**For background to Perrot expulsion, see previous IFEX alert of 15 July 1996** CPJ strongly protested the 12 July summary expulsion of a representative of the Paris-based press freedom advocacy group. Further to a previous IFEX alert of 15 July, his name is Jacques Perrot. CPJ is also gravely concerned about the recent wave of […]
**For background to Perrot expulsion, see previous
IFEX alert of 15 July 1996**
CPJ strongly protested the 12 July summary expulsion of a
representative of the Paris-based press freedom advocacy group.
Further to a previous IFEX alert of 15 July, his name is Jacques
Perrot.
CPJ is also gravely concerned about the recent wave of detentions
and harassment of Cuban independent journalists by the state
police following the 20 June expulsion of CPJ staff expert Suzanne
Bilello (see IFEX alert of 21 June 1996). On the morning of 15
July 1996, two journalists were summoned to the offices of state
security police in Villa Marista. Nestor Baguer, head of the Cuban
Association of Independent Journalists (Asociacion de la Prensa
Independiente de Cuba, APIC), and Mercedes Moreno, a reporter with
the Bureau of the Independent Press of Cuba (Buro de Prensa
Independiente de Cuba, BPIC) reported to Villa Marista at 9:00
hours. As of late afternoon, they were still in custody.
On 12 July, Joaquin Torres of Havana Press was arrested in his
home and taken to a police station in the Caballo Blanco barrio,
where the office of Havana Press is located. He was interrogated
briefly about his work with the news agency by an official with
state security, which has a bureau in the police station. He was
incarcerated in the police station and released on the morning of
14 July.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Cuban authorities:
Perrot’s attempt to travel to Cuba were made in the spirit of
collegial support for fellow journalists working on the island
of independent journalists and their supporters
independent press constitute a violation of the right to free
expression, which is guaranteed by Article 19 of the United
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
allowed to operate freely
Appeals To
His Excellency Fidel Castro
President
Havana, Cuba
c/o the Cuban Mission at the United Nations
New York NY 10016, United States
Fax: +1 212 779 1697
or c/o the Cuban diplomatic representative in your country
(in the United States)
Cuban Interest Section
Washington DC, United States
Fax: +1 202 797 8521
(in Canada)
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
388 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 1E3, Canada
Fax: +1 613 563 0068
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
