(RSF/IFEX) – On 7 November 1997, RSF reported that on 6 November, Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez Amaro of the Independent Press Agency of Cuba (Agencia de Prensa Independiente de Cuba, APIC) and Luis Lopez Prendes of the Bureau of Independent Press (Buro de Prensa Independiente de Cuba, BPIC) were held for a few hours […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 7 November 1997, RSF reported that on 6 November, Maria de
los Angeles Gonzalez Amaro of the Independent Press Agency of Cuba (Agencia
de Prensa Independiente de Cuba, APIC) and Luis Lopez Prendes of the Bureau
of Independent Press (Buro de Prensa Independiente de Cuba, BPIC) were held
for a few hours by state security agents. They were prevented from
attending the trial of Walter Van der Veer, an American accused of
“conspiring against Fidel Castro.” BPIC journalist Jorge Luis Arce Cabrera
was also arrested in the early afternoon during a press conference
organized by Van der Veer’s lawyer. The three journalists were released the
same day.
**For background to other attacks, see IFEX alerts**
On 5 November, on the eve of her arrest, Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez
Amaro received an anonymous telephone call telling her “it was time.” That
day, Habana Press journalist Joaquin Torres also received similar threats.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Cuban President Fidel Castro:
press freedom
to freely practice their profession in independent media
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
