Spotlight on Cuba: Crackdown on Dissidents

Chronology of Events - September 2008

September 25: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said in New York  he would continue to support dialogue with the Cuban government as a means of promoting freedom and human rights on the communist-ruled island. During a press conference at the United Nations, Zapatero made the remarks in response to a question about how he plans to work for the release of Cuban political prisoners. The Spanish premier, who is attending the UN General Assembly, said that "extending freedom in all corners, defending basic rights in all places and working from the standpoint of dialogue" are constant goals of his government. "I think that's the most constructive way," Zapatero said, referring to engaging in dialogue with Cuba, either bilaterally or as a member nation of the European Union. Spain was instrumental in the EU's decision this summer to officially end sanctions that had been imposed on Cuba following a crackdown on dissidents in 2003 (EFE, 26/9/08).

September 18: Well-known opposition activist Jorge Luís Gracia Pérez (Antúnez) was detained as he left the United States’ Interests Section in Havana. Antunez and fellow oppositionists were exiting a facility where Internet access is provided when they were intercepted by State Security agents who forced him into a waiting vehicle. He was taken back to his temporary address in Havana where they violently picked up his wife, Iris Pérez Aguilera, and finally returned them both, against their will, to the province of Santa Clara, where they reside. Antunez declared that this suppressive act sought to prevent his participation in a press conference called by the Latin-American Federation of Rural Women (FLAMUR) to ask the Cuban government to accept US humanitarian aid for the hurricane victims (Cubanet, 19/9/08). 

September 18: Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque said that his government has agreed to a political dialogue with the European Union (EU) but that a "formal agreement" on the talks’ framework, format and governing principles is still pending. "We accepted this dialogue proposal, but first the EU and Cuba have to discuss and come to a formal agreement on what the framework will be, what forms of dialogue will be used and on what principles this discussion will be based," indicated Pérez Roque in a press conference. He added that this dialogue will "in no case be allowed to become an attempt by one of the parties to tutor the other." It will be an "exchange between equals that Cuba is willing to undertake and considers useful." Pérez Roque said that, from the island’s perspective, the parties must engage in dialogue "as equals," with respect for national "sovereignty" and "the principle of non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs" (EFE, 18/9/08).

September 16: The Cuban government under new leader Raul Castro has reportedly accepted the resumption of formal political dialogue with the EU after it lifted diplomatic sanctions against the island two months ago. The EU representative in Havana, Javier Nino signaled interest in taking up formal talks with Europe in what could be a first step towards normalization of strained relations between the 27-member bloc and Cuba. In a letter handed over earlier this month at the embassy of France, current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, Nino said the communist regime was interested in restarting dialogue with the EU. "The Cuban government agrees to begin dialogue. (...) The EU proposal is an unconditional dialogue, mutual benefit, mutual respect on a number of issues such as rights and environmental issues," Nino told the press. "At this moment the two sides are negotiating over when (plans for) the dialogue can be firmed up, but ideally it will be relatively soon," he said, adding that no date or venue had been set (Deutsche Welle, 17/9/08).

September 16: State Security agents arrested and mistreated four peaceful opposition activists who shouted in protest during the trial against another two activists in Guantanamo. The arrests took place during the appeal hearing of dissidents Yordis García Fournier and Isael Poveda Silva, both linked to the independent newsletter Futuro, who had been convicted early in the month on charges of allegedly "resisting arrest" and "contempt of authority." Although the prosecution failed to prove that a crime had been committed, the defendants were nonetheless handed down a 1 year jail sentence. When the verdict was read, opposition activists and others in attendance protested with shouts of "Down with the dictatorship!" and "Freedom for political prisoners!" State Security agents gathered Court staff members and armed them with clubs and lengths of rebar to confront the protesters. Opposition activists Rosaida Ramírez, Niovis García Fournier, Pastor García Fournier and Pedro Poveda were taken to a police station, where they remain under arrest (Cubaencuentro, 17/9/08).

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