On 30 July 1996, Juan Antonio Sanchez, a journalist for the independent news agency Cuba Press, was apprehended by Cuban State Security agents as he was leaving a currency exchange booth in the Habana Libre Hotel after having changed US$ 700 that he had received from Reporters sans frontieres (RSF). Sanchez was to share the […]
On 30 July 1996, Juan Antonio Sanchez, a journalist for the
independent news agency Cuba Press, was apprehended by Cuban
State Security agents as he was leaving a currency exchange booth
in the Habana Libre Hotel after having changed US$ 700 that he
had received from Reporters sans frontieres (RSF). Sanchez was to
share the money with other Cuba Press journalists, to whom it was
intended.
Sanchez was driven to the Sixth Police Unit located in Mariano
where State Security agents asked that he hand over the 700
dollars and sign a written statement which said that he “had
received money from the American government in order to finance
domestic counterrevolutionary activities.” Sanchez refused to
sign. After being held for six hours, the journalist was
released; however, the money was not returned. As well, the
officer who conducted the interrogation warned Sanchez, saying
that “this is nothing compared to what could happen to you.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
returned to Cuba Press and that Juan Antonio Sanchez be able to
work without being subject to further harassment
Appeals To
His Excellency Fidel Castro
President
Havana, Cubac/o the Cuban Mission at the United Nations
New York NY 10016, United States
Fax: +1 212 779 1697or 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.
