February 21, 2007

SOUR MILK

      Las Tunas – According to reports, approximately 40% of the milk produced in the Las Tunas Province, arrived to the milk processing plants in a condition of sourness which prevented its use as fresh milk. The state enterprise tried to utilize it for the production of cheese, but it wasn´t possible, losing as a whole some 106 tons of milk. As told to the official press by the director, engineer Raúl Gordillo, such loss is due to the ¨bad performance and lack of control that allows irregularities, negligence and carelessness.

PRISONER ASSAULTED

      Camagüey – Prisoner of conscience Normando Hernández González, whose health is extremely delicate, was physically assaulted by a military man from the ¨Kilo 7¨ prison in Camagüey, where he is confined. The dissident’s wife, Yara Reyes Martín, denounced to the Cuban Foundation of Human Rights, that said officer, named Juan González, attacked the journalist when was reprimanded by him for having abused of a common prisoner.

AIDS INITIATIVE

      Quemados de Güines – The Cuban Human Rights Commission, for people with VIH/AIDS, celebrated its five years of existence, by dedicating such anniversary to the deceased Cuban Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal. According to Ignacio Estrada, President of the Commission, the purposes of the organization include to encourage respect for the fundamental rights of every person with AIDS, to prevent the spread of the disease, to provide the latest information on scientific discoveries and to cooperate with every project for a free and democratic Cuba, where the patients rights will be respected. According to Estrada, they have created 3 libraries, processed 562 reports on violations of AIDS patients rights, carried out 7 protests and other activities. The Commission is planning to establish a prize for honor members of the civil society and to create a bulletin which began to circulate today.

ELECTRICAL ROBBERIES

      Havana – The electric sector authorities denounced the robbery of 36 Kms. of conductors and more than 2,000 angulars (used to support high tension towers), in 2006, according to the official press. Several sources indicate that in order to carry out such thefts special equipment is necessary, which is off limits for the general population, thus making it obvious that the robberies are the result of the corruption existing in the very same electrical company, and that the stolen materials are sold in the growing black market.