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Gay rights in Cuba

 

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The 2013 IACHR Report Documents Repression in Cuba

From The Organization of American States, Cuba:

“The State has committed or is committing massive, serious and widespread violations of human rights guaranteed in the American Declaration, the American Convention, or the other applicable human rights instrument”.

Just a few examples cited in the report.

Testimony of human rights defender Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera:

For her part, Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, a human rights defender and wife of Jorge Luís García Pérez Antúnez, also a human rights defender, told the IACHR that because of her work, she had been the victim of physical assaults that left her unconscious in 2013. A beating she received from agents of the Political Police in early 2013 had serious consequences; she was unable to walk for three months; throughout her ordeal she was denied medical assistance. The Commission was also informed that the case of Damaris Moya Portielis is one of the cruelest. She was thrown on the floor while they forced a pen into her vagina. She was later arbitrarily detained; they threatened to rape her six-year-old daughter, whom she could not send to school. As a result of these events, she had to go on a hunger strike to demand protection for her daughter, whom she could not send to school. The human rights defenders who testified before the Commission also reported cases of other human rights defenders who had been the victims of beatings and arbitrary detention by the Political Police, and other forms of abuse, destruction of their property and video cameras, and acts of repression to retaliate for their peaceful activites.

Acts of repression and police brutality committed against Iván Hernández Carrillo:

Iván Hernández Carrillo, an independent trade unionist and member of the “Group of 75 of the black spring of March 2003,” when he sought to show solidarity with the Ladies in White Movement on Sunday, July 14, in the municipality of Colón, Matanzas Province. Five plainclothes policemen attacked the trade unionist in broad daylight, striking him repeatedly in the stomach and on his back while stabbing him in the left shoulder with a pointed object. During the assault one of the agents whispered to Mr. Sernández Carrillo, “We are just waiting for the orders to kill you all.” Subsequently, Mr. Hernández Carrillo was arrested and driven in a jeep to a remote location where he was released.

The Ladies in White are routinely subjected to violent acts of repression:

The Ladies in White also told the IACHR that the Rapid Response Brigades, which they said were organizations sponsored by the Cuban government, stage “acts of repudiation” [mítines de repudio] to prevent them from getting to church and/or participating in peaceful marches. The acts of repudiation staged by members of these brigades are not spontaneous; instead, those involved are summoned and at times even forced to attend the “acts” by the regime’s Political Police. They also maintained that during these acts of repudiation, civilians and members of the security services beat up members of the Ladies in White, inflicting broken bones, torn muscles, sprains, abrasions and other physical injuries; the victims are then refused medical treatment. The members of the Ladies in White are subsequently detained and transported to prisons or are left to fend for themselves in unpopulated areas far from their homes, with no personal identification documents or money and exposed to dangers of all kinds. They also pointed out that at the time of their arrest, no record is made of their admittance to the police station or how long they remained there, and no record of the arrest is made.

The IACHR also received information to the effect that the Ladies in White are usually taken directly to cells with neither hygienic facilities nor privacy. Their jailers force them to strip and to bend over to check whether they have any recording or other devices in their genitals. Recently, a group of more than 10 women from Havana were forcibly stripped and, in the presence of various officials from State Security and agents of the National Police, were carefully searched These women were beaten and threatened that a long, semi-flexible object with a bulb at the tip would be introduced into their vagina. 150. The IACHR also received information to the effect that the Ladies in White are usually taken directly to cells with neither hygienic facilities nor privacy. Their jailers force them to strip and to bend over to check whether they have any recording or other devices in their genitals. Recently, a group of more than 10 women from Havana were forcibly stripped and, in the presence of various officials from State Security and agents of the National Police, were carefully searched These women were beaten and threatened that a long, semi-flexible object with a bulb at the tip would be introduced into their vagina.

There are more than thirty pages within the report documenting the Castro regime's institutionalized campaign of human rights violations against the Cuban people.

Read the entire report here.

Update on Antúnez and his wife: situation still critical

From Babalú Blog:

Immortal words from a mortal and extremely vulnerable Cuban, written over the blue paint with which Castronoid police had blotted out previous expressions of dissent:

"Down with the Castros"
"I will not shut up and I will not leave Cuba"

Martha Beatriz Roque just emailed the following message at 3:29 pm EST.

A la 1 y 40 pm volvieron a arrestar a Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez y a su esposa Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, los sacaron de la casa esposado, a pesar de que él está en su séptimo día de huelga de hambre y hoy ha vomitado tres veces sangre y bilis y no ha podido orinar desde ayer, pues no está tomando agua. Los soltaron a las 3 de la tarde, pero volvieron a entrar impunemente a su casa.

Tomaron video hacièndose los buenos le dijeron a Iris que bajo custodia mèdica si podìa salir. Este video según Iris es el que necesitan para poner en la televisión porque incluso estaban recogiendo los regueros que dejaron.

Iris respondió que ella no estaba presa para tener que salir acompañada de su casa con custodia médica y como buena noticia me dice que Antúnez accedió a ponerse hielo en la boca.

Los de la seguridad del estado le tomaron los signos vitales y lo estaban filmando y los de la brigada especial que siempre los han maltratado le pusieron las esposas diciendo que con cuidado.

Èl me hizo llegar algunas fotos para que las subiera a internet y aquí las envío.

Summary: Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez and his wife Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera were handcuffed and taken from their home around 1:40 this afternoon. Antúnez is in the seventh day of a total hunger strike: no food or water. Today he vomited blood and bile three times and hasn't been able to urinate since yesterday. Today, he moderated his abstinence from water very slightly by rubbing ice on his lips.

They were both released around 3 pm, but in the meantime, state police entered their home and ransacked it again for "illegal" objects.

Police filmed their release and return to their home, and carefully cleaned up the mess they had made during the search - and then filmed a perfectly orderly house. They also filmed some medics checking Antúnez's vital signs. Iris thinks this film will be broadcast on television to "prove" there is no abuse involved.

Iris was informed that she can only leave her house under the care of medical personnel. Iris responded by saying she was not a prisoner and should be able to come and go as she pleases.

The special brigade that has been harassing them -- and has painted over their house three times to cover up anti-Castro slogans -- is the same one that handcuffed them and led them away. Their parting words were "be careful."

Antúnez took some photos of their house, and of the protest signs he has just re-written over the blue paint with which the state police blotted out --for the third time -- slogans he had written in opposition to the Castro regime.

Antúnez has asked that these photos be distributed on the internet as widely as possible.

So, here they are:

"Abajo Castro" = Down with Castro
"Castro Asesino" = Castro Murderer
"Castro Ladron" = Castro Thief
"Ni me callo ni me voy de Cuba" = I will not shut up and I will not leave Cuba
"Cuba si, Castro no" = Yes to Cuba, no to Castro

Tuitazo to #FreeSonia y #FreeElCritico

Demand freedom for all political prisoners in Cuba.

Médica confirma: "MEU SALÁRIO ESTÁ EM CUBA"

Una entrevista con una doctora que forma parte de un nuevo grupo de médicos cubanos que llegó a Brasil el sábado 14 de septiembre en un avión de la Fuerza Aérea brasilera, fue interrumpido abruptamente por un official del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil, cuando la doctora dijo que su salario integro lo enviaban para Cuba.

YouTube, via The Real Cuba:

H/T: Jorge

Récord de Represión de 2013 en Cuba

UNPACU:

Estimados Sres.,

Adjuntamos Nota de Prensa de la UNPACU, junto al Informe Oficial de la CCDHRN en Cuba (de la Federación Internacional de Derechos Humanos, www.fidh.org) recién hecho público hace escasos minutos.

Para mayor información sobre la UNPACU (Unión Patriótica de Cuba) y sus actividades,
Dentro de Cuba:
Jose Daniel Ferrer, Secretario Ejecutivo, + 53 - 53 14 67 40;
Felix Navarro, Coordinador General, + 53- 53 68 87 45;
En el exterior:
Luis Enrique Ferrer, Rep. Internacional, + (1) 786 304 63 03 o +(1) 786 553 16 66
(USA)
Javier Larrondo, Rep. en la Unión Europea (España), + (34) 647 56 47 41
Para contactar con la CCDHRN:
Elizardo Sánchez Santa Cruz-Pacheco: (+) 53 5 245 8080
Sede central en La Habana: (+) 53 7 203-8584

REPRESIÓN CONTRA LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO EN MATANZAS, CUBA

Latin News Agency

http://www.latinnewsagency.us/

PRESS RELEASE

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

(URGENTE)

 

Contacto: Gualdo Hidalgo

Latin News Agency

8 Nunn Avenue, Washington NJ 07882

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (908)-835-0150

 http://www.latinnewsagency.us/cuba.htm

 REPRESIÓN CONTRA LAS DAMAS DE BLANCO EN MATANZAS, CUBA

 Comunicado de Prensa

  (Urgente)

 Matanzas, Cuba. Desde hace tres domingos turbas organizadas por la policía política con palos, piedras y otros objetos contundentes vienen apostándose a las salidas de la Iglesia católicas de los municipios de Cárdenas y Colón con el malsano propósito de agredir a un grupo de mujeres que de manera pacificas asisten a las Iglesia para orar por la libertad de los presos políticos.

  Las féminas son conocidas dentro de la isla y en el mundo como las Damas de Blanco, que surgieron en el año 2003 al calor de la primavera, luego que  el régimen desatara una ola represiva que llevó a la cárcel a 75 opositores condenándolos a largas penas.

 Durante los últimos domingo las mismas han sido víctimas de maltratos físicos y de brutalidad policial, al emplear militares vestidas de civil para acometer tales abusos, si tenemos en cuenta que estas están entrenadas y preparadas para matar si es necesario; en anteriores capítulos le ocasionaron una fractura en el brazo izquierdo a la Dama de Blanco Sonia Álvarez Campillo , tomaron por el cuello utilizando una llave de estrangulamiento a la Dama de Blanco Lázara Rodríguez,  entre otros desmanes sinónimo de barbarie.

 Llamamos la atención de la comunidad internacional ante lo que está ocurriendo y les pedimos solidaridad con las Damas de Blanco este domingo, quienes hasta hoy han recibido unas decenas de amenazas  de la policía y anónimos si no desisten de asistir a la Iglesia.

 La valiente actitud de estas mujeres merecen el respaldo mundial y de nuestros amigos en estos momentos difíciles de acoso y  alta represión.

  Firmamos la nota:

Félix Navarro Rodríguez.

 Secretario General de la Unión Patriotica de Cuba (UNPACU)  y ex prisionero de conciencia del grupo de los 75.

 Ángel Moya Acosta.

 Miembro de la Unión Patriotica de Cuba (UNPACU)  y ex prisionero de conciencia del grupo de los 75.

Iván Hernández Carrillo.

 Sindicalista Independiente Cubano y ex prisionero de conciencia del grupo de los 75.

Imagenes de los activistas golpeados en Contramaestre

UNPACU:

Ataque terrorista a la vivienda de Jorge cervantes, 29 de Julio 2012

UNPACU:

Revelando Cuba

Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet and the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights are proud to present Revelando Cuba (Revealing Cuba). Produced and distributed in Cuba, Revelando Cuba gives viewers in-depth context and analysis of international and domestic events. Relevando Cuba also features commentary by Dr.Biscet and guest interviews, covering topics that affect the day-to-day lives of the Cuban people. This first-of-its-kind program will educate Cubans about important events they would otherwise not hear about from the island's government-controlled media. Revelando Cuba - episode one- is currently being distributed on the island. You can email the program at [email protected].

Dr. Biscet has asked his friends and supporters to spread the word about this new initiative. View the program's first episode and leave a comment by using the links below.

All videos included in the first episode of Revelando Cuba can be seen here at the Revelando Cuba Youtube.com page.

Revelando Cuba (Episode 1 - Spanish) Commentary with Dr. Biscet about Pope Benedict's visit to the island this past March.

Other episodes:

Revelando Cuba con Dr. Óscar Elías BiscetNoticias Nacionales y Internacionales

Revealing Cuba with Dr. Óscar Biscet (Ep.1) Interview with Mario Félix Lleonart (Eng. subtitles)