Rodrigo Alonso, a Chilean national who works as a reporter for the Miami-based Telemundo television network, was kidnapped and robbed during a visit to Cuba in June 1996. Alonso traveled to Cuba on 10 June with two other representatives of Telemundo to research material and conduct interviews for a program about the life of Che […]
Rodrigo Alonso, a Chilean national who works as a reporter for
the Miami-based Telemundo television network, was kidnapped and
robbed during a visit to Cuba in June 1996. Alonso traveled to
Cuba on 10 June with two other representatives of Telemundo to
research material and conduct interviews for a program about the
life of Che Guevara for the Telemundo news program “Ocurrio Asi
de Noche”. On 12 June, at approximately 8:30 pm, he received a
call in his room at the Cohiba Hotel in the Vedado section of
Havana that someone was waiting for him outside the hotel. When
Alonso stepped outside, he was approached by two men who asked if
he was Rodrigo Alonso. When he said yes, they took him by the arm
and pushed him into an automobile. At that point, two other men
entered the vehicle and Alonso was not able to leave. He was
driven around Havana for approximately four hours and was asked
several times what he was doing in Cuba. One of the men slapped
Alonso in the back of his head and poked his right eye several
times with a sharp object. During the four hours that Alonso was
held captive, unidentified persons entered his hotel room and
stole money, clothing and other personal belongings.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
investigate the robbery of Rodrigo Alonso and the related
harassment and abuse he suffered while in Cuba
is responsible for this incident and what measures will be taken
to safeguard the rights of journalists in Cuba
that the press, both national and foreign, are allowed to operate
freely without the threat of harassment and abuse
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 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.
