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Carta de Cuba, la escritura de la libertad |
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APRIL 12, 2006
CUBA WILL EXPORT REAGENTS FOR HIV STUDIES Havana – Cuba pretends to export to Brazil biotechnological reactives for the evolutive studies of HIV-AIDS, which allow defining the right moment to apply the antiretroviral therapies destined to prolong the life of the affected patients. These reactives are elaborated at the antibodies’ and experimental biomodels’ laboratory (LABEX), in Santiago de Cuba province. The Cuban government acknowledges the existence of only four thousand persons identified as HIV seropositives in the island, a figure which has not been corroborated by independent sources. LADIES IN WHITE SEND PROTEST LETTER TO SPANISH POLITICIAN Havana- The "Ladies in White", a group of wives and mothers of political prisoners, sent a protest letter to Spanish politician Gaspar Llamazares, leader of the "Izquierda Unida" (United Left) Party (successor to the Spanish Communist Party). Llamazares used parliamentary tactics to block the approval of a congressional resolution asking the Cuban Government to release prisoners of conscience and respect basic human rights. In the letter, the group invites Llamazares to visit Cuba and see for himself the actual conditions that prevail on the island. For the original text of the letter, (in Spanish), press on this link. TRANSFER WORSENS PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE’S SITUATION Havana – Prisoner of conscience Horacio Julio Piña Borrego was transferred, without any explanation, from area 1 to area 2, at ¨Kilo 5.1/2¨ prison, located in the Pinar del Río province, informed his wife, Yanisbel Benítez González. ¨His situation has worsened as a result of this transfer, since he is now in a much smaller cell, without backyard, a condition that may deteriorate his already precarious health¨, said the prisoner’s wife, who also explained that Piña Borrego had interrupted a physiotherapeutic treatment for his lumbar and cervical condition, which he used to receive at his previous living quarters. PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE DISSAPEARS FROM PRISON Pinar del Río – The political prisoner of conscience Nelson Molinet Espino was taken out of his cell at ¨Kilo 5.1/2¨ prison, in Pinar del Río province, and transferred to an unknown destiny, on last March 28th, during the afternoon hours. In a recent telephone communication with the Cuban Foundation of Human Rights, Yarai Reyes Marín explained that such measure was in reprisal for Nelson Molinet’s manifested solidarity with her husband, prisoner Normando Hernández González, who was recently thrown down stairs and afterwards dragged through the penitentiary’s main hallway. After such incident, the so called prison’s re-educator, named Reinier Armenteros Pulgarón, went to the barracks, where he offended and threatened all inmates who had witnessed what happened. IN GRAVE CONDITION GUIDO SIGLER AMAYA Matanzas – Severe prostate swelling, chronic gastritis, a duodenum ulcer, a cyst in the right kidney, arterial hypertension, migraine and sinusitis conforms the clinical picture political prisoner of conscience Guido Sigler Amaya, secluded in the ¨Agüica¨ maximum security prison, in Matanzas, and sanctioned to 20 years in the cause of the 75. Juan Francisco Sigler Amaya, the prisoner’s brother, explained that Guido had a surgery for a hemorrhoid thrombosis, and according to specialists, needs another even more complex intervention. The prostate inflammation is causing him serious locomotion problems and severe pain in his legs and he is suffering of urinary problems, due to the kidney’s cyst. LIMITED USE OF NEW TIRES ON OFFICIAL VEHICLES Havana – Cuba will limit the use of new tires on official vehicles, aiming to save $15,8 million dollars a year, according to the official press. The new law, which will be in force on next May 8th, establishes that the state organizations may acquire new tires, only with a state’s Tire Enterprise (POLIGOM) certificate. Only vehicles of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Reserve Institute, taxis, ambulances and those vehicles dedicated to rent and tourist transportation shall be exempted from such rule. DANCERS FROM 14 COUNTRIES IN DANCE FESTIVAL Havana – Dancers and companies from 14 countries will take part on an international dance encounter beginning this Wednesday in Cuba, which has been called ¨Urban Landscapes: Old Havana¨. Such cultural manifestations like music, theater and plastic arts shall be integrated into it, as a way of stimulating artistic creation based on the revaluation of the city’s architectonic legacy, as well as its historical and cultural memory. Old Havana’s main plazas, streets and parks shall serve as scenery for dance, which will also take place in museums and public buildings. CUBA SAYS DRUG SMUGGLING UNDER CONTROL Punta de Maisí – Cuba considers that the maritime drug trafficking in front of its coasts is, in general terms, under control, in spite of ¨Washington’s lack of cooperation with the island¨, according to high ranking officers. ¨The general situation of drug trafficking by sea in Cuba is totally under control¨, assured Colonel Jorge Samper, Cuban Ministry of Interior, to a group of foreign correspondents, during a visit to coast guard outposts on the eastern region, in order to show them the steps taken by Cuba in the struggle against drug traffic. The island’s eastern zone is positioned facing one of the Caribbean corridors more frequently used by drug traffickers. PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE DENIED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE San Miguel del Padrón – Oscar Mario González, jailed journhalist member of the ¨Decorum Work Group¨, told his wife, Mirtha Wong, that he is not receiving any medical assistance for the gastritis he is suffering. González, who is locked in the ¨1580¨ jail, located in San Miguel del Padrón Municipality, said he has asked medical attention to the authorities, in order to alleviate his gastritis, which produces him acidity and stomach aches. To his request, the prison’s reeducation officer informed him that he had to present a medical certificate, a document that the independent journalist does not have, since his expedient has not been sent to prison yet. A TOUGH SEARCH ON RAILWAY STATION Havana – Opponents Enrique Vidal O´Donoma and Pablo Collazo Rodríguez, activists from the ¨20 de Mayo¨ movement of the ¨10 de Octubre¨ delegation in the Cuban capital, were victims of a very tough search by the railway police at the ¨Railroads from the City of Havana’s¨ main station. The pretext given by the authorities was the alleged robbery of a lever allowing the locomotive to move, but in reality, the situation was used as a way to confiscate home made products offered as snacks to the travelers, for which large fines were imposed. VIOLENT CRIME ON THE RISE San Miguel del Padrón – A very significant increase in forced robberies in homes in this town has been recorded. Many neighbors are afraid that the times to come shall be much worse and that the government is incapable of controlling such actions. Besides, there is a high incidence of drug abuse among the young, especially in the neighborhood known as ¨La Corea¨, in this municipality, which, as a consequence, is increasing the number of police searches in the zone’s living quarters. EVICTIONS AND VIOLENCE IN MARIANAO Marianao – At ¨La Corbata¨ neighborhood, in Marianao Municipality, more than 30 families have been evicted, in spite of the fact that their homes were built there many years ago. The day before the eviction, men from that area were arrested in order to avoid confrontations, while women and children were claiming, out in the open, for some kind of solution from the government. In the mean time, not very far from there, at the ¨Berroa¨ district, law enforcement agents were surprised when, supposedly on official mission, they were robbing second hand clothes from one of the containers the island receives as part of the international help.
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