IVONNE MALLEZA & IGNACIO MARTINEZ, CUBAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, RESUME THEIR HUNGER STRIKES IN PROTEST OF THEIR CONTINUED DETENTION

America / Cuba / Latin America

Sunday 18 December 2011 by Front Line

Update – Human rights defenders Ms Ivonne Malleza Galano and Mr Ignacio Martínez Montejo resume hunger strike

15 Decembre 2011
On 12 December 2011, human rights defenders, and husband and wife, Ms Ivonne Malleza Galano and Mr Ignacio Martínez Montejo resumed their hunger strikes in protest at their continued detention.
Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ignacio Martínez Montejo were violently arrested on 30 November 2011 for taking part in a peaceful protest in Fraternity Park in Havana.
On 10 December 2011, Ivonne Malleza Galano, who had initially been held incommunicado, managed to place a call to Ms Mayra Morejón, member of Damas de Blanco, and informed her that she was being held at the VIVAC Processing Centre on Calabazar Street, in Havana, where her husband is also being held.
On the morning of 12 December 2011, several family members of Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ignacio Martínez Montejo were allowed to visit the human rights defenders in the presence of an unnamed security agent who told them that the defenders had been charged with public disorder and that the investigation could take up to 60 days. Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ignacio Martínez Montejo informed their relatives that they had been on hunger strike from the time of their detention on 30 November until 10 December. In the presence of the official who supervised the brief visit, they declared their intention to resume the hunger strike on 12 December 2011. Front Line expresses its concern for the physical integrity of both human rights defenders, who are both reported to suffer from serious health problems.
According to the Comisión Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional (Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation) more than 300 persons were arbitrarily detained since 5 December 2011 in order to prevent them from participating in events to mark Human Rights Day on 10 December. Whilst welcoming the release, on 12 December 2011, of human rights defender and former political prisoner of conscience Mr José Daniel Ferrer García, Front Line reiterates its calls on the Cuban authorities to release all those human rights defenders and activists who remain in detention, including Ivonne Malleza Galano, Ignacio Martínez Montejo, and former political prisoner of conscience Mr Ángel Moya Acosta.

For further information on this case, please refer to the previous appeal dated 8 December 2011.

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CUBA: PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADERS WARN OF A POSSIBLE WAVE OF REPRESSION AGAINST THE PEACEFUL RESISTANCE

December 18, 2011

Two leaders in the peaceful Cuban resistance movement who were released on the week of December 12-18 after being subjected to violent arrests and inhumane prison conditions declared that the Cuban regime is intimidated by the rise and strength of the human rights groups in the island. Jose Daniel Ferrer García (released Dec.12), leader of the umbrella group UMPACU, (Cuban Patriotic Union) in Eastern Cuba, and Angel Moya Acosta (released Dec. 14) who resides in Havana and is the main coordinator of the National March for Freedom, Boitel Zapata Viven! were both beaten and arrested on December 2, 2011 in the eastern town of Palma Soriano as they were setting out to march peacefully with 50 activists:

Video sent from Cuba of repression December 2, 2011:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJlHSB--BpY

Both Ferrer García and Moya Acosta are ex-prisoners of conscience of the 2003 Cuban Black Spring who refused conditional freedom and exile to Spain and remained in Cuba after their release from prison in February (Moya Acosta) and April (Ferrer Garcia) of 2011.

Ferrer Garcia says that the peaceful Cuban resistance is presently more organized and has gained visibility among the Cuban people, thus becoming a threat to a regime that is carefully planning ways to stop the activists in spite of the political cost. Moya Acosta stated that the political police is acting incoherently in the face of their peaceful actions and he doesn’t dismiss the possiblity of another wave of repression similar to the one in 2003.

Ferrer García vowed that, though they don’t have a date yet, the third attempt of the National March for Freedom, Boitel Zapata Viven! will go forward. He added that as long as there is no freedom, democracy or respect for human rights in Cuba, the peaceful resistance will continue to activate the march as many times as needed.

The National March for Freedom, Boitel Zapata Viven! originally kicked off from the historical Eastern city of Baracoa on  September 12, 2011, where activists faced the same brutal repression. The march recalls the time when Cuba’s struggle for Independence in 1895 was spread from East to West by the patriots Antonio Maceo and Maximo Gomez. The intention of this march today is to unite the peaceful resistance and its three objectives are that:

1. The Cuban regime respect, promote and publish the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as ratify the international agreements that promote these rights.

2. The repression against the opposition and the Cuban people stop.

3. All Cuban political prisoners are released unconditionally and that the legal framework that propitiates these imprisonments be revoked.

An important premise of this march is that the activists will never accept that their homes become “prisons”. When paramilitary officials surround these homes to prevent the activists from leaving and forcing them to be under house arrest, the activists will come out of their homes and continue carrying out their peaceful actions as planned.

On Sunday, December 18, in spite of the regime’s deployment of agents, a total of almost one hundred Ladies in White atended Mass and marched throughout Cuba in the cities of Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas and Havana.

The Coalition of Cuban-American Women alerts the international community that the lives of those members of Cuban civil society who are actively and publicly struggling on behalf of fundamental freedoms are in danger. We make an urgent call on religious, civic, political, and cultural entities and its leaders, as well as to non-governmental human rights organizations worldwide.

Coalition of Cuban-American Women / Joseito76@aol.com / Laida A.Carro
Blog: http://www.coalitionofcubanamericanwomen.blogspot.com/
Facebook page: Coalition of Cuban-American Women
Twitter: Coalition of C-A Women (@COCAW1)

FURTHER INFORMATION IN CUBA:
Angel Moya  +5353820595 /
Berta Soler +5352906820                                                                                                     
José Daniel Ferrer Garcia +5353631267   
Belkis Cantillo  + 5353790867

CONMEMORATIVE ACTS ON BEHALF OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ARE VIOLENTLY REPRESSED BY THE CUBAN REGIME

At least 300 arrests recorded for the current month of December

particular concern for the cases of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, Angel Moya, Ivonne Mayeza and Ignacio Martinez Montero

December 11, 2011

As peaceful human rights defenders in Cuba carried out marches, vigils, workshops and gatherings on the days prior and during Human Rights Day (December 10), the Cuban regime violated their rights of freedom of assembly, association, expression and of movement with threats, beatings, violent short term arrests, arbitrary imprisonments in undisclosed locations, interrogatories, mob attacks and acts of repudiation, as well as house arrests. These activists were also kidnapped by authorities and left abandoned in remote areas, miles away from their homes.

Among the human rights defenders who were subjected to inhumane and cruel treatment and short term detentions throughout Cuba during the week of December 5-12 are:

PINAR DEL RIO – Luis Enrique Monterrey Ramos, Yoangel Palacios Hernández, Víctor Rodríguez Morejón, Yazle Reinoso Ramos.

HAVANA – Yaimi Alfonso Miret, wife of Eriberto Liranza Romero, representative of the National Civic Resistance Front Orlando Zapata Tamayo in the western region of Cuba was violently arrested in front of his two children, Abraham Liranza Alfonso, 9 years old, and Lauri Liranza Alfonso, 6 years old. His whereabouts are presently unknown

Since Monday, December 5, a wave of repression began against members of the movement Ladies in White Laura Pollan to prevent them from gathering at their headquarters in Neptuno Street #963 in Havana on Human Rights Day. Many of the women were held under house arrest as their homes were surrounded by paramilary groups in their hometowns. Others were violently arrested and taken to police units, while others were blocked from going any further when they reached Neptuno Street. Those who were held under house arrest in their hometowns were: Daima Lamas, Nilda Leiva González, Sonia Martín, Aimé Cabrales, Linda Taguolla, Carina Quintana, Yurenis González, Oria Josefa Casanova, Tania Bandera, Mayelin de la O, Yarisbel Figueredo y Belkis Cantillo Ramírez. The following women were blocked from going on to Neptuno Street: Tania Maceda, Mari Blanca Ávila Esposito, Yadira Rodríguez, Liliam Estévez Romero, Niurkis Rivero, Blanca Hernández, Mirta Gómez, Leonor Reinot, Belkis Núñez y Magalys Norbis Otero. Members of the Ladies in White who were taken to State Security and Police Units were: Marlenis Guerra Martínez, Bárbara Teresa Romero Mendoza, Katiuska Rodríguez Rives, Yusladis Jorge la Guardia, Mildret Noemí Sánchez Infante, Anni Sarrión Romero, Adis Nidia Cruz, Yanelis Elegica Despaigne, Liudmila Rodríguez Palomo, Yaquelán García Jans, Lázara Mijan, Niurks Luke, Florencia Machado, Ana Luisa Rubio, Lourdes Esquivel Vieyto, Sulema Lay, Violeta Rojas Aullan, Sandra Guerra, Ana Rosa Ledea, Reida Villate, Mercedes Fresneda, Yaquelin Boris, Yanelis Cabrera, Laura Capote, Lidia Castañeda, Dania Virgen García, Tatiana López. Most of these women have been released.
On December 10th, twenty eight members of the Ladies in White Laura Pollan, who were gathered to remember Human Rights Day in their headquarters at Neptuno Street were subjected to hours of an “act of repudiation” led by a pro-government mob of 300 people whot kept calling them “witches” and “mercenaries”. On Sunday, December 11th, after 57 ladies attended Mass at the Church of Santa Rita, the women were intercepted on 5th Avenue as they were marching peacefully with gladioli in their hands. A screaming pro government crowd insulted and physically mistreated the ladies who were dragged and forced onto buses. As some were taken to undisclosed locations, those from other provinces were returned to their hometowns. Berta Soler, leader of the group was taken in a patrol car alone, back to her home in Alamar. Rosario Morales and Sara Martha Fonseca were taken to police units.
On December 9, ex political prisoner of conscience of the “Group of the75”, Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique was blocked from entering the home of another expolitical prisoner of conscience, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello. He was then taken away by State Security agents, as was Dr. Darsi Ferrer and his wife Yusnaimy Soca and the musician, Ciro Díaz.. Lilvio Fernández Luis and Reinier Vera were beaten and arrested on the same day and so was Sandra Guerra in Melena del Sur.
On December 10, the following activists were arrested: Yoel L. Carbonell Guilar, Aurelio Antonio González Ayala, the independent journalist, David Aguila, and Manuel Cuesta Morúa.
A crew of journalists from the press agency Asociated Press who were interviewing the few citizens along the Malecón on December, was roughed up on December 9 by plainclothes agents who were posted along this seaside wall in Havana to prevent any gatherings in this area.
MATANZAS – Félix Navarro and Iván Hernández Carrillo, both ex political prisoners of conscience of the “Group of the 75”. Also, Emilio Bringas, Félix Pérez Palenzuela, Eduardo Marcos Pacheco Ortiz, Francisco Rangel Manzano, Adrian Pérez Mendoza. Under house arrest: Merecedes de la Guardia Hernández, Eduardo Marcos Pacheco Ortiz, José Antonio del Cueto Carreño. Hiding out because her house was surrounded by paramilitary groups: Leticia Ramos Herrería.

VILLA CLARA (Central Cuba) Idania Yanes Contreras, president of the Coalición Central Opositora, reported that since December 7, many of the activists’s houses were surrounded and that more than 40 human rights defenders were arrested: Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez, Librado Linares García, Yris Pérez Aguilera, Yanisbel Valido Pérez, María del Carmen Martínez López, Víctor Castillo Ortega, Maribel Rodríguez Prieto, Yoel Fonseca Machado, Ordalidia González Barroso, Omar Núñez Espinosa, Rolando Ferrer Espinosa, Damaris Moya Portieles, Rodolfo Ernildo Pérez Benítez , Alcides Rivera Rodríguez, Guillermo Fariñas Hernández, José Lino Asencio López, Félix Reyes Gutiérrez, Yasmín Conlledo Riverón, Yusmani Rafael Alvarez Esmoy, Jesús Arístides Hernández Pérez, Roberto Zapata Blanco, Ana Rosa Alfonso Arteaga, Guillermo del Sol Pérez , Orlando Alfonso Martínez, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Gliceria Paseiro Espinosa, Yris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, , Michel Oliva Lopez, Alberto Reyes Morales, Ramón Arbolaez Abreu, Mayra Conlledo García, Nosbel Jomorca Benavides, Yosmel Pérez, Maidel González Almeida, Alexei Sotolongo Díaz, Miguel Alexei Fernández, Ezequiel Enrique López, Héctor Bermúdez Santana, Luis Manuel Ribalca, Martínez, Javier Delgado Torna, Ariel Orama Martín, Mario Abreu, José Rodríguez López, Sandal Reyes Machado, Aniceto Alvarez Miranda, Yoel Regino Díaz Martínez, Daniel de Armas Casanova, Adalberto Bravo del Sol, José Ramón Borges Serrano, Antonio Suárez Fonticella, Alexander Mesa Rodríguez, José Marino Andrade Treto, Leonardo Rodríguez Alonso, Magaly Broche de la Cruz, José Soto Roche, Jesús Reinaldo Rodríguez Peláez, Guillermo Sánchez Blas, Donaida Perez Paseiro and Gliceria Paseiro Espinosa. The activists belonged to the following human rights groups in Villa Clara: Coalición Central Opositora, Foro Antitotalitario Unido Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, Frente Nacional de Resistencia Civica y Desobediencia Civil Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the Movimiento Cubano Reflexión.

Many of these arrests were very violent. Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez was punched and kicked on the ground before being forced on to a patrol car.

On December 9, in Camaguaní, Villa Clara the house of Librado Linares, an exprisoner of conscience of the “Group of the 75”, was surrounded and he was eventually arrested. Felix Reyes was also subjected to an arbitrary arrest in Villa Clara.

CAMAGUEY - The following activists were arrested on December 6 and taken to different police units when they were carrying out a silent peaceful march to remember human rights day: Yoan David González Milanés, Mauro Emilio Puig Arrondo, Juan Luis Pérez García, Verlay Bejerano Estrada, Guillermo Rodríguez Rodríguez, Pastor Guzmán Gutierrez Peláez, Rafael Infante González, René Fernández Quiroga and Dayan Mayor Betancourt. The last two were reported abandoned 30 kms away from their home were they were brutally beaten by agents.

LAS TUNAS – (Eastern Cuba) - Armando Peña Guzmán detained early December 10th.

HOLGUIN (Eastern Cuba) - The independent journalist José Ramón Pupo Nieves of the Holguin Press agency reported that at least 23 arrests took place on December 7, that included members of the human rights organizations: Impacto Juvenil Republicano, Prensa Joven, Partido Republicano de Cuba, and FLAMUR. Among those arrested were: Rosa María Naranjo Nieves, Lidia Hernández Pérez, Dionel Aguilera Naranjo, Maria Antonia Hidalgo Mir was threatened by the police.

Adisnidia Cruz and Marco Antonio Lima, parents of Marcos Maiquel and Antonio Michel Lima Cruz, two young activists serving prison sentences, were also arrested on December 7.

BAYAMO (Eastern Cuba) - On December 7, Yoandri Gutierrez and his family were subjected to an act of repudiation and were later arrested. Yaquelín García was subjected to a brutal beating and to short term detention.

GUANTANAMO (Eastern Cuba) – Rosaida Ramirez reported that the activists Rogelio Tabío, Roberto Carlos Corso and Yordis Sofia were beaten and detained.

MANZANILLO (Eastern Cuba) – Osvaldo Pérez Rojas arrested without information of his whereabouts on December 9.

The whereabouts of Cuban prisoners of conscience, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia and Angel Moya of the “Group of the 75”, as well as of the human rights defender Jorge Cervantes are presently unknown to their families. These three activists were violently beaten on Friday, December 2nd as they were initiating the second stage of the National March for Freedom: Boitel Zapata Viven!, alongside 50 human rights defenders (released) in the Eastern City of Palma Soriano. The political police will not tell the wives of these activists where their husbands are being held prisoners nor their states of health.

After a week and a half without knowing her whereabouts, the Lady in White, Ivonne Mayeza was located at the “Centro de Procesamiento Penal” at Calabazar Avenue in Havana, where her husband, Ignacio Martinez Montero is also being held in critical health with a heart ailment. Mayeza carried out a hunger strike for about 10 days to protest her arrest. Both activists were violently detained following a peaceful protest in the Fraternidad Park in Havana where they displayed a white sheet that read: “Down with Hunger, Misery, and Poverty”.

As the year 2011 is coming to a close, the Coalition of Cuban-American Women alerts the international community that the lives of those members of Cuban civil society who are actively and publicly struggling on behalf of fundamental freedoms are in danger. We are particularly concerned in Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, Angel Moya, Ivonne Mayeza and Ignacio Martinez Montero. International recognition of the peaceful resistance and solidarity for those human rights defenders is crucial. We make an urgent call on religious, civic, political, and cultural entities and its leaders, as well as to non-governmental human rights organizations worldwide.

Coalition of Cuban-American Women / Joseito76@aol.com / Laida A.Carro

FURTHER INFORMATION IN CUBA: Berta Soler +5352906820 / Belkis Cantillo + 5353790867

ANMESTY INTERNATIONAL: URGENT ACTION -CUBAN ACTIVIST IN INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION

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URGENT ACTION
12/09/2011

The whereabouts of Cuban human rights activist Ivonne Malleza Galano are unknown after police detained her during a peaceful demonstration on 30 November in Cuba's capital, Havana City. Her husband, Ignacio Martínez Montejo, has also been detained after participating in the same protest.

On 30 November, Ivonne Malleza Galano, a member of the Ladies in Support (Damas de Apoyo) to the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), and her husband Ignacio Martínez Montejo were arrested by police officers while they were staging a peaceful demonstration against hunger and poverty and holding a banner with the slogan “Stop hunger, misery and poverty in Cuba” in Fraternity Park (Parque de la Fraternidad) in Havana City. Ivonne Malleza Galano was handcuffed and pushed into a police vehicle. Two police officers arrived, tried to confiscate the banner and detained her, along with Ignacio Martínez Montejo. Video footage posted on the internet shows Ivonne Malleza Galano being arrested by the police officers at Fraternity Park while the crowd gathered round her and asked the officers to let her go.

The whereabouts of Ivonne Malleza Galano are unknown and the authorities have not told her relatives whether she is still in police custody, whether she is facing charges, and where she is held. Ignacio Martinez Montejo is still being held at the Ninth Police Station (Novena Estación de la Policía) on Acosta Avenue, Diez de Octubre Municipality, in Havana City. It is not known if he has been charged with any offence.
Since the beginning of the year, the Cuban authorities have detained hundreds of people for short periods, to
prevent them from taking part in peaceful demonstrations.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts of Ivonne Malleza Galano, and to ensure that she has immediate access to her family, lawyer and any medical assistance she might require;
Asking for details of any charges they face to be made public, and calling on the authorities to ensure that any legal proceedings against them conform to international fair trial standards;
Urging the authorities to remove unlawful restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Cuba.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JANUARY 2012 TO:
Head of State and Government
Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente de la República de Cuba
La Havana, Cuba
Fax: +53 7 83 33 085 (via Foreign Ministry);
+1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban Mission to UN)
Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to
UN)
Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your
Excellency
Interior Minister
General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución,
La Habana, Cuba
Fax: +537 85 56 621, +1 212 779 1697 (via
Cuban Mission to UN)
Email: correominint@mn.mn.co.cu
Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your
Excellency
And copies to:
Attorney General
Dr Juan Escalona Reguer
Fiscalía General de la República, San Rafael
3, La Habana, Cuba
Salutation: Señor Fiscal General / Dear
Attorney General
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
CUBAN ACTIVIST IN INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ivonne Malleza Galano is a member of the Ladies in Support (Damas de Apoyo) to the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco). The Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) are a group of female relatives of former prisoners of conscience and current political prisoners. They organizes peaceful marches where they distribute flowers and call for the release of those who are still detained. In 2005, the European Parliament awarded The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the Damas de Blanco.

The Damas de Apoyo emerged as a solidarity group who support and participate in activities organized by the Damas de Blanco. Members of the Damas de Blanco and Damas de Apoyo have repeatedly suffered harassment and intimidation during their
peaceful activities. On 5 August 2011, Ivonne Malleza Galano was detained by police officers and the security of the state trying to prevent her from leaving her home. Two police officers and two state security officers wearing plain clothes grabbed her and
forcibly pushed into a police car. She was released the same day without charges.
Names: Ivonne Malleza Galano, Ignacio Martínez Montejo
Gender: Ivonne Malleza Galano (f) Ignacio Martínez Montejo (m)
UA: 355/11 Index: AMR 25/006/2011 Issue Date: 9 December 2011
Working to protect human rights worldwide

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DECEMBER 10TH: UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY

In honor and recognition of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Coalition of Cuban-American Women asks that everyone take a few minutes to read and contemplate the message of this important document. 

One can find the UDHR in English or Spanish at the following links:

ENGLISH

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

ESPANOL

http://www.un.org/es/documents/udhr/

CUBA: THREE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS VIOLENTLY ARRESTED ARBITRARILY. IVONNE MALLEZA GALANO WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN

http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/16838

Cet appel sera publié dans la section française de note site web dans quelques jours: www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr Este llamamiento será publicado en breve en la versión española de nuestra página web: www.frontlinedefenders.org/es Данное сообщение сейчас переводится и появится на русскоязычной версии сайта через несколько дней www.frontlinedefenders.org/ru سيتم ترجمة هذه المناشدة وستظهر في القسم العربي من موقعنا الالكتروني خلال بضعة ايام www.frontlinedefenders.org/ar

(English version below)

8 de diciembre de 2011

Asunto: Cuba – Tres defensores de los derechos humanos arrestados arbitrariamente con violencia e Ivonne Malleza Galano permanece detenida en incomunicación

El 30 de noviembre de 2011, las defensoras de los derechos humanos Ivonne Malleza Galano y Blanca Hernández fueron arrestadas de forma violenta al iniciar una manifestación pacífica en el Parque de la Fraternidad, en La Habana. Blanca Hernández fue liberada mientras que Ivonne Malleza Galano sigue detenida en incomunicación y en paradero desconocido. Ignacio Martínez Montejo, esposo de Ivonne Malleza Galano y también defensor de los derechos humanos, se encontraba filmando la manifestación cuando fue arrestado y su cámara de video confiscada. Actualmente se encuentra detenido en la comisaría de policía de Acosta en La Habana. Ivonne Malleza Galano y Blanca Hernández son miembros de la destacada organización de derechos humanos Damas de Blanco que trabaja por la liberación de los presos políticos en Cuba.

El 30 de noviembre de 2011, Ivonne Malleza Galano, Blanca Hernández y Mayra Morejón, también miembro de Damas de Blanco, se reunieron en el Parque de la Fraternidad y mostraron una pancarta en la que se leía “Basta ya de mentiras y de engaño al pueblo cubano. Cese el hambre, la miseria y la pobreza en Cuba”. Dos agentes de policía llegaron al lugar de los hechos, confiscaron la pancarta y arrestaron a lvonne Malleza Galano y Blanca Hernández. Según se informa, algunos de los presentes que intentaban evitar el arresto fueron rociados con gas lacrimógeno. Ivonne Malleza Galano e Ignacio Martínez Montejo fueron golpeados violentamente.

Tras el arresto, Ivonne Malleza Galano, Blanca Hernández e Ignacio Martínez Montejo fueron llevados a la unidad policial de la calle Zanja, en el centro de La Habana. Horas más tarde, Blanca Hernández fue liberada e Ignacio Martínez Montejo trasferido a la unidad policial de Acosta. Ivonne Malleza Galano fue trasladada a un lugar desconocido. Desde su arresto, amigos y familiares han estado contactando distintas prisiones y comisarías en La Habana pidiendo información sobre su detención. Hasta la fecha el paradero de Ivonne Malleza Galano sigue siendo desconocido. En previas ocasiones, al ser detenida, Ivonne Malleza Galano ha rechazado alimentarse y beber. Ivonne Malleza Galano padece de anemia y tiene un tumor fibroso, además, testigos presenciales afirman haberla visto sangrar a consecuencia de los golpes recibidos durante el arresto. Dada la situación de incomunicación en la que Ivonne Malleza Galano se encuentra, se desconoce si ha recibido la atención médica necesaria.

Estos arrestos violentos forman parte de la represión continuada sobre defensores de los derechos humanos en Cuba, particularmente contra las Damas de Blanco. Durante los últimos meses, manifestantes pacíficos han sido golpeados y arrestados casi diariamente. Cabe destacar el ataque violento de las fuerzas de seguridad sobre aproximadamente 50 manifestantes en Palma Soriana el 2 de diciembre de 2011. Según informes recibidos, los manifestantes fueron duramente golpeados por las fuerzas de seguridad y posteriormente forzados a entrar en autobuses. Algunos de los arrestados siguen en detención, incluidos los defensores de los derechos humanos y ex presos políticos José Daniel Ferrer García y Ángel Moya Acosta.

En vista de los informes de agresiones físicas, Front Line manifiesta su profunda preocupación por la integridad física y psicológica y por la seguridad de los defensores de derechos humanos que permanecen en detención. Asimismo, Front Line manifiesta especial preocupación por la seguridad de Ivonne Malleza Galano, dado que se encuentra en situación de incomunicación, lo cual aumenta gravemente el riesgo de que sea sometida a tortura u otras formas de maltrato.

Front Line considera que el arresto de los defensores de los derechos humanos arriba mencionados es consecuencia directa de su trabajo legítimo en defensa de los derechos humanos, particularmente en relación a las manifestaciones pacíficas que iniciaron en el Parque de la Fraternidad. Front Line teme que pueda producirse una escalada en la represión contra los defensores de derechos humanos por parte de las autoridades cubanas en vísperas del Día de los Derechos Humanos, el 10 de diciembre.

Front Line urge a las autoridades cubanas a que:

1. Revelen inmediatamente el paradero de la defensora de los derechos humanos Ivonne Malleza Galano, y procedan a su liberación y a la de todos los defensores de los derechos humanos que permanecen detenidos. Front Line considera que estas detenciones son consecuencia únicamente de su trabajo legítimo por los derechos humanos y de su reciente participación en manifestaciones pacíficas;
2. Garanticen que el trato de todos los defensores de los derechos humanos en situación de detención esté de acuerdo con las condiciones de los “Principios básicos para el tratamiento de los reclusos“, adoptados por la Asamblea General, resolución 45/111, el 14 de diciembre de 1990 , incluyendo las relativas a la obligación de procurar atención médica para el tratamiento de heridas sufridas durante arrestos violentos;
3. Cesen inmediatamente todos los ataques contra los miembros de Damas de Blanco y demás organizaciones de derechos humanos que participan en acciones pacíficas de protesta y les permitan ejercer su derecho legítimo de libertad de expresión y opinión, tal y como se establece en la legislación internacional;
4. Tomen todas las medidas necesarias para garantizar la integridad física y psicológica y la seguridad de Ivonne Malleza Galano, así como de todos los defensores de los derechos humanos en Cuba;
5. Garanticen en toda circunstancia que todos los defensores y defensoras de los derechos humanos es Cuba puedan llevar a cabo sus actividades legítimas de derechos humanos sin miedo a represalias y libres de toda restricción.

8 December 2011

Re: Cuba – Violent arbitrary arrest of three human rights defenders and incommunicado detention of Ms Ivonne Malleza Galano

On 30 November 2011, human rights defenders Ms Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ms Blanca Hernández were violently arrested for initiating a peaceful protest in Fraternity Park in Havana. Ivonne Malleza Galano is currently being held incommunicado and, as such, her whereabouts are unknown. Ivonne Malleza Galano's husband and fellow human rights defender, Mr Ignacio Martínez Montejo, was also arrested and is being held at the Acosta Police Station in Havana. He was filming the protest action on a video camera which was confiscated from him by police. Blanca Hernández was subsequently released. Ivonne Malleza Galano and Blanca Hernández are members of the prominent human rights organisation Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), which advocates for the release of political prisoners in Cuba.

On 30 November 2011, Ivonne Malleza Galano, Blanca Hernández and Mayra Morejón, another member of Damas de Blanco, held up a sheet in Fraternity Park which read, “Basta ya de mentiras y de engaño al pueblo cubano. Cese el hambre, la miseria y la pobreza en Cuba” (Enough of the lies and of the deception of Cuban people. Stop hunger, misery and poverty in Cuba). Two police officers who arrived on the scene, confiscated the banner and arrested Ivonne Malleza Galano, Blanca Hernández and Ignacio Martínez Montejo. Some members of the public were reportedly pepper-sprayed when they attempted to prevent the arrest of the human rights defenders. It is reported that Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ignacio Martínez Montejo were violently beaten in the course of the arrest.

Following their arrest, Ivonne Malleza Galano, Blanca Hernández and Ignacio Martínez Montejo were taken to the police unit on Zanja Street, Central Havana. Hours later, Blanca Hernández was released and Ignacio Martínez Montejo was transferred to the Acosta police unit. Ivonne Malleza Galano was reportedly removed to an undisclosed location. Since her arrest, friends and family of Ivonne Malleza Galano have contacted the police stations and prisons in Havana seeking information regarding her detention, but to date her whereabouts are unknown. On previous occasions when she has been held in detention, she has refused to eat or take water. Of further concern is the fact that Ivonne Malleza Galano is anaemic and has a fibroid tumour and witnesses state that she was bleeding as a result of the beating she received during her arrest. As she is in incommunicado detention, it is unknown whether Ivonne Malleza Galano is receiving the required medical attention.

These violent arrests form part of an ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders in Cuba, particularly against the Damas de Blanco. In recent months, peaceful protesters have been beaten and arrested on an almost daily basis. Of particular note is the violent attack on approximately 50 protesters in Palma Soriana on 2 December 2011. According to reports, the protesters were heavily beaten by security forces, before being forced onto buses. A number of those arrested remain in detention, including human rights defenders and former political prisoners of conscience Messrs José Daniel Ferrer García and Ángel Moya Acosta.

Given the reports of beatings Front Line is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity and security of those human rights defenders who remain in detention. Front Line is especially concerned for the security of Ivonne Malleza Galano considering that she is currently being held in incommunicado detention, which greatly increases the risk that she may be subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment.

Front Line believes that the arrests of the aforementioned human rights defenders are directly related to their legitimate work in defence of human rights, particularly with regard to the peaceful protest which they initiated in Fraternity Park. Front Line is concerned that there could be an escalation in the crackdown on human rights defenders by the Cuban authorities in advance of and around Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Front Line urges the authorities in Cuba to:

1. Immediately disclose the whereabouts of human rights defender Ivonne Malleza Galano, and release her and all those human rights defenders who remain in detention as Front Line believes that they have been detained solely as a result of their legitimate human rights work and their involvement in recent peaceful protests;
2. Ensure that the treatment of all human rights defenders, while in detention, adheres to all those conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988, including the provision of medical care for injuries sustained during their violent arrest;
3. Immediately cease all attacks against members of Damas de Blanco and all other human rights organisations involved in peaceful protest actions, allowing them to exercise their legitimate right to freedom of opinion and expression as enshrined in international law;
4. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Ivonne Malleza Galano, as well as that of all human rights defenders in Cuba;
5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Cuba are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

CUBA

CUBAN REGIME UNLEASHES ACTS OF BRUTAL VIOLENCE AGAINST ACTIVISTS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND ON THE EVE OF ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

More than 150 violent arrests in Eastern Cuba

December 4, 2011

During the week of November 28 – December 4, 2011, peaceful civic protests carried out in Havana and Eastern Cuba faced the brutal acts of violence of paramilitary government forces.

On Wednesday, November the 30th,  three female human rights defenders, members of the group “Ladies in White’ were dragged, beaten and violently arrested in a crowded public park in Havana for displaying a white sheet that read: “Down with Hunger, Misery, and Poverty”, “Stop lying and deceiving the Cuban people”.  Ivón Mayesa, Blanca Hernández (77 years old), and Mayra Morejón cried out Freedom! at the Fraternidad Park, before dozens of citizens. Some of the onlookers who tried to prevent the arrest of the three women were pepper-sprayed by the policemen. Mayesa’s husband, Ignacio Martínez Montejo, was also beaten and arrested and is detained at the Acosta Police Station in Havana.  Hernandez  and Morejon were released but the whereabouts of Ivon Mayesa are unknown to her family since her arrest.  

Video sent from Cuba via internet of the protest and arrest at the Parque de La Fraternidad in Havana: http://hablalosinmiedo.blogspot.com/2011/12/videos-protesta-en-parque-de-la.html

The National March for Freedom, Boitel Zapata Viven!, a campaign intended to coordinate the peaceful prodemocracy groups throughout the island, with a peaceful march advancing from east to west to create conscience on behalf of human rights in the Cuban population, was thwarted again by a crackdown perpetrated by the combined forces of State Security and the National Revolutionary Police. The march, which faced violent repression when it was initiated in September 2011, kicked off once from the Eastern city of Guantanamo on Thursday, December 1st, where the regime parked buses to block the streets and megaphones played loud music and government propaganda. According to Rogelio Tabio, member of the Resistance and Democracy Movement, thirty four activists of numerous human rights groups were violently arrested in this city to prevent the freedom march. There were also arrests in Moa and Holguin. Activist, Franklin Pelegrino, his wife, and 3 year old daughter were beaten, and arrested in Holguin, and released on December 4th.

On the morning of December 2nd , forty nine human rights defenders came marching out of the house of Liudmila Rodriguez Palomo (arrested Dec. 1st along with Yuniesky Dominguez), located at: Calle Crombet  #204, entre avenida Libertad y Remus, in Palma Soriano, in Santiago de Cuba province, carrying a Cuban flag, and chanting “Long live human rights!”. A double line of agents was stationed all around the house to prevent the neighbors from witnessing the violent beatings that were then carried out against the activists who were forced onto buses. Most had to receive medical assistance before being taken to prison units. There were activists that were unrecognizable because they had so much blood on their faces. Those neighbors who protested the ill treatment of the activists were pepper-sprayed by the police.

Thirty one of the 52 activists attacked in Palma Soriano remain under arrest. Two of the ones still in custody are Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, leader of the umbrella group in Eastern Cuba UMPACU ( Patriotic Union of Cuba), as well as the main coordinator of the march, Angel Moya Acosta. Both are ex-Cuban political prisoners of conscience of the “Group of the 75” released this year and who refused to be exiled in Spain as a condition for their release. Moya Acosta was one of the most brutally beaten on December 2nd because he would not stop crying out “Long live human rights!” as he was punched, kicked, and brutally beaten with tonfas (police batons).

The human rights group Directorio Democratico documented the following names of those activists arrested on December 2, 2011 in Eastern Cuba: José Daniel Ferrer García, Ángel Moya Acosta, Alexander Abdala Batista, Alexis Portales Arreaga, Luis Enrique Losada Irrizarra, Carlos Manuel Gallardo Mosqueda, Julio César Vega Santiesteban, Jorge Cervantes García, Seigler Bismark Peña Pérez, Eurbis Paredes Elías, Eliécer Covuquet Velázquez, Guillermo Cobas Reyes, Arcelio Marín Almeida, Prudencio Villar Herrera, Dany Lópe de Moya, Rubén Torres Sainz, José Amaury Avelenda Hierrezuelo, Abraham Cabrera Torres, Manuel Martínez Cabrera, Wildon Izaguirre Fuentes, Misael Valdés Díaz, Roberto de la Rosa Estrada, José Antonio Elégica Zulueta, Agustín Alonso Peña, José Batista Falcón, Roilan Ramírez Rodríguez, Alfredo Aníbal Bravo, Bismark Mustelier Galán, Miguel Rafael Cabrera Montoya, Rolando Humberto González Rodríguez, Emilio Guinza, Osmany Céspedes Nápoles, Rubén Andreus de Armas, Carlos Manuel Castellanos, Ángel Lino Isaac Luna, Víctor Campa Almenares, Pedro Campa Almenares, Ángel Luis Campa Almenares, Andrés García Almenares, Yosvani García, and Alexis Yanchoi Kuan Jerez,

On Saturday, December 3rd, in Eastern Cuba, the Ladies in White Belkis Cantillo, and Aimee Garcés Napoles, were arrested when they were on their way to find out in what police unit Cantillo’s husband, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, was being detained. Both women were released on Sunday, December 4.

Approximately seventeen Ladies in White and five activists who accompanied them were able hear Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity in Santiago de Cuba on Sunday, December 4th, but around thirteen women were not able to reach the temple as they were intercepted in the highway by authorities and subjected to attacks by mobs made up of school children, people with sticks, and State Security agents.

Berta Soler, leader in Havana of the movement, Ladies in White Laura Pollan denounced that the members of the group are being intimidated and threatened with repression if they carry out any public acts prior to or on December 10 (Human Rights Day).

The Coalition of Cuban-American Women denounces the inhumane acts of torture and arbitrary detentions committed against Cuban human rights defenders. International recognition of the peaceful resistance movement in Cuba and solidarity for these activists is crucial on the sixty third anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 2011. We make an urgent call on religious, civic, political, and cultural entities and its leaders, as well as to non-gonvernmental human rights organizations worldwide. 

Coalition of Cuban-American Women – Joseito76@aol.com / Laida Carro

Further information in Cuba:  Berta Soler +5352906820 / Belkis Cantillo - + 5353790867