16 April 2003
Text: U.N. Must
Condemn Cuban Crackdown, Says Freedom House
(Urges world body to focus strong spotlight on abuses of Castro regime)
(620)
In response to the recent harsh crackdown on political dissidents by the
regime of Cuban President Fidel Castro, the non-profit organization Freedom
House is urging the United Nations Commission on Human Rights "to strengthen
a resolution on Cuba currently under consideration and to unequivocally
condemn the Cuban regime's actions."
Freedom House, which monitors and promotes democracy and freedom around the
world, said that the Cuban crackdown "was largely targeted at the Varela
Project, a peaceful, broad-based citizen petition for a referendum on
political and civil liberties." In a press release issued April 16, Freedom
House explained that "the Varela Project is based on the Cuban Constitution,
which guarantees Cuban citizens the right to request such a referendum,"
adding: "At least 45 of the detainees are activists in the Varela Project,
and about 20 are local coordinators of the petition drive."
Moreover, Freedom House "is also concerned about the executions of Cuban
citizens," the organization said in its press release. It noted that "on
April 10, after summary trials, the Cuban regime executed by firing squad
three people convicted of leading a bloodless hijacking in Havana."
Emphasizing that it is "particularly concerned over indications that the
[U.N.] Human Rights Commission may adopt a weak, watered-down, and
compromised resolution" on Cuba, Freedom House declared that "given the
magnitude of the latest wave of repression in Cuba, nothing less than clear
and unequivocal condemnation of the regime's actions is acceptable."
Following is the text of the Freedom House press release:
(begin text)
FREEDOM HOUSE
Web site: http://www.freedomhouse.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Goldfarb,
(212) 514-8040, ext. 308
U.N. MUST CONDEMN CUBAN CRACKDOWN
NEW YORK, April 16, 2003 -- Freedom House strongly condemns the recent heavy
sentencing of 75 Cuban human rights activists and independent journalists.
It calls on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, currently meeting in
Geneva, to strengthen a resolution on Cuba currently under consideration and
to unequivocally condemn the Cuban regime's actions.
According to the Comisión Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación
Nacional, a Cuban independent human rights organization, activists were
given prison sentences ranging from 6 to 28 years, with 46 receiving
sentences of over 20 years. Prosecutors had sought life sentences for a
small number of the activists, for crimes such as publishing articles
outside of Cuba, advocating for workers' rights, and meeting with foreign
political figures visiting the island. Homes of many of the activists were
ransacked and authorities seized extensive family properties.
The crackdown was largely targeted at the Varela Project, a peaceful,
broad-based citizen petition for a referendum on political and civil
liberties. The Varela Project is based on the Cuban Constitution, which
guarantees Cuban citizens the right to request such a referendum. At least
45 of the detainees are activists in the Varela Project, and about 20 are
local coordinators of the petition drive.
Freedom House is also concerned about the executions of Cuban citizens. On
April 10, after summary trials, the Cuban regime executed by firing squad
three people convicted of leading a bloodless hijacking in Havana.
Freedom House is particularly concerned over indications that the Human
Rights Commission may adopt a weak, watered-down, and compromised
resolution. Given the magnitude of the latest wave of repression in Cuba,
nothing less than clear and unequivocal condemnation of the regime's actions
is acceptable.
Freedom House calls on democratic governments, non- governmental
organizations, and concerned individuals to express their solidarity with
the detained dissidents and to provide humanitarian support to their
families and to members of Cuba's human rights community.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) |
