Appeal for release of remaining Cuban library prisoners

[Steve Marquardt]

The following appeal is based upon one posted by the International PEN
Writers in Prison Committee.

At the end of this update is a sample appeal that you can send to the
Cuban government thanking them for the release of prisoners of
conscience and encouraging the government to release all POCs still
incarcerated.

Seven Cuban independent librarians imprisoned since March 2003 have
finally been released during July 2010. Six have been flown to Spain
and one – Ariel Sigler Amaya – has obtained a visa for medical
treatment in the USA. In 2003 he entered prison as a 240-pound
amateur boxer and left as a 106-pound paraplegic, without ever going
on a hunger strike during his imprisonment. Here are the July
releases:

José Luis García Paneque, Carlos J. Finlay Library (Las Tunas)
Ricardo Severino González Alfonso, Jorge Mañach Library (Havana)
Léster Luis González Pentón, Jorge Mas Canosa Independent Library
(Santa Clara)
Blas Giraldo Reyes Rodríguez, 20th of May Library (Sancti Spiritus)
Luis Milán Fernández, 11th of September Library (Santiago de Cuba)
José Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernández, Sebastián Arcos Bergnes Library
(Havana Province)
Ariel Sigler Amaya, General Pedro Betancourt Library (Matanzas)

Still remaining in prison and scheduled for release are the following
independent librarians:

Fabio Prieto Llorente, Mir Francisco Mulets Library (Neuva Gerona,
Isla de la Juventud)
Fidel Suárez Cruz, St. Paul Library (Pinar del Río)
Guido Sigler Amaya, General Pedro Betancourt Library (Matanzas)
Iván Hernández Carrillo, Juan Gualberto Gómez Library, Branch II
(Matanzas)
Leonel Grave de Peralta Almenares, Bartolomé Masó Library (Santiago de
Cuba)
Victor Rolando Arroyo Carmona, Reyes Magos Library (Pinar del Río)

These releases follow talks between the Cuban government, the Catholic
Church and the Spanish foreign minister, during which Cuba reportedly
pledged to release 52 dissidents jailed in 2003 over the coming
months. While we can applaud this long-awaited development, concern
remains that the prisoners are apparently obliged to leave Cuba as a
precondition of their release. We need to continue to call for the
immediate and unconditional release of the six independent librarians
who remain in prison at of this writing (August 1).

One of the conditions of the prisoners' release is apparently that
they agree to be exiled to Spain, although they will be free to move
elsewhere thereafter. Both the USA and Chile have reportedly offered
to take in the dissidents. According to statements issued by the
Catholic Church, 20 of the 52 detainees have agreed to go to Spain so
far. The other detainees will be released over the next three to four
months. It is not yet clear what will happen to dissidents who do not
wish to leave Cuba.

The Cuban regime has come under increasing pressure from the
international community following the 23 February death of imprisoned
dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo after an 85-day hunger strike for
better prison conditions, harassment of the dissident group 'Ladies in
White' during protests in March and April, and recent reports that
journalist Guillermo Fariñas who went on hunger strike following
Zapata's death was himself in danger of dying. Fariñas reportedly
called off his hunger strike after the releases were announced.

Also, Amnesty International in May began a worldwide two-year campaign
focused on the human rights situation in Cuba.

Please send appeals:

• Welcoming the release in July of the seven independent librarians
José Luis García Paneque, Ricardo Severino González Alfonso, Léster
Luis González Pentón, Blas Giraldo Reyes Rodríguez, Luis Milán
Fernández, José Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernández and Ariel Sigler Amaya, as
well as the Cuban government's reported intention to release the six
other librarians who have been imprisoned since March 2003;
• Expressing concern that the librarians have apparently been obliged
to leave Cuba as a precondition of their release;
• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the six
librarians still held in violation of their right to freedom of
expression, all of whom have been imprisoned since 2003.

SEND APPEALS TO:
Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente
La Habana, Cuba
Salutation: Su Excelencia/Your Excellency

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba
Salutation: Señor Ministro / Dear Minister

Sr. Jorge Bolaños
Chief of the Cuban Interests Section
2630 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009-4202

Please send appeals immediately.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente
La Habana, Cuba

Your Excellency,

I write to express my gratitude for the release in July of the seven
independent librarians José Luis García Paneque, Ricardo Severino
González Alfonso, Léster Luis González Pentón, Blas Giraldo Reyes
Rodríguez, Luis Milán Fernández, José Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernández and
Ariel Sigler Amaya.

Also appreciated is your government’s reported intention to release
the six other librarians who remain imprisoned since 2003 in violation
of their rights of expression and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers:
Fabio Prieto Llorente, Fidel Suárez Cruz, Guido Sigler Amaya, Iván
Hernández Carrillo, Leonel Grave de Peralta Almenares, and Victor
Rolando Arroyo Carmona.

I urgently request their immediate and unconditional release.

Finally, I am concerned that the librarians have apparently been
obliged to leave Cuba as a precondition of their release. Asking
political prisoners in poor health to sign a statement that they will
willingly accept exile is neither magnanimous or ethical. They should
have the right to remain in their native country.

Sincerely,

Copies to:

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba

Sr. Jorge Bolaños
Chief of the Cuban Interests Section
2630 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009-4202