AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 12 May 2000, Felix A. Bonne Carcases, on 15 May 2000, Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello and on 23 May 2000, Rene Gomez Manzano were released with "conditional liberty." Felix Bonne, Marta Roque and Rene Gomez, along with economist Vladimiro Roca Antunez were arrested for their role as leaders of the Internal Dissidents' Working Group for the Analysis of the Cuban Socio-Economic Situation. They were arrested in 1997 for writing a pro-democracy document entitled, "The Homeland Belongs to All."

The releases may be part of the Cuban government's response to the U.N. Human Rights Commission's April vote to censure Cuba for its human rights record. The Commission specifically mentioned the Internal Dissidents' Working Group (Grupo de Trabajo de la Disidencia Interna), and called upon the Government to "release all persons detained or imprisoned for peacefully expressing their political, religious and social views and for exercising their rights to full and equal participation in public affairs."

Prior to the sentencing, the four were detained for fifteen months without charge or trial. They were eventually charged with sedition on 15 October 1998. According to the Cuban Criminal Code, sedition includes nonviolent opposition to the government. Roque was sentenced to three and a half years, Bonne and Gomez to four years and Roca to five.

A release might not be forthcoming for Vladimiro Roca Antunez. In addition to receiving the longest sentence, he has also been serving his time in solitary confinement, the most severe treatment, because of his perceived role as the leader of the group.

Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello suffers from liver problems and low hemoglobin after a 52-day hunger strike while in prison. Felix A. Bonne Carcases stated that he was not treated badly while in custody, but was hospitalized for 15 days for an asthma attack before his release. He thanked the strong foreign support of their cause.

(Sources of information for this alert include the New York Times, the Miami Herald and The UN High Commission for Human Rights webpage at http://www.unhchr.ch. For the full text of the Resolution, please see document E/CN.4/RES/2000/25 Situation of Human Rights in Cuba at http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Many thanks to all of those who sent appeals. Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes or airmail letters:

• Welcoming the release of Felix A. Bonne Carcases, Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello and Rene Gomez Manzano;
• calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Vladimiro Roca Antunez on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Sr. Carlos Dotres Martinez
Ministro de la Salud Publica
Ministerio de la Salud Publica
Calle 23, No. 301
Vedado, La Habana, Cuba


Dr. Juan Escalona Reguera
Fiscal General de la Republica
San Rafael 3
La Habana, Cuba
Fax: 011 53 7 669 485
Sr. Jefe del Centro de Investigaciones del Departamento de
Seguridad del Estado (DSE)
Versalles
Santiago de Cuba
Prov. Oriente, Cuba

COPIES SENT TO:

Sr. Felipe Pérez Roque
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Calzada No. 360
Vedado
La Habana, Cuba
Fax: 011 53 7 333 085 or 335 261

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