WiPC marks third year since the sentencing of poet and journalist Cecilio Ismael Sambra Hubert
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 […]
Further details on expulsion of RSF representative; APIC journalist Nestor Baguer and BPIC’s Mercedes Moreno detained; Joaquin Torres of Havana Press held for two days
**For background to Perrot expulsion, see previous IFEX alert of 15 July 1996** CPJ strongly protested the 12 July summary expulsion of a representative of the Paris-based press freedom advocacy group. Further to a previous IFEX alert of 15 July, his name is Jacques Perrot. CPJ is also gravely concerned about the recent wave of […]
BPIC’s Norma Brito and Lazaro Lazo briefly detained; Lazo questioned
**For background, see IFEX alerts** On 26 June 1996, Norma Brito, spokesperson for Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (Buro de Prensa Independiente de Cuba, BPIC), was summoned to State Security headquarters in Villa Marista. She was released a few hours later. On 24 June, BPIC interim director Lazaro Lazo was retained for nine hours […]
Cuban authorities interrogate and deport CPJ staffer
On 20 June 1996, Cuban Interior Ministry officials detained, interrogated, and deported from Cuba a visiting staff expert from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), accusing her of “fomenting rebellion” through its support for Cuba’s independent journalists. Suzanne Bilello, the CPJ’s Program Coordinator for the Americas, was arrested in her hotel room in Havana at […]
CPJ sends letter of protest to Mexican telecommunications company regarding its role in the Cuban government’s campaign of harassment against independent Cuban journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has recently written the following letter to Javier Garza Calderon, the Chief Executive of Grupo Domos, a privately owned Mexican telecommunications company based in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1994 it purchased 49 per cent of ETECSA, the Cuban state telephone company, with which it had entered into a joint venture. […]
Journalist Roxana Valdivia arrives in the United States after being forced to emigrate
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 21 and 12 March 1996** On 4 June 1996, Roxana Valdivia, a journalist for the Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (BPIC), arrived in Miami, Florida with her family after being forced to emigrate. Recommended Action Send appeals to authorities: considering the expulsion of Roxana Valdivia from Cuba to be a […]
Police threaten Joaquin Torres Alvarez, of the independent news agency Havana Press
On the morning of 31 May 1996, two members of the Cuban state security police went to the home of Joaquin Torres Alvarez, president of the independent news agency Havana Press, and threatened to incarcerate him if he continued to write for the agency. Torres told the Committee to Protect Journalists that police initially informed […]
Police detain journalist Lazaro Lazo
On 24 May 1996, Lazaro Lazo, interim President of the Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (BPIC), was arrested in Havana by two agents of Cuban State Security. He was detained for four days in Villa Marista, the main prison of the State Security. Upon being released, Lazo was warned to vacate his position at […]
Cuban authorities arrest father of Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba founder Yndamiro Restano Diaz
On 2 May 1996, Julio Suarez, in whose home was located the temporary offices of the Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (BPIC), was arrested and taken in for questioning by Havana police. He was held for approximately ten hours at Villa Marista, the central prison of Cuban State Security, before being released. Suarez was […]
Police raid office of Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba
On 26 April 1996, nine police officers raided the office of the Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (BPIC) and confiscated several items, including files, correspondence, magazines, two typewriters, one computer, a printer, as well as office supplies such as pencils and paper. This action is the latest in a series of government harassment and […]
Journalist Olance Nogueras freed
**Updates IFEX alert dated 25 April 1996** On 26 April 1996, journalist Olance Nogueras was released from detention. He was detained by Cuban authorities on 23 April in the city of Cienfuegos when he attempted to meet with Danielle Mitterand, president of the humanitarian organization France Liberte. Appeals To
Journalist Olance Nogueras arrested
**For background to previous harassment of Olance Nogueras, see IFEX alert dated 23 January 1996, and others** On 23 April 1996, Olance Nogueras, a reporter for the Bureau of Independent Press in Cuba (BPIC), was detained by agents of the political police in the city of Cienfuegos as he was on his way to meet […]
Journalist Rafael Solano freed
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 27, 21, 12 March and 29 February 1996** On 8 April 1996, journalist Rafael Solano, president of the independent news agency Habana Press, was released after being imprisoned for 42 days. However, the charges brought against Solano–alleged “association with persons with the intent to commit a crime”–stand. Consequently, unless the Cuban […]
Journalist Nestor Baguer attacked
On 2 March 1995, Nestor Baguer, an independent journalist and president of the Independent Association of Journalists of Cuba (APIC), was attacked by an unknown individual outside his home in Havana. The assailant pushed him off the pavement into the street, causing a fracture to his right wrist and severe bruising to his ribs. According […]