HAVANA, February 9, 1997 (BPIC).-- Severe harassment has been unleashed against independent journalists, once again, as of February 9th in Havana at the hands of officials of the so-called Unique Councils of Vigilance and Protection, presumably getting their orders from the State Security apparatus. The Independent Press Bureau of Cuba learned of this situation, which was experienced by several directors of (news) agencies Cuba Press and Habana Press, Raul Rivero and Joaquin Torres Alvarez, as well as, correspondent Ana Luisa Lopez Baeza and Jorge Olivera, respectively.
In addition to this, since Saturday, February 8, journalist Mercedes Moreno, photo-journalist Omar Rodriguez Saludes and reporter Luis Lopez Prendes, all from BPIC, were summoned to appear by the same Councils of Vigilance and Protection in their respective neighborhoods.
At the homes of Rodriguez Saludes and Mercedes Moreno, who refused to attend such summons, officers who identified themselves as from the Councils of Vigilance, stormed into their homes and threatened them with "severe consequences" for their non-compliance.
The Independent Press Bureau of Cuba hereby calls upon all the international organizations which have supported us, to the Interamerican Press Society, Reporters Without Frontiers, the Committee for the Support of the Press in New York, and to all democratic governments throughout the world, to make them aware of the unjust threats to which these members of the independent press agencies in Cuba are being subjected.
Reported by Mercedes Moreno.