AMERICA CUBA PRESS
Miami, April 19 (EFE) .- Repression is “the epidemic that affects Cuba the most” and last semester “it recovered” with “heavy penalties” for the demonstrators of the 11J anti-government protests, the warned Inter-American Society on Tuesday Press (SIP) in its preliminary semi-annual report.
In its summary, the Miami-based IAPA considers freedom of expression on the island to be “weak”, part of a society “without respite” and in a “hostile” environment.
In addition, it notes that independent communicators live on the island under “temporary surveillance and threats.”
IAPA points out that “the majority” of journalists outside the Caribbean country’s official media have suffered “varying degrees of police threats and harassment” as well as “interrogations and judicial threats” in recent months so that they have no information about the national disclose protest called for the last November 15, approved by the government.
The report, which has to be approved at the meeting that begins this Tuesday, cites several cases of imprisoned independent press workers – two of them still in prison: Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca and Jorge Bello Domínguez – as part of the coverage of last year’s protests July.
Alongside these two, IAPA cites other examples such as that of Esteban Rodríguez, who was released without trial in January after more than eight months in detention and, according to IAPA, “had to accept exile in exchange for his release.”
Like Rodríguez, other communicators like Karla Pérez live outside the country for their informative work, the document said.
On the other hand, at least 15 independent journalists are “banned from leaving the country”, as in the case of Luz Escobar from the 14yMedio portal, headed by Yoani Sánchez.
According to the report, the freedom of expression environment has only benefited from “the growing number of Cubans connecting to the Internet, consuming and disseminating alternative information to the official information.”
However, the document warns that the state communications company ETECSA has made efforts to censor the websites of media and NGOs critical of the government, to facilitate cyber surveillance and to “selectively cut back on communications with journalists and activists”.
Since last year’s protests, the organization has uncovered at least 39 arrests of whistleblowers, 32 house arrests and 16 “threats and psychological attacks during subpoenas or arbitrary arrests.”
NEW PENAL CODE
The document also warns of the new penal code that the island’s government says is due to be passed this month. According to IAPA, the project “exaggerates the protection of rulers to the detriment of citizens” and “intensifies repression”.
The organization’s preliminary summary focuses on a project article (the 143) that applies what it describes as “heavy penalties” — ranging from four to 10 years in prison — to “those found guilty of sending, transmitting, or receiving resources.” involved is aimed at non-governmental organisations, including independent media and NGOs”.
According to the draft law, these penalties are to be imposed if the “purpose is to pay for acts against the state and its constitutional order”.
Likewise, in the chapter “Propaganda against the constitutional order”, the IAPA points out that anyone who “incites oral or written propaganda against the social order, international solidarity or the socialist state (…) will be punished with up to four years in prison or others Way”.