AI Index: AMR 25/21/99

Date: 15 April 1999

Distrib: PG/SC

To: Medical professionals

From: Medical Office / Americas Regional Program

Further information on

MEDICAL LETTER WRITING ACTION

Jorge Luis García Pérez

CUBA

[see AI Index: AMR 25/04/99, 8 February 1999]

Theme: ill-health / medical care

Summary

In February 1999, Amnesty International issued a medical letter writing action on the case of Jorge Luis García Pérez who was reported to be seriously ill in the Nieves Morejón prison in Cuba. Information received by Amnesty International at the time said that he was suffering from a chest infection, tachycardia, hypoglycaemia, renal colic and other ailments. The prison authorities allegedly refused to provide Jorge Luis García with medicines that his family had received from abroad. He reportedly continues to suffer from these ailments.

Jorge Luis García, aged 34, has been in detention since 15 March 1990 and is serving a total sentence of 18 years' imprisonment for ''propaganda enemiga''', ''enemy propaganda'', ''tentativa de sabotaje'', ''attempted sabotage'' and illegal possession of a weapon.

Jorge Luis García has repeatedly been on hunger strike in prison. In February 1999, he was reportedly severely beaten by prison guards after an incident in which some common prisoners threw a stone at a guard. All detainees of that area of the prison were reportedly punished by being ordered to take off their clothes and lie down, which Jorge Luis García refused to do. He was subsequently beaten by prison guards all over his body and beaten over the head with a stick which caused him to lose consciousness. After a brief spell in the prison infirmiry, he was then held in a punishment cell.

Amnesty International has not received any response from the Cuban authorities regarding the state of health of Jorge Luis García or any details of medical care that is made available to him. Following the alleged ill-treatment of Jorge Luis García in February 1999, the organization is calling for an impartial investigation into these allegations the results of which should be made public. Anybody found responsible for the torture or ill-treatment of prisoners in Cuba should be brought to justice in accordance with Cuban national and international law.

Recommended Actions

Letters are requested from medical professionals, preferably written in Spanish or your own language, to the addresses given below:

1. introducing yourself as a member of Amnesty International's health professional network and referring to your earlier letters if appropriate

2. expressing disappointment that as yet the Cuban authorities have not responded to the concerns raised by Amnesty International in its earlier action on Jorge Luis García Pérez

3. seeking information on his current state of health and asking for details of whatever medical treatment he is receiving

4. urging that Jorge Luis García receive all necessary medical care in accordance with provisions set out in international human rights standards, including being transferred to hospital if his condition requires medical treatment that he cannot get inside the prison facilities

5. calling on the authorities to order an investigation into the alleged ill-treatment of Jorge Luis García in February 1999, to make the results of such an enquiry public and to bring anybody found responsible to justice

If you receive no reply from the government or other recipients within two months of dispatch of your letter, please send a follow-up letter seeking a response. If you are sending appeals more than three months after the date of the action, please check with your national coordinator or the International Secretariat in London whether there have been any new developments in the case. Please send copies of any replies you do receive to the International Secretariat [attn: medical team].

ADDRESSES

Head of State and Government

Dr Fidel Castro Ruz

Presidente de los Consejos de

Estados y de Ministros

La Habana, Cuba

Fax: via Ministry of Foreign Affairs

+53.7.333 085 / 335 261

Salutation: Su Excelencia/

Your Excellency

Attorney-General

Dr Juan Escalona Reguera

Fiscal General de la República,

Fiscalía General de la República

San Rafael 3, La Habana, Cuba

Telegrams: Fiscal General,

Havana, Cuba

Fax: +53.7.570795

(NB new fax number!)

Salutation: Sr Fiscal General /

Dear Attorney GeneralMinister of Foreign Affairs

Sr Roberto Robaina González

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores,

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Calzada No. 360

Vedado, La Habana, Cuba

Telegrams: Ministro Relaciones Exteriores,

Havana, Cuba

Fax: +53.7.333 085 / 335 261

Salutation: Señor Ministro / Dear Minister

Director of Prisons, Ministry of the Interior

Señor Director

Dirreción de Cárceles y Prisiones

Ministerio del Interior

Plaza de la Revolución

La Habana, Cuba

Tel: +53.7.301566

[no fax numbers available]

Salutation: Señor Director

Please send copies of your letters to the Cuban diplomatic representative in your country.