Poet, journalist and screenwriter Cecilio Ismael Sambra Hubert has entered his fourth year in prison since being sentenced in July 1993 by a court in Santiago de Cuba to ten years in prison for “rebellion.” The sentence was in connection with leaflets that he and some friends had distributed in Santiago in early 1993 which […]
Poet, journalist and screenwriter Cecilio Ismael Sambra Hubert
has entered his fourth year in prison since being sentenced in
July 1993 by a court in Santiago de Cuba to ten years in prison
for “rebellion.” The sentence was in connection with leaflets
that he and some friends had distributed in Santiago in early
1993 which were very critical of President Fidel Castro.
Sambra was held in Boniato prison in Santiago de Cuba until May
1995. He was transferred to another Santiago de Cuba prison as
punishment for going on hunger strike for 40 days to protest
against prison food standards. He later suffered a heart attack
while in prison.
In January 1996, Sambra was transferred back to Boniato prison
due to his poor health. During his imprisonment, one of his
children was also detained.
Prison conditions in Cuba are poor. A Human Rights Watch report
dated October 1995 states: “The severe shortages that today
affect all Cubans are worse in the prisons. Prisoners complained
of the lack of medicines, soap, toothpaste and razor blades for
shaving. Typical meals consist of lemonade or orangeade for
breakfast; and small portions of broth with a little rice or
casava, or just a few spoonfuls of plain white rice, for lunch
and dinner. While relatives are allowed to bring food to
prisoners, visits are not frequent enough to compensate for the
inadequate rations, and sometimes guards keep this food.
Prisoners typically lose enormous amounts of weight in prison.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Cecilio Sambra Hubert, who is imprisoned in violation of his
internationally-guaranteed right to freedom of expression
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.
