The following information is from Amnesty International's research headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide movement working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions (political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation.Please do not repost the information below to any part of the Internet without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted on the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/

Urgent Action Network

Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: sharriso@aiusa.org
http://www.amnesty-usa.org/urgact/
Phone: 303 440 0913
Fax:303 258 7881

18 July 1997

Further information on EXTRA 106/96 issued 11 July 1996 and re- issued 24 September 1996 and 3 June 1997 Legal concern/Ill-treatment and new concerns: harassment/prisoner of conscience/possible POC

CUBA

Nestor RODRIGUEZ LOBAINA

Radames GARCIA DE LA VEGA

Ramon RODRIGUEZ

Rafael FONSECA OCHOA

new name:
Heriberto LEYVA RODRIGUEZ

Amnesty International is concerned at further developments relating to members of an unofficial youth group called Jovenes por la Democracia, Young People for Democracy, which has been campaigning for, amongst other things, changes in the Cuban university system. Radames Garcia de la Vega,who was detained on 30 April 1997, was reportedly tried on 17 June 1997 and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, charged with 'desacato a la figura del Comandante en Jefe', 'disrespect to the Commander in Chief', i.e. President Fidel Castro.

Heriberto Leyva Rodriguez, also a member of the group, was reportedly detained on 13 July 1997 and is being held at the provincial headquarters of the National Police in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba province. He has been charged with 'desacato a un juez', 'disrespect to a judge', reportedly because, at the end of the trial of Radames Garcia de la Vega, he exclaimed 'Esto es una prueba de que en Cuba no existe libertad ni democracia', 'This is proof that in Cuba there is no freedom or democracy'.

Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, President of the group, remains imprisoned in the Combinado de Guantanamo Prison. He had been sentenced in April 1997 to 18 months' imprisonment, charged with 'resisting authority' and 'disrespect'.

There is no new information about Nestor Rodriguez' father, Ramon Rodriguez, or Rafael Fonseca Ochoa, also a member of Young People for Democracy, who were both threatened with arrest in April and May 1997 respectively.

Amnesty International is seeking the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience, Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, Radames Garcia de la Vega and Heriberto Leyva. The organization believes they have been detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:

urging that Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, Radames Garcia de la Vega and Heriberto Leyva Rodriguez be immediately and unconditionally released, on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly; - urging that Heriberto Leyva Rodriguez be granted immediate access to a lawyer of his choice; - urging that no reprisals be taken against relatives and others who try to make these cases public.

APPEALS TO:

1) Attorney-General:

Dr Juan Escalona Reguera

Fiscal General de la Republica

Fiscalia General de la Republica

San Rafael 3

La Habana, Cuba

Dear Attorney General:

[Telegrams: Fiscal General, Havana, Cuba]

[Telex: 511456 fisge]

2) Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Sr Roberto Robaina Gonzalez

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Calzada No. 360

Vedado, La Habana, Cuba

Dear Minister:

[Telegrams: Ministro Relaciones Exteriores, Havana, Cuba]

[Telex: 511122 / 511464 / 512950]

[Fax: 011 53 7 333085 / 011 53 7 335261]

3) Minister of the Interior:

General Abelardo Colome Ibarra

Ministro de Interior

Ministerio del Interior

Plaza de la Revolucion

La Habana, Cuba

Dear Minister:

[Telegrams: Ministro Interior, Havana, Cuba]

4) Department of State Security:

Sr Director

Departamento de Seguridad del Estado

Versalles

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Dear Sir:

[Telegrams: Director, Seguridad del Estado, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba]

COPIES TO:

National Union of Jurists:

Union Nacional de Juristas

Apartado 4161

La Habana 4, Cuba

Editor of Granma (daily newspaper)

Sr Jacinto Granda de Laserna

Granma

Apdo 6260

La Habana, Cuba

for Urgent Action participants in the United States:

Cuba has no embassy in the US at present.

to contact its interest in the US, write

Cuban Interests Section

Mr. Fernando Remirez de Estenoz

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 August 29, 1997.