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US GOVERNMENTS REPORTS |
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11 August 2003
U.S. Concerned with
Health of Cuban Political Prisoners
State Dept. says health of Raul Rivero and Oscar Espinosa worsening
The United States is deeply concerned with the failing health and poor
treatment of Cuba's political prisoners, in particular that of Raul Rivero
and Oscar Espinosa, according to an August 11 statement by State Department
Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker.
Rivero and Espinosa are both journalists who were arrested as part of the
Castro regime's crackdown against 75 dissidents in March 2003.
Reeker said that the Cuban government appears to be going out of its way to
treat the political prisoners inhumanely and noted that the health of Rivero
and Espinosa has worsened since their incarceration. He called for the Cuban
government to immediately release all political prisoners.
Following is the text of Reeker's statement:
(begin text)
Office of the Spokesman
August 11, 2003
STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
U.S. Concern about the Health of Cuban Political Prisoners
Raul Rivero Castaneda and Oscar Espinosa Chepe
The United States once again expresses its deep concern over the ill health
and poor treatment of Cuba's political prisoners, in particular that of Raul
Rivero and Oscar Espinosa. Espinosa is suffering from liver disease, edema,
gastrointestinal bleeding, and other symptoms indicating a serious medical
condition. Rivero has serious problems with his circulatory system and has
lost a great deal of weight since his imprisonment. Their health has
worsened since their incarceration. The Cuban government should provide them
with the best possible medical treatment.
Mr. Rivero is a 57-year-old poet and journalist who founded the independent
press agency Cuba Press. He was arrested and convicted of, among other
activities, disseminating "false news to satisfy the interests" of the
United States. He was sentenced to 20 years. Mr. Espinosa is a 62-year old
independent journalist, who was arrested and sentenced to prison for 20
years on trumped-up treason charges. They were arrested along with 73 other
independent activists, journalists, and librarians, during the brutal March
2003 crackdown.
The 75 prisoners are being held in appalling conditions, with very poor
sanitation, contaminated water, and nearly inedible food. The Cuban
government appears to be going out of its way to treat these prisoners
inhumanely. It should immediately cease this practice and, at the minimum,
allow an appropriate and credible humanitarian organization, such as the
International Committee of the Red Cross or Doctors without Borders, to
monitor the treatment of its political prisoners, whose only real crime was
to call for peaceful democratic change in Cuba. All political prisoners
should be released immediately.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) |
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