24 November 1997
Further information on EXTRA 139/97 issued 17 October 1997 and re-issued 21 October and 30 October 1997
Prisoners of Conscience /Possible POCs / Legal Concern and new concern: Hunger Strike
CUBA
Daula CARPIO MATA (female)
Roxanna Alina CARPIO MATA (female), sister of above
Maria Felicia MATA MACHADO (female), 54, mother of the two above
Ileana PENALVER DUQUE (female)
Vicente GARCIA RAMOS (male)
Lilian MENESES MARTINEZ (female)
Ivan LEMA ROMERO (male)
Jose Antonio ALVARADO ALMEIDA (male)
Jose Miguel LLERA MARTINEZ (male)
Danilo SANTOS MENDEZ (male)
Arelis FLEITES MENDEZ (male) , all members of the unofficial
Partido Pro Derechos Humanos en
Cuba (PPDHC), Party for Human Rights in Cuba
On 22 October 1997, eight PPDHC members were sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment or 'correctional work' for 'associating with others to commit a crime', and 'disobedience' after going on hunger strike, in protest at the arrest of Daula Carpio Mata, another PPDHC member. Amnesty International is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
The sentence against the eight was ratified on appeal and they are all reported to be continuing their fast in protest at the charges against Daula Carpio Mata and themselves. There are serious concerns for the health of the eight, one of whom has reportedly had a heart attack. Three of them - Roxanna Alina Carpio Mata, Ivan Lema Romero and Jose Miguel Llera Martinez - have remained in prison since their arrest on 14 October. The other five - Danilo Santos Mendez, Vicente Garcia Ramos, Jose Antonio Alvaro Almeida, Lilian Meneses Martinez and Ileana Penalver Duque, who were sentenced to 'correctional work' - are due to report on 24 November to different work camps [granjas].
At least three of the eight are currently in Villa Clara Provincial Hospital suffering from the effects of their hunger strike: Jose Antonio Alvarado Almeida, aged 33, reportedly suffered a heart attack on 22 November and is in intensive care; Ileana Penalver Duque is reportedly under observation; and Roxanna Carpio Mata, who was transferred to hospital from Guamajal Prison on 20 November, is reportedly being fed intravenously after it was discovered upon her transfer to hospital that she is pregnant. It is not clear whether she has given up her hunger strike on learning that she was pregnant.
The eight went on hunger strike at the home of one of them in Santa Clara in protest at the arrest of PPDHC provincial delegate Daula Carpio Mata on 9 October. It is believed that the authorities saw this as particularly provocative because that week many visitors, including foreign journalists, were arriving in the city for the funeral of revolutionary leader Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, whose remains had recently been returned from Bolivia. Daula Carpio Mata was later sentenced on 29 October to 16 months' 'correctional work with internment' for 'assault', 'atentado', on the grounds that she verbally attacked a prison doctor during the trial of another PPDHC member in July. She is at present at home awaiting the outcome of her appeal. This was due to take place on 21 November at Villa Clara People's Provincial Court [Tribunal Popular Provincial de Villa Clara] but was reportedly postponed because the prosecution witness in the case was not in a fit state to testify. Amnesty International has received reports that the prosecution witness may have been pressurised into testifying at the original trial by State Security.
Amnesty International believes that the charges on which the hunger strikers have been convicted have been brought solely on account of their peaceful political activities. The organization is therefore urging that the charges against them be dropped and that they be released immediately and unconditionally on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience. It is also investigating the background to the charge brought against Daula Carpio Mata. It believes that it may have been fabricated in order to discredit her and the PPDHC and that if imprisoned in such circumstances, she may also be a prisoner of conscience.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:
urging that the charges against Roxanna Carpio Mata, Ileana Penalver Duque, Vicente Garcia Ramos, Lilian Meneses Martinez, Ivan Lema Romero, Jose Antonio Alvarado Almeida, Jose Miguel Llera Benitez and Danilo Santos Mendez be immediately dropped and those in detention released unconditionally on the grounds that they have been targeted solely because of their peaceful political activities; - requesting that those in custody who are on hunger strike and who request medical attention be granted immediate access to all necessary treatment to ensure their wellbeing and that Roxanna Carpio Mata, who has recently been found to be pregnant, be provided with pre-natal advice; - expressing concern at reports that State Security may have been exerting pressure on a prosecution witness to testify against Daula Carpio Mata and that, if imprisoned, the latter may also be a prisoner of conscience.
APPEALS TO:
1) Minister of the Interior:
General Abelardo Colome Ibarra
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Plaza de la Revolucion
La Habana, Cuba
Dear Minister:
[Faxes: 011 53 7 33 5261 (attn: Ministro del Interior)]
[Telegrams: Ministro Interior, Havana, Cuba]
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]
[Telexes: 307 511122 / 307 511464 / 307 512950]
[Faxes: 011 53 7 333085 / 011 53 7 333460]
3) 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]
[Telexes: 307 511456 fisge]
COPIES TO:
Cuban Journalists Union (official body):
Union de Periodistas de Cuba
Calle 23 No. 452, Apartado 6646
Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Editor of Granma (daily newspaper):
Sr Jacinto Granda de Laserna
Granma
Apdo 6260
La Habana, Cuba
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 December 22, 1997.