From: Andrew Lang <lang@igc.apc.org>
Subject: AI UA402/92 CUBA Ill-treatment
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 03:13:09 GMT

/* Written  6:30 pm  Dec 19, 1992 by hrcoord@igc.apc.org in igc:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "AI UA402/92 CUBA Ill-treatment" ---------- */
/* Written  5:33 pm  Dec 18, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI UA402/92 CUBA Ill-treatment" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 25/31/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC       

UA 402/92     Fear of ill-treatment/    18 December 1992
              Legal concern

CUBA:         Gustavo ARCOS BERGNES, Secretary-General of the
                  Cuban Committee for Human Rights
              Francisco CHAVIANO GONZALEZ, President of the
                  Consejo Nacional por los Derechos Civiles en Cuba,
                  National Council for Civil Rights in Cuba
              Rene DEL POZO POZO, spokesperson for the Comision
                  Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliacion
                  Nacional, Cuban Commission for Human Rights and
                  National Reconciliation
              Angela HERRERA (female), President of the Coalicion
                  Democratica Cubana, Cuban Democratic Coalition
              Alvaro PRENDES, leading member of the Corriente
                  Socialista Democrata Cubana, Cuban Democratic
                  Socialist Current
              Vladimiro ROCA, leading member of the Cuban
                  Democratic Socialist Current  
              Paula VALIENTE (female), President of the Asociacion
                  Madres por la Dignidad, Association of Mothers for
                  Dignity                       

 Amnesty International is concerned for the physical integrity of
several members of unofficial political and human rights groups.  As of
16 December 1992, the homes of Gustavo Arcos Bergnes, Francisco
Chaviano Gonzalez, Angela Herrera, Alvaro Prendes and Vladimiro
Roca were said to be under siege by large pro-government mobs, many
of whom are believed to belong to the so-called Destacamentos
Populares de Respuesta Rapida, People's Rapid Response Detachments
(commonly known as Rapid Response Brigades), acting in coordination
with the security forces and Communist Party officials.  Another
activist, Paula Valiente, was reportedly arrested on 16 December 1992
when she attempted to visit Angela Herrera.  It is not yet clear where
she is being held.  Paula Valiente and her husband had been visited
by state security officials and members of Rapid Response Brigades a
few hours earlier and warned to stop their activities.  Rene del Pozo
Pozo, a leading member of another group, is staying at the home of
Alvaro Prendes after having to flee his own home which was also at
one point under siege.  In the case of Vladimiro Roca and Alvaro
Prendes, water, gas and electricity supplies are said to have been cut
off.  

The siege of the home of Gustavo Arcos Bergnes began on 10
December. Crowds are believed to have gone to the other houses over
the weekend.  None of the occupants have been able to leave their
homes since then. Given the current food shortages in Cuba, it is
unlikely that any of them would have substantial food supplies in the
house.  It is feared that the authorities are trying to put pressure on
those trapped inside their homes to give up their activities.  All are
members of different dissident groups, none of whom, to Amnesty
International's knowledge, has advocated violence.  There have been
many incidents over the past year or so involving members of the
Rapid Response Brigades in which those under attack have been
verbally and physically assaulted and, instead of being protected by the
authorities, have themselves ended up under arrest.  The declared aim
of the brigades is "to defend the country, the Revolution and socialism
in all circumstances, by confronting and liquidating any sign of
counter-revolution or crime" ["defender la Patria, la Revolucion y el
Socialismo en cualesquiera circunstancias, enfrentando y liquidando
toda manifestacion contrarrevolucionaria o delicitva que se produzca"].

      On 10 December 1992(the 44th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights), two other prominent dissidents were
arrested and are still in detention (see UA 392/92, AMR 25/30/92, 14
December 1992).  Elizardo Sanchez Santa Cruz, President of the
Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, was
detained by state security agents at the home of a friend and severely
beaten.  He was taken to hospital and later transferred to the
headquarters of the Departamento Tecnico de Investigaciones (DTI),
the police Technical Investigations Department.  The authorities
acknowledged they were holding him for investigation for allegedly
"disturbing public order". Rodolfo Gonzalez, a member of the executive
of Cuban Committee for Human Rights, was arrested the same day
and is believed to be held at the state security headquarters.  There
has so far been no official statement about the reasons for his arrest. 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send telegrams/telexes and
airmail letters either in Spanish, English or in your own language:

- expressing concern for the physical safety of Gustavo Arcos Bergnes,
Francisco Chaviano Gonzalez, Rene del Pozo Pozo, Angela Herrera,
Alvaro Prendes and Vladimiro Roca, who have reportedly been
confined in their homes for several days by pro-government crowds
acting with the apparent support of the security forces; 

- requesting the authorities to immediately take steps to protect those
concerned and to disperse the crowds; 

- requesting the authorities to allow those under attack to carry on
their legitimate activities in peace and to exercise their rights to
freedom of movement; 

- urging the immediate and unconditional release of Paula Valiente on
the grounds that she is a prisoner of conscience and requesting that
her physical integrity be guaranteed while in detention.

APPEALS TO

President:

Su Excelencia Dr Fidel Castro Ruz
[Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your Excellency]
Presidente del Consejo de Estado
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Telegrams: Presidente Castro, Havana, Cuba
Telexes:   511151 (Ministry of the Armed Forces)

Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Sr. Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada
[Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your Excellency]
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Calzada No. 360
Vedado
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Telegrams: Ministro Relaciones Exteriores, Havana, Cuba
Telexes: 5111464 / 512950
Faxes:   + 53 333085 / + 53 335261

Attorney-General:

Dr Ramon de la Cruz Ochoa
[Salutation: Senor Fiscal General / Dear Attorney General]
Fiscal General de la Republica
Fiscalia General de la Republica
San Rafael 3
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Telegrams: Fiscal General, Havana, Cuba
Telexes:   511456 FISGE

Minister of Justice:

Dr Carlos Amat Fores
[Salutation: Senor Ministro / Dear Minister]
Ministro de Justicia
Ministerio de Justicia
Calle O, No. 216, 8vo piso
e/ 23 y Humboldt, Vedado
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Telegrams: Ministro Justicia, Havana, Cuba
Telexes:   511331 MINJU

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Newspaper:

Granma
Apartado 6260
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba

Coordinating Body of Human Rights Organizations in Cuba:

CODEHU
1040 S.W. 47 Ave
Miami
FL 33135
USA

and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 29 January 1992.