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NEWS
Cuban
physician condemned to 25 years in prison for defending human rights, is
punished once more in a "Dungeon"
His wife urgently requests
international solidarity, alleging the objective of Cuban authorities is
to destroy him physically and psychologically
December, 2003
Elsa Morejon, wife of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez, was informed via
telephone on December 11 by the head Official of Kilo 8 Prison where
this physician is confined, that her husband is punished once more in a
cell for refusing to stand up to acknowledge the presence of prison
guards and officials during the recount of prisoners. Mrs. Morejon
hasn't seen her husband since August 2003.
Cuban prisoner of conscience, Dr. Oscar E. Biscet Gonzalez, serving a 25
year prison sentence, was transferred on November 12, 2003 from Kilo
Cinco y Medio Prison to another maximum security prison in the province
of Pinar del Rio called Kilo 8 and put in a punishment cell for
peacefully protesting with six other prisoners of conscience, the cruel
treatment given by prison authorities to the family of another fellow
prisoner of conscience.
Dr. Biscet was confined for 21 days with a common criminal in a cell he
described as a "dungeon", without family visits, food supplies,
toiletries, writing or reading materials, in a cell with no windows, and
prohibited from going out in the sun.
On December 4, day when Dr. Biscet was supposed to be released from his
punishment, Cuban authorities denied his wife seeing him nor allow
delivery of the food supply he is entitled every three months.
In a fragment of a clandestine letter written to his wife in November,
Dr. Biscet reports:
I'm arbitrarily confined in a cell with characteristics that violate the
law - there are no windows, only walls; a gloomy space lacking sunlight
and the sky's visibility. I cannot go out in the sun at the hour
assigned because authorities want to handcuff me with my hands behind my
back, a practice which violates prisoners' most elemental regulations.
This is humiliating and illegal. Unsuccessfully, I have repeatedly
requested "internal control" personnel to be alerted. My prison visit in
November was arbitrarily suspended, prohibiting me from seeing my
parents and wife. Of the eight months I have been imprisoned in Pinar
del Rio, I have seen my family only once, during two hours, in the month
of August. I am not allowed to have any type of communication with my
son and daughter who live abroad.
From the 8th of November to December 10th we are praying to God to
intercede on behalf of Cuba's freedom and will conclude with a 12 hour
fast on December 10th from 6 am - 6 pm. Inform our compatriots in case
they wish to pray and fast.
I sent my mother a letter which is, in reality, addressed to all women
with family members imprisoned because of their defense of human rights.
All mothers, wives and daughters could display, on their breast, a
picture of their loved one in prison that read "INOCENT" and the name of
the prisoner. They should never remove it and carry it until Cuba is
free, also attending church on Saturday and Sunday."
Dr. Biscet previously served 3 years in prison and was released October
31, 2002, only to be re-arrested on December 6, 2002 as he was to meet
with human rights activists. On April 7, 2003 he was tried summarily
during a Cuban government crackdown, along with 75 other activists and
independent journalists and was sentenced to 25 years for "serving as a
mercenary to a foreign state."
Dr. Biscet, a 42 year old black physician, follower of Ghandi and Martin
Luther King, has been wearing only his underwear as he deems it
unacceptable to wear a common prisoner's uniform because he considers
himself innocent of the charges for which he was sentenced. He suffers
from severe hypertension and gum infection.
Elsa Morejon makes the Cuban government responsible for the physical and
mental well-being of her husband and family, and urgently appeals to
heads of states, leaders of political, civic, religious and professional
organizations, the press, and all men and women of good will worldwide
to demand before the Cuban government the unconditional and immediate
freedom of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and all those prisoners whose only
crime is to honor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their own
country.
Testimony by Elsa Morejon provided via telephone from Cuba. Recorded,
transcribed and translated.
Coalition of Cuban-American Women/ LAIDA CARRO Email: Joseito76@aol.com
Elsa MorejOn Hernandez / Address: Acosta 464 entre 8va y 9na, Lawton,
Municipio 10 de Octubre, La Habana, Cuba.
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