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NEWS
SAMPLE LETTER BELOW ON BEHALF OF BLIND LAWYER IMPRISONED IN CUBA, ON THE
OCCASION OF HIS IMMINENT TRIAL IN NOVEMBER 2003.
PLEASE SEND TWO SIGNED SAMPLE
LETTERS TO POUL NIELSON AND JAVIER SOLANA IMMEDIATELY TO THEIR FAXES AND
EMAILS!! :
POUL NIELSON
European Commission
Rue de Genčve, 12
1140 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: + 32 2 299 1025
Email: poul.nielson@cec.eu.int
JAVIER SOLANA
Council of the European Union
Rue de la Loi 175
B-1048 Bruxelles
Belgium
Fax: + 32 2 285-7397, + 32 2 285-7381
E-mail: info@consilium.eu.int
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Dear Mr. Nielson/Solana:
I am writing in regard to the case of JUAN CARLOS GONZALEZ LEIVA, a
blind human rights activist who has been held in prison for the last
year and a half. It has come to my attention that the Cuban government
has announced that he, along with the other nine men and women with whom
he was arrested, will be put on trial in the first few days of November.
I am aware that the EU has followed this case from the beginning and
appreciate all the efforts made on Mr. Gonzalez Leiva's behalf. I would
like to ask you to maintain these efforts by requesting permission to
send an EU observer to Mr. Gonzalez Leiva's trial to ensure that it is
fair. It would be helpful if you emphasise the importance of an open and
fair trial to the Cuban government officials with whom you are in
contact.
Thank you again for your continued efforts to promote democracy and
human rights in Cuba and in particular for your efforts on behalf of Mr
Gonzalez Leiva.
Yours sincerely,
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BACKGROUND
Gonzalez Leiva was formally charged with 'public disorder, disobedience,
resisting authority and acts of disrespect' late in the Summer of 2002.
However, he has not been given a trial until now. The Cuban government
never gave a reason for the delay. Many observers believe that they have
been in a quandary because of the high level of international attention
his case has received.During his arrest, Juan Carlos was severely beaten
by government security agents and suffered a blow to the head, which
required four stitches. He and a number of other human rights activists
had gathered at a local hospital in an attempt to draw attention to the
plight of a journalist who had been admitted there after being attacked
by Cuban police. The group entered the hospital where they proceeded to
pray for the hospitalised reporter and shouted slogans like "Up with
human rights" and "Long live Christ the King". They then sat down in a
side hallway in silent protest. An hour later the group was surrounded
by the rapid response unit of the local security forces, who beat them
before taking them into custody. Juan Carlos has carried out a number of
lengthy hunger strikes to protest his arrest and his health has suffered
greatly as a result. Juan Carlos is also a lawyer and has been active in
the Cuban democracy movement and the Varela Project. CSW met with him
three weeks before his arrest. At the time he spoke of his hope for the
future of human rights and democracy in Cuba.
Received from: joseito76@aol.com
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