Cuban dissidents, their American supporters brutally attacked in Panama

Cuban opposition activists in Cuba are routinely attacked by the police and/or their flunkies when they try to carry out peaceful demonstrations and protests in Cuba. Because Cuba is ruled by a communist dictatorship, which controls most methods of communication, the world never hears about this other forms of repression on the island.

The same wasn't true, however, on Wednesday when the regime's agents tried to extend those same tactics to an open society like Panama, the site of this week's Summit of America.

Cuban dissidents and their American supporters were paying tribute to Jose Marti near the Cuban embassy in Panama City when they were attacked by a Castroite mob.

It was a scene out of Havana.

Video via La Estrella de Panama

Capitol Hill Cubans has more:

A half-dozen Cuban dissident leaders and American citizens were attacked this afternoon by a group of Castro regime agents in Panama City.

The activists were placing flowers at the statue of Cuban independence hero, Jose Marti, when approached by a group of Castro regime agents, who began to violently beat them.

 

Among those attacked were a group of American citizens, including Orlando Gutierrez of the Democratic Directorate, Silvia Iriondo ofMothers Against Repression and Gus Monge.

 

The Cuban dissidents include former political prisoner Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez," his wife Yris Perez Aguilera and Leticia Ramos Herreria of The Ladies in White.

 

The Panamanian police watched as the attack took place.  Then, it detained the Cuban dissident leaders and American citizens. Meanwhile, the Castro regime agents were allowed to walk.

 

They are currently being held in the San Francisco detention facility -- facing deportation to Cuba and the United States, respectively.

Here's an interview with Orlando Gutierrez from the detention facility:

 

 

Here some photos from the scene:

 Antunez will not be silenced.

Orlando Gutierrez attacked by Castroite goons.