The Constitution also includes “dangerousness,” defined as the “special proclivity of a person to commit crimes, demonstrated by his conduct in manifest contradiction of socialist norms.” (Human Rights Watch 42) If the police decide that a person exhibits signs of dangerousness, they may bring the offender before a court or subject him to “therapy” or “political reeducation.” There have been many cases in which officials have enforced these laws upon there citizens.
In January in 1999, a court in Moron, a Cuban province, sentenced Jesus Joel Diaz Hernandez, Director of the Cooperative of Independent Journalists (an advocator of human rights) to 4 years’ imprisonment for “dangerousness.” (Human Rights Watch 154) Human Rights Watch reported that Diaz was accused of having met with delinquents and having disturbed the public order. He was tried the day after his arrest, making it impossible for him receive adequate defense. (154)
In July of 1997, the authorities arrested independent journalist Lorenzo Paez Nunes and subsequently sentenced him to 18 months in prison. (156) According to his family, Hector Peraza was arrested in July and detained for 2 months the day after he received a visit from a “foreigner who gave him a computer.” (156) State security agents harassed family members when pressure on independent journalists was not successful in forcing them to abandon their work or their country. (156)
On July 17 1999, a police officer threatened to arrest Merino Cabrera, a member of the Human Rights Workers’ Party, for dangerousness and warned him against continuing his activities. (154) A few days later, on July 27, Cabrera found a cardboard coffin on his front door with the words: “Rest in Peace.” (155)
Cuban authorities treat people that participate in non-violent activities such as meeting to discuss the economy or elections, writtng a letter to the government, reporting on political- or econmic developements or advocating for political prisoners, as criminals. Cuban courts continue to and imprison independent journalist and others for the peaceful expression of their views. The denial of basic and civil human rights is written into Cuban law. And there is barely a voice audible to allow the world to know and understand the plight the Cuban people face every day. Independent journalist in Cuba risks their lives to raise the voice that is barely heard. To the rest of the world they are heroes with brave and noble intentions. To the Cuban government, they are the enemy. In conclusion, a letter was written from a political prisoner will further help understand the need of freedom.
LETTER FROM PRISON: LA CAOBA
To all honorable men around the world.
This letter is a call for help if I can survive its aftermath. If not, it will be my political will and testament. That will not diminish its value to those who, like I, have been suffering prison terms in the extermination camps which the tyranny has created throughout the island, seeking to drown in silence and cruelty the voices of Cubans calling for liberty.
I’m guilty of raising my voice to ask for liberty for Cuba, of wanting a civil government nominated and elected by the people, amidst an assorted flow of political currents, of wishing private property for Cubans, to own and enjoy what their individual efforts can afford them, without denying the collective enjoyment of what our beloved land offers us as its fruits of a government free of constant pretentious to power, because I don’t want anyone or anything to minimize the right of Cubans to share with foreign visitors the gifts of our climate, nature, and installations, because it pains me to see my people suffering from the capriciousness and absurd administration which is drowning us daily into misery, giving away to foreigners what belongs to us, without concern over the loss of the motherland.
For these reasons, and many others, which support the unscrupulous goal of the tyranny to extinguish us, for my opposition to them, I’m guilty, sanctioned, banished, kept from seeing my loved ones, of receiving any kind of aid, of maintaining contact through the mail, of receiving adequate medical assistance, they even deny me aid from God, prohibiting me from receiving the services of the Church. My condition as a political prisoner is not recognized, and they force me to live with the common prisoners who are encouraged to attack me. Everything is shaded by abuses and humiliations, which I suffer, by word and by deeds. I appeal to you and to God.
Lawyer Juan Carlos Castillo Pasto, plantado prisoner. Serving 8 years for enemy propaganda, at La Caoba prison, Santiago de Cuba. Translated for CubaNet by Lourdes Arriete. (CubaNet)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Bayer, Stephen D., The Legal Aspects of TV Mart? in Relation to the Law of Direct Broadcasting Satellites, EMORY 1992.
2.Conde, Yvonne M. “Independent Cuban Press Seeks Access to the Outside World.” The Fourth Estate. V129. P48+. January 27, 1996. Source: http://vweb.hwwilsonweb.com/cgi-bin/webspirs.cgi
3. CubaNet source: http://ella.netpoint.net/cubanet/CNews/jul96/15e2.html
4. Human Rights Watch. CUBA REPRESSIVE MACHINERY: HUMAN RIGHTS 40 YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTION. Human rights Watch, New York. June 1999
5. Lipsschultz, David. “The Web Washes over Cuba, but Surfers Still Few Econmic hardship and a government wary of information flow hinder Internet’s growth.” Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Mass. 9 July, 1997
6. Robbins, Carla Anne. “Our Jam in Havana: This US Staion Doesn’t rate in Cuba Castro’s Interference Keeps TV Mart Off of Screens.” The WallStreet Journal 25, Nov. 1997
7. Thomas Hugh S. CUBAN REVOLUTION: 30 YEARS LATER. Westview Press. London 1984.
8. United States State Department. Human Rights in Cuba source: http://state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1997.
1. Bayer, Stephen D., The Legal Aspects of TV Mart? in Relation to the Law of Direct Broadcasting Satellites, EMORY 1992.
2.Conde, Yvonne M. “Independent Cuban Press Seeks Access to the Outside World.” The Fourth Estate. V129. P48+. January 27, 1996. Source: http://vweb.hwwilsonweb.com/cgi-bin/webspirs.cgi
3. CubaNet source: http://ella.netpoint.net/cubanet/CNews/jul96/15e2.html
4. Human Rights Watch. CUBA REPRESSIVE MACHINERY: HUMAN RIGHTS 40 YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTION. Human rights Watch, New York. June 1999
5. Lipsschultz, David. “The Web Washes over Cuba, but Surfers Still Few Econmic hardship and a government wary of information flow hinder Internet’s growth.” Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Mass. 9 July, 1997
6. Robbins, Carla Anne. “Our Jam in Havana: This US Staion Doesn’t rate in Cuba Castro’s Interference Keeps TV Mart Off of Screens.” The WallStreet Journal 25, Nov. 1997
7. Thomas Hugh S. CUBAN REVOLUTION: 30 YEARS LATER. Westview Press. London 1984.
8. United States State Department. Human Rights in Cuba source: http://state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1997.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Bayer, Stephen D., The Legal Aspects of TV Mart? in Relation to the Law of Direct Broadcasting Satellites, EMORY 1992.
2.Conde, Yvonne M. “Independent Cuban Press Seeks Access to the Outside World.” The Fourth Estate. V129. P48+. January 27, 1996. Source: http://vweb.hwwilsonweb.com/cgi-bin/webspirs.cgi
3. CubaNet source: http://ella.netpoint.net/cubanet/CNews/jul96/15e2.html
4. Human Rights Watch. CUBA REPRESSIVE MACHINERY: HUMAN RIGHTS 40 YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTION. Human rights Watch, New York. June 1999
5. Lipsschultz, David. “The Web Washes over Cuba, but Surfers Still Few Econmic hardship and a government wary of information flow hinder Internet’s growth.” Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Mass. 9 July, 1997
6. Robbins, Carla Anne. “Our Jam in Havana: This US Staion Doesn’t rate in Cuba Castro’s Interference Keeps TV Mart Off of Screens.” The WallStreet Journal 25, Nov. 1997
7. Thomas Hugh S. CUBAN REVOLUTION: 30 YEARS LATER. Westview Press. London 1984.
8. United States State Department. Human Rights in Cuba source: http://state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1997.