(RSF/IFEX) – RSF deplores the sentence of three years of public service work given to independent journalist José Manuel Caraballo for allegedly “falsifying” school certificates when he taught at a tourism training centre. The sentence, delivered by the People’s Court Ciego de Ávila province on 5 September 2003, was “clearly aimed at tightening the gag […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF deplores the sentence of three years of public service work given to independent journalist José Manuel Caraballo for allegedly “falsifying” school certificates when he taught at a tourism training centre.
The sentence, delivered by the People’s Court Ciego de Ávila province on 5 September 2003, was “clearly aimed at tightening the gag on the independent press,” said RSF. The tourism training centre’s deputy director, secretary and another teacher were also convicted on the same charge, but Caraballo was the only one not to have his sentence reduced. He has 10 days to lodge an appeal before the Supreme Court. Caraballo, the editor of the APLA news agency in Morón (Ciego de Ávila province), said the trial showed that the authorities were intent on controlling his movements between his home and work and on preventing him from leaving the province. “They will have to put my head in a vice, because I will carry on writing, even without hands,” he said.
RSF said the authorities were using harassment and intimidation to maintain a climate of fear among independent journalists still trying to practice their profession following the March crackdown that led to the imprisonment of 26 journalists. “Many of the journalists who have not been arrested are summoned for questioning by the state security agency, others receive visits at their homes from state security agents and all are threatened with sentences of up to 20 years in prison if they refuse to give up their work as journalists,” the organisation said.
Caraballo was summoned for questioning by a state security official in Morón on 10 June. During the interrogation, he refused to sign a document saying he would give up independent journalism. The official reportedly responded, “Dissidence must die now.” Caraballo was also summoned for questioning on 7 June and threatened with a 20-year prison sentence if he did not stop being a journalist.
