Testimonies of The Dire Human Rights Situation in Cuba
According to various testimonies in June, 2009, the human rights situation in Cuba continues to deteriorate. The Committee to Protect Journalists urged European leaders to ensure that Cuba releases imprisoned journalists and permits freedom of expression and information. The journalists live in inhumane life-threatening conditions, and no international humanitarian organizations have been permitted to visit. Recent prisoners include Albert Santiago Du Bouchet Hernández, director of the news agency Habana Press. In “Alarming Statistics of Human Rights Violations in First Half of 2009“, democracy activists in Cuba report “over 500 political arrests, at least 26 trials and prison sentences of peaceful opposition activists and a high prison mortality rate”. The daughter of one prisoner, Yenysel Díaz Sánchez, pleas for his release from the Castro gulag. Former prisoner of conscience José Gabriel Ramón Castillo testified before the UN Human Rights Council, appealing for justice for the thousands of Cubans who have been repressed and tortured.
This blog post is based on recent online sources as indicated by the hyperlinks.
