CUBA Juvencio PADRON DUENAS (known as Juan Carlos)
Amnesty International has received reports that there is again serious concern for the health of Juvencio Padron Duenas, who the organization believes may be a prisoner of conscience. There have also been some significant developments regarding his legal situation and that of the other three people involved in the case, all of whom were convicted of murder in September 1995.
Juvencio Padron Duenas, who is in his mid-30's, had suffered from a brain haemorrhage before his arrest on 7 September 1994 and shortly afterwards suffered another stroke for which he was briefly hospitalized. During the initial period of his detention, he was also reportedly beaten. Since his arrest, he has reportedly suffered from serious migraine attacks, sometimes lasting 4-6 hours. Recent reports indicate that he is also suffering from movement impairment due to his condition, which is consistent with serious high blood pressure. According to reports, he is not receiving adequate medical attention for his condition in the prison.
His family was told that they could make an appointment for him with a neurologist outside the prison. However, when they had obtained an appointment for him, the prison authorities claimed there was no transport available to take him to the hospital. When a prominent religious leader reportedly offered the use of his car to take him to the hospital, this was refused. Despite his poor state of health, his usual daily diet in the prison reportedly consists of sugared water for breakfast and boiled banana at lunch and supper, plus limited amounts of food his relatives can bring him at visiting time which is every two months.
In a separate development, the Minister of Justice has recently requested a review of the sentences passed on the four men on the grounds that serious irregularities occurred during the investigation period and the first trial hearing when three of the men, including Juvencio Padron Duenas, were sentenced to death. The death sentences were later commuted on appeal to the People's Supreme Court to 30 years' imprisonment. Amnesty International had received serious allegations following the arrest of the four that Juvencio Padron and at least one of the others were subjected to beatings and that they were forced to sign statements under duress, in the case of Juvencio Padron Duenas with a pistol held to his head, and has since received additional information that casts serious doubt on many other aspects of the case. The Minister of Justice's request for a review does not refer specifically to the allegations of ill-treatment but does acknowledge that the defendants retracted their statements during the initial trial hearing and that there are serious grounds to doubt the veracity of other supposed evidence against them. The review is due to be carried out by the People's Supreme Court between 1 and 10 October 1996.
Amnesty International very much welcomes this move, which is a very unusual step for the Cuban authorities to take, and urges that it be conducted in accordance with international standards for such procedures. The organization continues to believe that the charges against Juvencio PadronDuenas were almost certainly brought for political motives and that he is probably a prisoner of conscience.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/
airmail letters:
- welcoming the decision by the Minister of Justice to request a review
of the sentences passed on Juvencio Padron Duenas and the other three
men;
- urging that the review be conducted in accordance with international
standards for such procedures and that, should it be found that there is
no evidence to implicate them in the murders, that the sentences be
annulled and they be released immediately and unconditionally;
- expressing continuing concern for the state of health of Juvencio
Padron Duenas and urging that, as long as he remains in detention, he be
granted full access to all necessary medical attention and provided with
an adequate diet.
APPEALS TO: (SALUTATION)
1) Attorney General: (Sr Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General)
Dr Juan Escalona Reguera
Fiscal General de la Republica
Fiscalia General de la Republica
San Rafael 3
Havana, Cuba
[Telegrams: Fiscal General, Havana, Cuba]
[Telexes: 307 511456 fisge]
[Faxes: 011 53 7 333164]
2) Minister of Justice: (Sr Ministro/Dear Minister)
Dr Carlos Amat Fores
Ministro de la Justicia
Ministerio de la Justicia
Calle O # 216, 8Ý piso
e/ 23 y Humboldt, Vedado
Havana, Cuba
[Telexes: 307 511331 ]
[Telegrams: Ministro Justicia, Havana, Cuba]
3) President of the People's Supreme Court:
(Sr Presidente del Tribunal Supremo Popular/Dear President of the
People's Supreme Court)
Dr Jose Raul Amaro Salup
Presidente del Tribunal Supremo Popular
Havana, Cuba
[Telegrams: Presidente, Tribunal Supremo Popular, Havana, Cuba]
[Telexes: 307 511457 tsupo]
4) Minister of Foreign Affairs: (Sr Ministro / Dear Minister)
Sr Roberto Robaina Gonzalez
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Calzada No. 360
Vedado, Havana, Cuba
[Telegrams: Ministro Relaciones Exteriores, Havana, Cuba]
[Telexes: 307 511122 / 307 511464 / 307 512950]
[Faxes: 011 53 7 333085 / 011 53 7 335261]
COPIES TO:
National Union of Jurists
Union Nacional de Juristas de Cuba
Calle 21, No. 552, esq. D
Apartado 4161
Havana 4, Cuba
Director of Ciego de Avila Provincial Prison
Senor Director
Prision Provincial de Ciego de Avila
Ciego de Avila, Cuba
Cuba has no embassy in the US at present. to contact its interest in the
US, write:
Cuban Interests Section
Mr. Alfonso Fraga Perez
2630 - 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after November 20, 1996.