The government of Cuba appears to be intent on keeping up pressure on political activists in the island nation, as seen in a recent wave of arbitrary detentions aimed at repressing free speech and dissent. The United States urges Cuban authorities to end these practices once and for all, and respect the universal human rights of all citizens.
Cuban police detained four top pro-democracy activists and some 40 other dissidents on June 11. Two prominent activists, Joge Luis Garcia Perez, known as Antunez, and his wife, Yris Perez Aguilara, were arrested in their home in the town of Placentas, 180 miles south east of Havana, and taken to police headquarters in nearby Santa Clara. It marked the third time since January that the couple was arrested and held.
Berta Soler, spokeswoman for the Ladies in White, a dissident group, and her husband were among other activists detained en route to attend a trail in Havana. They were later released. There are also reports that independent journalist Roberto de Jesus Guerra was assaulted by state security agents, suffering a broken nose and torn ligaments. Other staffers at his independent news agency, Hablemos Press, have been harassed as well.
The United States is deeply concerned by the Cuban Government’s repeated use of arbitrary detention to silence critics, disrupt peaceful assembly and impede independent journalism. These incidents show yet again that the Cuban Government continues to limit fundamental freedoms. Despite all of the government’s talk of reform, human rights conditions in Cuba remain poor.
Cuban police detained four top pro-democracy activists and some 40 other dissidents on June 11. Two prominent activists, Joge Luis Garcia Perez, known as Antunez, and his wife, Yris Perez Aguilara, were arrested in their home in the town of Placentas, 180 miles south east of Havana, and taken to police headquarters in nearby Santa Clara. It marked the third time since January that the couple was arrested and held.
Berta Soler, spokeswoman for the Ladies in White, a dissident group, and her husband were among other activists detained en route to attend a trail in Havana. They were later released. There are also reports that independent journalist Roberto de Jesus Guerra was assaulted by state security agents, suffering a broken nose and torn ligaments. Other staffers at his independent news agency, Hablemos Press, have been harassed as well.
The United States is deeply concerned by the Cuban Government’s repeated use of arbitrary detention to silence critics, disrupt peaceful assembly and impede independent journalism. These incidents show yet again that the Cuban Government continues to limit fundamental freedoms. Despite all of the government’s talk of reform, human rights conditions in Cuba remain poor.
