EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/565

(2004/C 78 E/0600)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3494/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Cuba — political prisoners

According to information provided by the members of the Cuban resistance, Rafael Ibarra Roque, Honorary President of the Partido Democrático 30 de Noviembre ‘Frank País’ (PD-30-N) was tortured, shackled and dragged along the floor of the Combinado des Este prison in Havana on 16 October 2003, the day on which he began a hunger strike as a form of protest, demanding respect for (his) human rights, separate custody from common criminals, who are threatening and insulting him, and his right to refuse to wear the same uniform as the other prisoners.

Pedro Argüelles Morán, editor of the Cooperativa Avilena de Periodistas Independientes (CAPI), one of the 26 independent journalists arrested and sentenced during the wave of persecution last March, who is also being held in a punishment cell in the same block of the prison, has apparently joined this hunger strike.

Reports on the two prisoners' health are alarming. Both are heavily dehydrated, and they have been refused any form of medical assistance.

Since October 14, Arturo Suárez Ramos has been in the same situation.

Five other members of the Cuban resistance, who are imprisoned in Holguin, and are also on hunger strike, likewise deserve particular attention.

The Commission:

— what information does it have as to the health of these political prisoners? What information does it have about the ill treatment and abuse to which Cuban political prisoners are subjected on a daily basis;

— what measures has it taken or does it intend to take to encourage the Cuban authorities to provide decent treatment for prisoners who are quite obviously not common criminals;

— what means does it intend to use to increase European political pressure on the Cuban regime in favour of freedom, democracy and the respect of citizens' basic rights?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2004)

1. The Delegation of the Commission in Havana has been informed that two political prisoners in Holguin Ivan Hernandez Carrillo and Angel Moya Acosta, have been held in punishment cells, since October 17 and 18 respectively. The Delegation was informed, as well, that five political prisoners in the same prison were in hunger strike in protest of the punishment of their fellows, since October 18. The names of these five political prisoners on hunger strike are: Antonio Díaz Sánchez, Alfredo Dominguez Batista, Adolfo Fernández Sainz, Mario Enrique Mayo y Arnaldo Ramos Lauzerique. The Delegation of the Commission has also been reported that the three political prisoners mentioned by the Honourable Member, i.e. Rafael Ibarra Roque, Pedro Arguelles Morán and Arturo Suárez Ramos, have been subject to cruel and degrading treatment or punishment, as well as other political prisoners including Oscar Elias Biscet, Francisco Chaviano, Nestor Rodriguez Lovaina, Oscar Espinosa Chepe and Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva. On November 28 the Human Rights Working Group of Union embassies in Cuba held a meeting were Mr Oswaldo Paya, recipient of the Sakharov prize 2002, was invited to attend. Mr Paya reported on the pressure under which dissidents as well as relatives of political prisoners were living, and expressed his deep concern about the health situation of prisoners, and in particular those currently on hunger strike. Mr Paya essentially deplored: withholding food rations for political prisoners — hunger being used as a punishment; restrictions of visits when abuse, torture or inhuman treatment was denounced; the unbearable state of punishment cells (no light, no WC, rats); lack of appropriate treatment of sick prisoners.

2. The Commission, through its Delegation in Havana, is a member of the Human Rights Working Group of Union Embassies in Cuba. To ensure coherence and provide leverage the Commission will not act independently of the Member States. Measures are taken in full consent with the Member States and on the basis of a previously agreed course of action at Union level. The Commission participates as well in all Troika demarches, including those related to human rights matters.