Blog for Cuba

Blogaccion por la libertad de Cuba

Blogaccion por la libertad de Cuba, el 20 de octubre.

Network:

Global

Start Time:	Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:35pm
End Time:	Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 11:35pm
Location:	Blogs, pág. personales, Facebook, Twitter, otras redes sociales, etc.

Description

El 20 de octubre, fecha en que han situado el DIA DE LA CULTURA CUBANA, pedimos a los blogs y espacios WEB que lo deseen, SE REPITA el primero de junio, porque siguen siendo aspectos candentes en la isla.

LIBERTAD DE OPINION ,DE ACCESO A INTERNET,DE ENTRAR Y SALIR DE CUBA; DE LOS PRESOS DE CONSCIENCIA.
LIBERTAD PARA CUBA

Se solicita -sin imposicion- LIBERTAD PARA CUBA o ABAJO LA DICTADURA DE LOS CASTRO--a su iniciativa y con sus palabras -PARA QUE SE REFLEJE EN LAS PAGINAS GOOGLE, EN TWITTER Y FACEBOOK como un llamado de los cubanos y sea mayoritario el reclamo -solo por eso, cualquier sugerencia es bienvenida.


LAS PERSONAS, blogs y espacios interesados, pueden proponer imagenes, textos, relacionados con la cultura cubana, haciendo , a su vez, un llamado a los intelectuales, creadores, blogueros, gente de a pie, de la isla a que honren este dia con dignidad.
A USTEDES LA LIBERTAD

-el principio es el mismo, durante todo un dia, invadir los espacios virtuales con la demanda. Las asociaciones y amigos de donde sea, que deseen participar,son bienvenidos.

-los que crean esto, favor de copiar y pegar por todos lados-

Es simple: pasar la voz, el que lo desee. Poner en su blog un enlace, el que lo desee. Poner en su blog un póster, una imagen, el que lo desee. Desde las redes sociales, el que lo desee.

Reporters Sans Frontiéres

Reporters Sans Frontiéres

Doctor and journalist starts hunger strike after 80 days in preventive detention as clampdown continues

Medical doctor and dissident journalist Darsi Ferrer, who began a hunger strike two days ago, today entered his 80th day in “preventive detention”.

His wife, Yusnaimy Jorge, has written an open letter condemning the circumstances of his imprisonment, at Valle Grande jail in Havana.

“The prosecutor’s office has now held him in prison for three months, ignoring the fact that criminal procedure provides for preventive detention only when the offence is particularly serious, that it there is a high incidence of it in the country, or that there is a risk that the defendant will try to escape justice. None of these conditions applies to Darsi’s case”, Yusnaimy Jorge wrote in a letter, posted on the website Cubanet.

Ferrer was accused of illegally obtaining building materials to renovate his house, something he has always denied. Under the law governing this kind of offence, his trial should have been held at the latest 60 days after his arrest.

He began a hunger strike two days ago in protest at his prison conditions. He was refused medical treatment on 9 September despite suffering from severe dental pain. The prison governor justified his refusal by claiming that he had not been able to obtain the necessary permission from counter-espionage services!

“The reasons for Darsi Ferrer’s detention are no longer in doubt, after 80 days in custody in contradiction with the laws of the country. While Cuba wants to show the world the face of progressive openness and dialogue, the internal reality is at odds with any improvements in public freedoms,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“The situation for Cuban journalists and bloggers is not getting better - far from it. Some 25 of them are still in prison, some having been sentenced to up to 27 years. Among them is Reporters Without Borders’ correspondent, Ricardo González Alfonso, who has been held since March 2003 and is serving a 20-year term", the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

There has been an upsurge in threats against independent journalists in the past few months. One of them, Yoel Espinosa Medrano, received death threats from militants belonging to the sole political party on 12 October.

Police on 2 October surrounded a house to block access to a seminar being held there by the independent communicators’ network. They also briefly detained several dissident journalists, confiscating a camera, memory cards and notebooks from. In response to their protests, one police officer told them, “The laws do not apply to dissidents".

To this incomplete list of violations of public freedoms, should be added the refusal of an exit visa to famous blogger Yoani Sánchez who should have travelled to the United States to receive a prize. The young woman has just had her fourth refusal. Sánchez has been nominated for the 2009 Reporters Without Borders prize in the Cyber-freedom category.

Cuba is ranked 169th out of 173 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ world press freedom index for 2008.

Posted using ShareThis

A Mi Cuba

From Amalia Agramonte, Lucrecia y Andy Garcia - "Guantanamera" Fabulous!

H/T: Fernando

Cuban political prisoner Dr. Darsi Ferrer on hunger strike

Cuban political prisoner Dr. Darsi Ferrer is on a hunger strike to protest his arbitrary imprisonment which violates Cuban law. His wife, Yusnaimy Jorge Soca via email published  at Uncommon Sense, is asking for the help of the international community in demanding and end to the injustices he is suffering.(English translation by Cubanita for Babalublog.

Dear friends,

Darsi started a hungry strike today, October 13th, 2009, to protest the Cuban government arbitrary and unjust imprisonment against him, which violates Cuban’s own current laws.

He is being accused of a crime of [receptacion - having/receiving illegally obtained merchandise] that, due to its characteristics, is supposed to fall into the category of crimes to be processed in an expedite manner, in less than 20 days after being accused. The reasoning behind this is the low dangerousness of the crime and the low nominal value of the merchandise confiscated.

Three months ago the public attorney [fiscalia] requested that Darsi be put in jail as a preventive measure, without taking into account that [current Cuban] criminal law establishes that a preventive prison term only applies when it is a crime that has caused [public] alarm, is a crime with higher incidence in the given geographical area or there is a funded probable cause and/suspicion that the accused will try to evade justice. None of these conditions exist in the case of Darsi Ferrer.

His defense lawyer proposed to change this preventive measure sin September 16th, 2009 and she has not received any answer so far. However, the [current Cuban] criminal law clearly states that the attorney [fiscalia] has the obligation to answer to any proposal of change in the preventive measures within five (5) business days.

The [current Cuban] criminal law establishes that the phase for investigation [instructional] where docket/case is prepared should be conducted in the least amount of time possible and establishes a maximum of 60 days to present the accusation in front of the tribunal. There is an exception to extend these terms, but only for cases heavily justified.

78 days has passed now and Darsi’s docket/case is still in the instructional phase, even though there is nothing to investigate. It is unknown when the docket will be delivered to the tribunal to finally have a date for the trial, which is totally unjustifiable.

Besides, the way Darsi is being treated in jail is discriminatory, and this treatment got even worse after the newspaper El Nuevo Herald published a story where he denounced the “Inside stories of the Valle Grande Jail”. This [discrimination] is placing his personal security and integrity at risk inside the prison.

The State’s security repression machine, instead of punishing the officials and the guards that have been denounced after committing serious crimes inside the jail, has consistently order the harassment of any other inmate that maintains any type of relationship or communication with Darsi, or even dare to approach him.

For that reason, the inmate Eliecer Fuentes, Alejandro Gainza, Delfín González and Tamayo Quiala, have been punished, and other are currently under investigation or being harassed by the prison guards.

Is short, Darsi is being forced to cohabit in crowded conditions with common inmates, and those who even dare to have a conversation with him, are being punished.

When he was arrested, the police raided our house, supposedly, due to tip that we were buying construction materials with an illegal origin. During that fake search in our house, they confiscated two bags of cement and some metal sheets. They also broke the wall and tore down two windows in an interior hallway in the house.

What nobody understand is, why they didn’t showed any interest in the bag of cement, the gravel and the sand piles we have had in the house’s front porch, in plain view, for almost a year? Why did they tore down only two of the windows and left four other and the house’s main door, if they are all made with the same material?

The government’s goal is pretty clear: they want to keep Darsi in jail for political reasons, without showing any minimal sign of respect for the legislation they have put in place themselves.

I hold the authorities of the Cuban government responsible for anything that could happen to my husband, Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramirez, and I the help of the international community demanding and end to the injustices he is suffering.

Best regards, and God bless you all,

Yusnaimy Jorge Soca
Human Rights activitist

En español:

Queridos amigos:

Darsi comenzó una huelga de hambre en el día de hoy, 13 de octubre de 2009, en protesta por las arbitrariedades del gobierno cubano, que lo tiene injustamente preso violando las propias leyes vigentes en el país.

A él se le acusa de un supuesto delito de receptación que por sus características cae en la categoría de proceso penal abreviado, lo que equivale a que debían haberle celebrado el juicio en menos de 20 días después de ser acusado, dada la escasa peligrosidad del delito y la poca cuantía de los artículos personales ocupados.

Hace tres meses que la fiscalía le aplicó como medida cautelar la prisión preventiva, sin tomar en cuenta que la ley de procedimiento penal establece que la prisión preventiva sólo es aplicable cuando el delito causa alarma, tiene alta incidencia en el territorio, o existe sospecha fundada de que el acusado pretende evadir la justicia. Ninguna de esas condiciones se cumplen en el caso de Darsi.

La abogada de la defensa contratada propuso un cambio de medida para Darsi desde el día 16 de septiembre de 2009 y no ha recibido respuesta hasta la fecha, sin embargo, la ley de procedimiento penal especifica claramente que la fiscalía tiene la obligación de responder las propuestas de cambios de medida en un término de 5 días hábiles.

La ley de procedimiento penal estipula que la fase de instrucción del expediente de los acusados se realiza en el menor tiempo posible, y determina un término máximo de 60 días como tope para su entrega al Tribunal, prorrogable únicamente en los casos muy bien justificados. Al cabo de 78 días aún el expediente de Darsi lo mantienen en instrucción aunque no hay nada que investigar y se desconoce cuándo lo entregarán al Tribunal para que acaben de hacerle juicio, lo que no tiene ninguna justificación.

Además, el trato que recibe Darsi en la cárcel es discriminatorio, el que se agudizó después que el periódico El Nuevo Herald, publicara su denuncia “Interioridades de la Prisión Valle Grande”, lo que pone en mayor riesgo su seguridad dentro de la prisión, pues el aparato represivo de la seguridad del estado en vez de castigar a los oficiales y guardias denunciados por cometer graves delitos en la cárcel, mando a hostigar a los presos que se relacionen con Darsi o que simplemente se le acerquen. Ya han castigado por esa razón a los reclusos Eliecer Fuentes, Alejandro Gainza, Delfín González y Tamayo Quiala, otros están siendo investigados o han sufrido hostigamiento. En concreto a Darsi lo obligan a convivir hacinado con los presos comunes y a los presos que conversen con él los castigan.

Cuando lo arrestaron, la policía intervino en nuestra casa por una supuesta denuncia de materiales de la construcción de precedencia ilegal. Nos decomisaron en el falso registro, 2 sacos de cementos, algunas tiras de planchuelas de hierro y también arrancaron de la pared y ocuparon 2 ventanas del pasillo interior de la casa. Lo que no se entiende es ¿por qué no les interesó el saco de cemento y los de arena y polvo de piedra que tenemos en el portal desde hace un año a la vista pública? ¿Por qué sólo arrancaron 2 ventanas y dejaron las otras 4 y la puerta de la casa, si todas son iguales?

La intención del gobierno es muy clara, mantener a Darsi en la cárcel por razones políticas, sin importarles para nada el más mínimo respeto por sus propias leyes.

Responsabilizo a las autoridades del gobierno de Cuba por lo que le suceda a mi esposo, el Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramírez, y le pido a la comunidad internacional que nos ayude y exija que acabe de una vez la injusticia y las arbitrariedades que él está sufriendo.

Saludos y que Dios los bendiga.

Yusnaimy Jorge soca.
Activista por los Derechos Humanos.

Libertad means freedom

From Octavo Cerco, via Capital Hill Cubans comes this picture of graffiti that recently appeared in the Nuevo Vedado neighborhood of Havana:

 

The joker wins a prize

 

Ho hum, just another day in the Orwellian world we now live in.
 

Congresistas cubano-estadounidenses arribaron al país para apoyar elecciones

Hondudiario:

Los representantes dijeron en una conferencia de prensa, antes de abordar el avión, que la realización de las elecciones y su reconocimiento por parte de la comunidad internacional es el camino para salir de la crisis.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Tres congresistas cubano-estadounidenses por el estado de Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Díaz Balart y Mario Díaz Balart, arribaron este lunes al país para apoyar la realización de elecciones.

Como primer punto los congresistas se reuniran con la Corte Suprema de Justicia (CSJ)para conocer los hechos que llevaron a los demás poderes a tomar la desición de destituir del poder al ex mandatrio Manuel Zelaya.

Ros-Lehtinen prevé reunirse con Roberto Micheletti, funcionarios y personas afectadas por la cancelación de visas estadounidenses.

Asimismo, la legisladora se reunirá también con el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Carlos López Contreras, la viceministra Martha Lorena Alvarado, el cardenal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez, representantes de la sociedad civil y empresarios estadounidenses que viven en Honduras.

Así mismo con funcionarios de la embajada norteamericana en Tegucigalpa para recibir un informe confidencial "sobre los intereses de la seguridad norteamericana relacionada a Honduras y a la región".

Por su parte, Lincoln y Mario Díaz-Balart se reunirán con los candidatos presidenciales, representantes de la Junta Electoral y funcionarios de alto rango del Gobierno.

Los representantes dijeron en una conferencia de prensa, antes de abordar el avión, que la realización de las elecciones y su reconocimiento por parte de la comunidad internacional es el camino para salir de la grave crisis desatada en el país desde que el presidente Manuel Zelaya fue depuesto.

"El proceso electoral comenzó antes que el presidente Zelaya fuera sacado del poder y cada partido ya había designado a sus candidatos", dijo Díaz Balart, al considerar que los comicios deben tener el apoyo de la comunidad internacional y ser considerados "legítimos".

"La administración del presidente estadounidense Barack Obama no le otorga visas a los funcionarios del gobierno hondureño para que puedan venir a explicar la situación aquí, es por eso que viajamos nosotros para escucharlos y pedir que puedan realizarse las elecciones", agregó Mario Díaz Balart.

Por su parte, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen dijo que "la OEA tiene que cooperar para se concreten las elecciones del 29 de noviembre, debe asegurar la presencia de observadores y de todas las garantías necesarias para que se hagan en forma democrática", consideró.

Los tres congresistas no consideran que en Honduras hubo un golpe de Estado, sino la remoción legítima por las autoridades constitucionales de un presidente (Zelaya) que, en pos de allanar el camino para su reelección, estaba incumpliendo con las leyes y la Constitución hondureña.

La delegación estadounidense se reunirá con funcionarios del gobierno de facto que encabeza Roberto Micheletti, y con representantes de la oposición y del depuesto presidente Manuel Zelaya, que se encuentra refugiado en la embajada de Brasil. hondudiario

Let's call a spade-a-spade, hypocrisy of Delahunt & Co.

Capital Hill Cubans rips six members of Congress for their hypocritical letter threatening Honduras:

The letter signed by Representatives Bill Delahunt, James McGovern, Sam Farr, Gregory Meeks, Janice Schakowsky, and Xavier Becerra stresses that,

"Unless the coup is ended, President Zelaya is restored, and violations of democracy and human rights are halted, no presidential election conducted in that environment will be recognized as free or fair or legitimate by the United States government and its senior leaders."

Fascinating.

It's important to remember that each of these Members of Congress has traveled to Cuba on multiple occasions and are leaders in Congressional efforts to unconditionally normalize relations with the Castro regime's totalitarian dictatorship.

Now, these six Members, who have been historically silent on the daily violations of human rights perpetuated by the Cuban dictatorship, demand that the Honduran government restore democracy and respect human rights?

With what credibility, Congressmen?

And wait -- are those democratic conditions they are placing on the Honduran government? In other words, the same "conditionality approach" that they reject regarding U.S. policy towards Cuba?

But the hypocrisy goes beyond Members.

On the same issue, the AP separately reported:

"I think that this trip potentially will muddy the waters even more, and that would not be constructive," said Joy Olson, executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America, which promotes human rights and democracy. "The danger of this visit is that those supporting the Micheletti government re-entrench."

Where does the Washington Office on Latin America promote human rights and democracy?

Not in Cuba, that's for sure, as they actively advocate to unconditionally normalize relations with the Castro dictatorship. And what about the multiple visits by Members of Congress and this organization to Cuba? Doesn't it legitimize and embolden the Cuban regime?

It's time to call a spade-a-spade.

Read it at Capital Hill Cubans, and check out this letter at La Gringa's Blogicito.

Support freedom and democracy for Cuba

From Capital Hill Cubans:

Looking Out the Restaurant Window

From ABC News:

At the rooftop pool of Havana's Hotel Saratoga, where rates run $200 and up and two-story suites have humidors and marble bathrooms, young Brits order mojitos. On the street below, near crumbling apartment buildings of Old Havana, a boy peers through the hotel restaurant's window and stretches a hand toward patrons nibbling delicacies unavailable to the average rice-and-beans-eating Cuban, miming hunger.

In the 50th anniversary year of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro into power, tourism is the No. 1 moneymaker, while locals might subsist on $20 a month and omnipresent food rationing.

In other words, while the Castro regime owns and operates the island's tourism industry, it condemns its people to subservience, humiliation, shortages and repression -- all of this to maintain absolute, dictatorial control.

U.S. tourists should not contribute to this repression until the Castro regime ends its monopoly over the island's tourism industry and allows the Cuban people to partake in the fruits of their labor.

Or, at the very least, until Cubans are allowed to look out the restaurant window from the inside, instead of being forced to observe from the outside.

The US-Cuba Democracy PAC - will raise funds from individuals to contribute to candidates running for the United States Congress, who oppose any economic measures that directly or indirectly finance the repressive machinery of the Cuban dictatorship and, who are committed to supporting legislation seeking to strengthen support for Cuba's courageous pro-democracy movement.

USCD PAC will also raise funds to inform U.S. Senators and Representatives of both political parties, and their staffs, about the true nature of the Castro regime and their anti-American policies and activities worldwide, as demonstrated by Cuba’s inclusion in the Department of State's list of state sponsors of terrorism.

USCD PAC's mission will continue until all Cuban political prisoners are freed; the Cuban people’s fundamental human and civil rights are recognized and enforced; and a transition to a multiparty democracy occurs in Cuba.

Donate by clicking here.

En español aquí.