Cuba

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the release for health reasons of Jorge Olivera Castillo – the fourth independent journalist to be freed in the past eight days – and voiced the hope that Cuban authorities will free the other 22 journalists still detained in Cuba. Of the 75 dissidents detained in a March 2003 crackdown, […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 2 December 2004, Cuban authorities released journalist Edel José García Díaz from prison. He was the third independent journalist in the country to be released during the week of 30 November, following Oscar Espinosa Chepe and Raúl Rivero. Officially, all three journalists are now under house arrest after being allowed to leave […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 30 November 2004 CPJ press release: Rivero released on medical parole Second Cuban journalist to be released in two days; many still in prison New York, November 30, 2004 – Cuban writer Raúl Rivero was released from a Havana prison today, the second imprisoned journalist to be granted medical […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 2 September 2004 CPJ press release: CUBA: CPJ condemns treatment of imprisoned journalists New York, September 2, 2004 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the continued imprisonment of more than two dozen Cuban journalists, several of whom have received inadequate medical care or been harassed for protesting their […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Blanca Reyes, the wife of jailed journalist and poet Raúl Rivero, has voiced her anxiety about a “change in attitude” towards her husband on the part of the prison authorities. Wife of imprisoned journalist Raúl Rivero expresses concern about prison authorities’ treatment of her husband “They are trying to humiliate him in order […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned about the health of journalist Fabio Prieto Llorente, who has been on a hunger strike since 11 August 2004 to protest his prison conditions. “It is the third time since the beginning of the year that the journalist has been driven to take this course of action,” the organisation said, […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN welcomes the 23 June 2004 release of Roberto de Miranda Hernández on health grounds. However, PEN remains concerned that his release is conditional and means that Miranda, aged 59, could still be returned to prison. A librarian and vice-president of the unofficial Teachers College of Cuba (Colegio de […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 July 2004 CPJ press release: CUBA: CPJ concerned about deteriorating health of imprisoned journalists New York, July 28, 2004 – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating health of imprisoned journalists Julio César Gálvez, Edel José García, and Jorge Olivera Castillo, who are […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN welcomes the 22 July 2004 unconditional release of Marta Beatriz Roque. The economist and writer has been freed from the Carlos J. Finlay military hospital for health reasons after serving 16 months of a 20-year sentence. Roque, aged 58, was arrested in March 2003 along with 74 other […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 23 July 2004 IAPA press release: IAPA concerned over revocation of Cuban journalist’s visa Miami (July 23, 2004) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) sent a complaint to the United States State Department regarding the revocation of political refugee status previously granted to Cuban independent journalist Bernardo Arévalo […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 2 July 2004 IAPA press release: IAPA protests treatment of Raúl Rivero, calls for his release from prison MIAMI, Florida (July 2, 2004) – Cuban poet and journalist Raúl Rivero Castañeda is being subjected to harassment at the Canaleta Prison in Ciego de Avila province where he is being […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 1 July 2004 IAPA press release: Bernardo Arévalo Padrón tells IAPA US has granted him political asylum MIAMI, Florida (July 1, 2004) – In a telephone call today from Havana, Bernardo Arévalo Padrón, one of the most prominent members of Cuba’s independent press who spent six years in prison […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 June 2004 CPJ press release: CUBA: Two imprisoned journalists granted medical parole New York, June 24, 2004 – Authorities granted medical parole to imprisoned journalists Manuel Vázquez Portal and Carmelo Díaz Fernández within the last week. The two men, who suffer from several health conditions, were among the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the 18 June 2004 release of independent journalist Carmelo Díaz Fernández for health reasons after 15 months in prison. However, the organisation pointed out that Díaz Fernández “should never have been imprisoned in the first place, because all he did was exercise his right to free expression. We hold the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the 8 June 2004 release of independent journalist Carlos Alberto Dominguez González after 27 months in prison. The journalist was released because of his poor health. “Carlos Alberto Dominguez González should never have been imprisoned or detained in these appalling conditions. We hold the authorities in Havana responsible for the […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a telephone discussion with RSF on the evening of 26 May 2004, imprisoned journalist Normando Hernández González’s wife Yaraí Reyes Marín said she had recently spoken to the Pinar del Río prison warden, who is known by the name of “Jesús”. The warden confirmed that Hernández González has ended his hunger strike. […]