Document - Cuba: Fear for safety/Fear of arbitrary detention: Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello (f) \n\n

CUBA Cuba: Fear for safety/Fear of arbitrary detention: Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello (f)

PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 25/004/2007
24 April 2007

UA 97/07 Fear for safety/Fear of arbitrary detention

CUBA Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello (f), political dissident

Former prisoner of conscience Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello has reportedly been threatened and harassed by people claiming to be from the security forces, because of her political activities. Amnesty International fears that her life may be in danger, and that she may again be jailed as a prisoner of conscience.

Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello is the president of an umbrella organisation of Cuban dissident groups, the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba (Asamblea para Promover la Sociedad Civil en Cuba). She has reportedly been harassed and threatened repeatedly, and assaulted, by government supporters since she was released from prison in July 2004.

The most recent threat came on 17 April, when Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello reportedly received an anonymous phone call from a man who said he was a member of the security forces. He threatened to jail her unless she gave up her political activities, saying, "Martha, you are putting your life at risk, you are going back to prison" (Martha, estás poniendo tu vida en peligro, vas a volver a caer presa).

Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello believes this threat was an attempt to force her to give up her work with foreign media outlets. She regularly gives interviews to the US-based Radio Martí, which broadcasts to Cuba.

In March 2003 Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello was sentenced to 20 years in prison under article 91 of the penal code for "acts against the independence or territorial integrity of the state". Amnesty International adopted her as a prisoner of conscience. Suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, she was conditionally released on health grounds on 22 July 2004. Since then, she has been campaigning for the release of other Cuban prisoners of conscience.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Freedom of expression and association is severely restricted in Cuba. Members of unofficial political and human rights groups have regularly been subjected to intimidation when exercising their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. This seems to be an attempt to force them to give up their legitimate peaceful activities.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
- expressing concern at reports that Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello has been threatened by a man claiming to be a member of the security forces, and urging the authorities to take immediate action to guarantee her safety;
- asking the authorities to ensure that all political dissidents engaged in legitimate non-violent activities are permitted to carry out their activities unhindered without fear for reprisals.

APPEALS TO:

Head of State and Government
Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente interino
La Habana, Cuba
Fax: +53 7 8333085 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

      +1 2127791697 (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)
Email: f_castro@cuba.gov.cu
cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)
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
Fax: +53 7 669 485
+53 7 333 164
Salutation: Señor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sr Felipe Pérez Roque
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Calzada No. 360, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Fax: +53 7 8333 085
E-mail: cubaminrex@minrex.gov.cu
Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister

Interior Secretary
General Abelardo Colomé Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba
Fax: +53 7 8301 566
Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Cuba accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 June 2007.********



Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom

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