Two imprisoned journalists go on hunger strike to protest their own and others’ deteriorating health and treatment
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned about the health and safety of Cuba’s imprisoned journalists, especially Normando Hernández González, the editor of the Colegio de Periodistas Independientes de Camagüey, an independent news agency, who is still waiting for the special medical release his wife requested for him a year ago because of his poor health. This […]
Independent journalist sentenced to 15 months after being held for over a year without charges
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 6 July 2007 CPJ press release: CUBA: Independent journalist, held for more than a year, is sentenced New York, July 6, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the 15-month prison sentence given Tuesday to independent Cuban journalist Armando Betancourt Reina on charges of public disorder. Betancourt Reina […]
Imprisoned journalist Normando Hernández González suffering from serious health problems
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 29 June 2007 IAPA press release: IAPA condemns inadequate health care for independent journalists jailed in Cuba Miami (June 29, 2007) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today condemned Cuban authorities for holding a number of independent journalists behind bars despite their precarious state of health and asked […]
Health of jailed journalists deteriorates
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 20 June 2007 CPJ press release: In Cuba, health of jailed journalists deteriorates New York, June 20, 2007 – Families and friends of eight independent Cuban journalists who have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 say that the health of their loved ones has seriously deteriorated in recent months amid […]
Independent journalist Armando Betancourt completes a year in prison without trial
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF reiterated its call for the release of Armando Betancourt, 45, as he completed a year in detention without trial on 23 May 2007. A contributor to the Nueva Prensa Cubana website and founder of the underground magazine “El Camagüeyano”, he was arrested by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) on 23 May 2006 […]
Independent journalist released after nearly two years in prison, reports beatings and “psychological torture”
(RSF/IFEX) – Roberto de Jesús Guerra Pérez, a contributor to the Payolibre and Nueva Prensa Cubana websites and to US-funded Radio Martí, who was arrested during an anti-government demonstration on 13 July 2005, was released from Valle Grande prison on 9 May 2007. “Guerra Pérez was detained for nearly two years,” RSF said. “A Havana […]
One imprisoned journalist denied medically-needed exercise; another reports food poisoning due to spoiled meals
(RSF/IFEX) – Prison guards have been refusing to let Normando Hernández González into the exercise yard since 23 April 2007, although his doctors have said he should walk every day because of the tuberculosis and other ailments he has contracted. Hernández González said the exercise ban was a form of revenge by the Cuban government […]
Journalist sentenced to four years in prison as “pre-criminal social danger”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the jailing of Oscar Sánchez Madan, a Matanzas province correspondent for the Miami-based Cubanet website. Arrested on 13 April 2007 and summarily tried the same day, Sánchez was sentenced to four years in prison as a “pre-criminal social danger.” His imprisonment brings the number of independent journalists currently […]
Spring just as sombre for independent press four years after “Black Spring” crackdown
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abbreviated version of a 15 March 2007 RSF alert: [. . .] Whether or not they are imprisoned, Cuba’s independent journalists have been having a particularly trying March in 2007. Twenty of them, who have been held ever since the March 2003 “Black Spring” and who are serving jail […]
Independent journalist sentenced to 22 months in prison after being held 19 months without trial
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced surprise at the 22-month prison sentence which Roberto de Jesús Guerra Pérez, a correspondent of the Miami-based Payolibre and Nueva Prensa Cubana websites and the US government-funded Radio Martí, received on 27 February 2007 from a Havana court on a charge of “disturbing the peace,” and said it hoped the […]
“Chicago Tribune” and “El Universal” newspapers’ correspondents told to leave, BBC correspondent denied visa
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned Cuba’s 22 February 2007 decision not to renew the visas of American Gary Marx, correspondent for the “Chicago Tribune” newspaper, and Spaniard Cesar Gonzáles-Calero, correspondent for the Mexico City-based “El Universal” newspaper. Their accreditation has been withdrawn and they have been told to leave the country. As well, BBC correspondent […]
CPJ concerned about the health of jailed independent journalist
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 16 February 2007 CPJ press release: In Cuba, CPJ concerned about the health of jailed independent journalist New York, February 16, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about a report of deteriorating health of independent journalist Alfredo Pulido López, who has been imprisoned in Cuba for […]
Journalist detained, begins hunger strike; another arrested, questioned, his equipment seized; editor protests police raid on her home; trial of another detained journalist postponed
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the detention of journalist Ramón Velázquez Toranso of the independent news agency Libertad, who has been held in the provincial prison in the eastern province of Las Tunas since his arrest on 23 January 2007. Velázquez Toranso initiated a hunger strike on 30 January. Around 40 journalists have been detained, attacked […]
Young journalist freed after being held eight days at state security headquarters
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF welcomes the news that Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia of the Jóvenes sin Censura independent news agency was released on 12 December 2006 after being held for eight days at the headquarters of the Directorate for State Security, the political police, in Havana. Aged 22, Rodríguez said he was escorted back to his home […]
Journalist and writer Normando Hernández González reportedly transferred to hospital after suffering further health complications; growing fears he may die in detention
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is deeply concerned about the deteriorating health of Normando Hernández González. He is among a number of Cuban writers, journalists and librarians still detained today in violation of their right to freedom of expression following mass arrests in April 2003. They are held in prisons […]
Provincial journalist gets four years for being “social danger”; Havana reporter arrested by state security
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ahmed Rodríguez Albacia of the Jóvenes sin Censura independent news agency, who was arrested by the State Security police on 4 December 2006 in Havana. The organisation also condemned the four-year prison sentence passed on independent journalist Raymundo Perdigón Brito on […]