(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the sentencing of Jésus Joel Díaz Hernández to a four-year prison term. The journalist is a correspondent with the Avileña Cooperative of Independent Journalists (Cooperativa Avileña de Periodistas Independientes, CAPI) in Moron, in the province of Ciego de Ávila. According to RSF’s information, on 19 January 1999, Díaz Hernández was […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the sentencing of Jésus Joel Díaz Hernández
to a four-year prison term. The journalist is a correspondent with the
Avileña Cooperative of Independent Journalists (Cooperativa Avileña de
Periodistas Independientes, CAPI) in Moron, in the province of Ciego de
Ávila.
According to RSF’s information, on 19 January 1999, Díaz Hernández was
sentenced to a four-year prison term by the Moron court for being “socially
dangerous.” According to Article 72 of the Penal Code, his conduct was
allegedly “in clear contradiction with the norms of socialist morals.” The
journalist, whose family has appealed the decision, is allegedly on a hunger
strike to protest his sentence. His current location is unknown.
Also according to RSF’s information, Díaz Hernández was allegedly arrested
at his residence on Monday, 18 January at 6:00 a.m. (local time). It was
apparently at that time that his family learned that he was to be tried the
next day, and thus had only twenty four hours to prepare his defence.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
that legal proceedings against him be dropped
Appeals To
Mr. Fidel Castro
President of the State Council and Council of Ministers
Havana, Cubaor c/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 Canada)
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
388 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 1E3, Canada
Fax: +1 613 563 0068(in the United States)
Cuban Interest Section
Washington DC, United States
Fax: +1 202 797 8521
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
