miguel Galván Gutiérrez

Julio Gálvez Rodríguez

José García Paneque

Diosdado González Marrero

Jorge González Tanquero

Lester González Pentón

Ricardo González Alfonso

Leonel Grave de Peralta Almenares

Iván Hernández Carrillo

Normando Hernández González

Juan Herrera Acosta

Régis Iglesias Ramírez

José Izquierdo Hernández

Librado Linares García

José Martínez Hernández

Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez

Luis Milán Fernández

Nelson Molinet Espino

Angel Moya Acosta

Jesús Felipe Mustafá

Félix Navarro Rodríguez

Pablo Pacheco Ávila

Arturo Pérez de Alejo Rodríguez

Horacio Piña Borrego

Fabio Prieto Llorente

Alfredo Pulido López

Arnaldo Ramos Lauzerique

Blas Reyes Rodríguez

Alexis Rodríguez Fernández

Omar Rodríguez Saludes

Omar Ruíz Hernández

Claro Sánchez Altarriba

Guido Sigler Amaya

Ricardo Silva Gual

Fidel Suarez Cruz

Manuel Ubals González

Héctor Valle Hernández

Antonio Villarreal Acosta

*Oscar Elias Biscet was arrested in December 2002, and during the "black spring" he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Updated June 24, 2010.

Here's a video on Cuba's political prisoners

God bless Guillermo Fariñas (UPDATED)

Guillermo Fariñas

UPDATED, June 26, 2010 — Sources on the island report that Guillermo Fariñas is unconscious and suffering from high fever. God bless this brave man.

|———|

Four months ago today, in the wake of the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Cuban independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas started a hunger strike to demand the release of some two dozen seriously ill political prisoners.

So far, only one, Ariel Sigler Amaya, has been released.

While the Catholic Church hierarchy has received the bulk of the credit for Sigler's release, were it not for the sacrifices of Zapata and Fariñas, many in the world might never have heard of Sigler or others locked away in the Castro gulag because of their opposition to tyranny.

So far, only one seriously ill political prisoner has been released.

So Fariñas's protest, which has left him hospitalized for several months, his only nourishment coming via IV, continues.

God bless Guillermo Fariñas.

Former Cuban prisoner describes his guards' tortures Cuba

Anderlay Guerra Blanco

The "Shakira"

In an interview with Cuban independent journalist/blogger Luis Felipe Rojas, former prisoner Anderlay Guerra Blanco describes the tortures he witnessed and suffered as an inmate at the Combinado de Guantanamo prison.

I reproduce it here in its entirety because no paraphrasing would do it justice.

Q – You got out of prison a few months ago, on August 18th, 2009. For how long were you jailed and in which prisons?

A – I spent four years jailed in Guantanamo’s Provincial Prison. The sentence was because of an “illegal attempt to leave the country”. During those four years, I was never transferred to any other prison, so everything I saw and learned about Cuban prisons was taught to me right there, in the infamous “Combinado”.

Q – Did you witness tortures and punishments in Guantanamo’s Combinado Provincial Prison? If so, tell me about them.

A – The prison guards use several forms of punishment against the inmates, but the most humilliating ones are the beatings they give to men who are in handcuffs. From those abuses, the “Shakira” is the most outrageous. Batons and sticks are used to beat the man up, after he has been handcuffed. Then, the inmate is left in a punishment cell for 24 or 48 hours.

Q – “Shakira”, why that name?

A – The “Shakira” is the worst method of torture that I saw in that place. Since the individual is handcuffed with both hands and feet tied to his back, and later is thrown in the dirty floor of a punishment cell, he is left in an extremely uncomfortable position. When he tries to make any movement, the only part of his body that moves are his hips. Can you imagine the irony?

They have established the parallel with the singer that happily dances moving her hips in a very peculiar way, with the way the inmate copes with the pain and the uncomfortable position. I saw men there who urinated and defecated in that position because thye are held like that for 24 or 48 hours. Besides, there are different variations of that same torture. The chain that ties hands and feet can be lengthened or shortened. If they shorten it, the inmate can only rest his chest in the dirty, humid and putrid floor they share with insects and rodents. The decision to stop the punishment comes from the guards when they want to, if the inmate is to much of a “rebel” or if the “infringement” is considered severe, he is left like that for a longer time.

There is even a variation of the “Shakira” where the inmate is literally hung from the ceiling of punishment cell, through the chains that tie his hands and feet. This lacerates the skin, leaving permanent scars in wrists and ankles.

Read the rest below the fold.

In poor health, Cuban political prisoner Egberto Escobedo modifies protest

Egberto Escobedo Morales

Cuban political prisoner Egberto Escobedo Morales told Cuban Democratic Directorate today that he has ended a hunger strike he started April 16 because of poor health. But he is continuing his protest in the form of a fast during which he will only ingest liquid nutrients.

Escobedo, whose weight is down to 110 pounds, said he is suffering from colon and lung problems. He is currently being held in the same prison hospital where fellow political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died Feb. 23 — four months ago today — after an 86-day hunger strike.

Escobedo, who has been imprisoned since 1995, reiterated three demands of his protest:

• The release of all political prisoners.
• Negotiations between the government and opposition on a democratic transition.
• The allowing of visits to Cuban prisons by international human rights groups.

Escobedo also said he is opposed to the lifting of American sanctions on the Castro regime.

Listen to Cuban Democratic Directorate's Janisset Rivero's interview with Escobedo here:

Darsi Ferrer speaks

After listening to this, it is certain that the Castro dictatorship failed if it thought 11 months and 1 day in prison would change Dr. Darsi Ferrer to its advantage.

Cuban journalist detained, robbed of tools of his trade (UPDATED)

José Manuel Caraballo Bravo

In Cuba, the journalism practiced by the likes of José Manuel Caraballo Bravo is a high-risk, potentially very dangerous activity. The better you are at reporting at the reality of life in Cuba today, and on those Cubans willing to challenge the Castro regime, the more likely you are to end up in police custody, if only temporarily.

That's what happened on Monday to Caraballo. The director of the Avileña Free Press Agency (APLA), Caraballo  was covering an opposition protest in Havana, when the police arrested him and took him to their local headquarters, according to a report posted at Misceláneas de Cuba.

Under the dictatorship's policy of catch and release, Carballo was let go a few hours later, but not before the goons confiscated his mini-recorder, digital camera and other items he needs to do his job as a journalist.

Caraballo, a former political prisoner for three years, was not deterred.

"Each repressive action makes us stronger," he told other APLA members at a meeting Monday after his release. "They took my camera but it doesn't matter. I will draw with words the reality of life in Cuba."

UPDATED, June 23, 2010 —Caraballo's colleague at APLA, Raúl Arias Márquez, was also arrested during the protest.

José Manuel Caraballo 

Raúl Arias Márquez