The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, based in Madrid, has denounced the continuity of the “repressive spiral in Cuba” in the face of the silence of Spain, the European Union and Latin America. The organization documents in its latest report, belonging to January and published this Thursday, 643 repressive actions, of which 136 were arbitrary arrests and 507 other types of abuse.
Although both Spain and the European Union have expressed concern about the repression, arrests and trials of 11J and demanded the right to demonstrate, the OCDH considers these demonstrations insufficient “given the serious situation”, and interprets that there is complicity, according to Alejandro González Raga, its executive director.
The Observatory report counts the trials against the July 11 protesters among the human rights abuses in this first month of the year. These processes, he affirms, are manipulated, with witnesses favorable to the official version and the application of the law in a crooked manner by judges who are not independent. “Of the 187 registered trials, at least 184 have been for the protests,” the note points out.
“The situation in Cuba is getting worse by the day. The announcement of a new Criminal Code, which even turns alleged rights contained in the Constitution into crimes and maintains the death penalty, adds concern at this time”
After that, there is harassment, home surveillance, citations and threats or fines, all with an intimidating spirit. Seven activists had to go into forced exile, counts the OCDH.
“The situation in Cuba is getting worse by the day. The announcement of a new Criminal Code, which even turns alleged rights contained in the Constitution into crimes and maintains the death penalty, adds concern at this time. Both European diplomacy and the office of Michelle Bachelet at the UN have placed great hopes in the new laws of the regime. What will they do now?”, says González Raga, who thanks the artists who have canceled its participation in the San Remo festival in Havana.
Also this Thursday, a statement was made public by Cuba Próxima, also based in Spain, in which the organization denounces that the historian Leonardo Fernández Otaño, a member of its Deliberative Council, was summoned, interrogated and subjected to denigrating treatment by Department of State Security agents on Tuesday.
Fernández Ontaño protested along with Camila Rodríguez, Carolina Barrero and Daniela Rojo at the door of the People’s Municipal Court of Diez de Octubre on Monday, the day the trial against 33 11J protesters began. The three women were detained for several hours, but although the activist was not arrested, he did have to attend the appointment with State Security.
“Why are Leonardo Fernández Otaño and other citizens criminalized? For openly advocating the release of hundreds of Cuban men and women unjustly imprisoned”
“Why are Leonardo Fernández Otaño and other citizens criminalized? For openly advocating the release of hundreds of Cuban men and women unjustly imprisoned,” laments the statement, which also praises the activist’s work in providing moral support and solidarity. to those affected, mostly of humble origin.
Cuba Próxima rejects the arbitrary summonses and without the presence of a lawyer suffered by many activists and opponents in Cuba, based on the case of Fernández Otaño, and argues that their purpose is to bend those affected and make them renounce to exercise their rights. In addition, they express their solidarity with those most recently affected, specifically those who participated in Monday’s protest, including Arián Cruz Álvarez. Tata Poet, Leonardo Romero Negrín and Alexander Hall, in addition to Saily Gonzalezdetained in Santa Clara.
Among the demands of the association is the end of the repression against activists and relatives and the beginning of an investigation against those who commit abuses of power, specifically those who tried to repress the July 11 protests.
Finally, they denounce the high demands for sentences to which the accused are exposed and reaffirm their “commitment to the struggle for the release of all political prisoners, the construction of a plural, democratic Republic, based and guided by respect and exercise of human rights, sociopolitical inclusion, the rule of law, political coordination and the search for the well-being of the Cuban nation”.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
