2008 March 18th Activities

People in Need

 

As in past years, PIN will build a symbolic Cuban prison cell on the Square of the Republic in the centre of the Czech capital, on Tuesday, March 18, 2008,and distinguished Czech personalities, symbolically dressed in prisoner’s clothes, will ‘serve time‘ for each of the Cuban political prisoners. In the evening a march from the cell will take place similar to marches carried out by the Women in White in Havana. Together participants will move towards the nearby St Havel‘s church on Havel’s square (Havelském náměstí) where a mass will be served for the prisoners and their families.

PONTIS and People in Peril

On March 17, the Pontis Foundation and People in Peril are going to organize a public event at the 5th anniversary of the massive crackdown of Cuban civil society. Taking Damas de blanco who march trough the streets of Havana every Sunday as an example, a solidary march in the streets of Bratislava will be organized for the support of Ladies in white.  It will lead from Namestie Slobody (the Freedom Square) to  A4 zero space club, where a new movie about Damas de blanco by Ivana Milosevic will be screened.  Several Slovak celebrities pledged their support to the event.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide

On March 1st, Christian Solidarity Worldwide initiated a campaign of prayer and protest focused on Cuba's political prisoners and the lack of religious freedom in Cuba's prisons in particular.  The Cuban government systematically violates the religious rights of political prisoners, in contravention of the UN Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners, by arbitrarily denying them access to clergy, confiscating bibles and other religious literature and materials (including rosaries), and prohibiting them from attending religious services.  These policies appear to be aimed specifically at political prisoners who are openly Christian (both Catholic and Protestant).   More information is available on CSWs website along with a downloadable version of the entire report.

International Society for Human Rights

International Society for Human Rights

On March 18, members of the ISHR demonstrated in Berlin in front of the Cuban Embassy. Among them were members of the Movement for the Liberation of Cuba, Cuba-Democratic Future, and ’s largest student organization, the Christian Democratic Student Group, which is aligned with the Christian Democratic Union Party.

These activists wanted the German public to become aware of the political prisoners in and the destiny that awaits them. Particularly important are the victims of March 18, 2003, who were arrested and imprisoned five years ago because of their human rights work.
 

Romania joins the chain of solidarity event in Europe

Pontis Foundation with the cooperation of the Center for International Studies based in Bucharest organizes a public event at the 5th anniversary of the massive crackdown of the civil society in Cuba.  The event will take place in the Institute for Social Dialogue in the centre of Bucharest on Wednesday, March 19, at 5 pm. The goal of the event is to raise the awareness of Romanian public about the situation in Cuba in 2003 (massive repression) and in 2008, introduce the main opposition leaders and inform the participants about the situation of human rights on the island. Moreover, the experience of Slovakia (NGOs and government) will be shared.

At the event, the movie Cuba Libre: El Mayor Deseo will be screened, followed by a public discussion, and a small reception. This event is organized as a part of Pontis’ advocacy project in CEE countries.

KIC (Christian Democratic International Center) and SILC (Swedish International Liberal Centre)  


KIC and SILC arranged a seminar in the Swedish Parlament, which was open to the public, to draw attention to the anniversary of the Black Spring in 2003. The programme included:

Minister of EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström (liberal) speaking about the importance of showing solidarity with the political prisoners of Cuba.  Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson (liberal-conservative) discussing the current situation in Cuba.  State Secretary Jakob Forssmed (Christian democrat) giving a presentation about the democracy movement in Cuba. Maeliz Orrego Rodriguez, from SILC, talked about some of the released prisoners that now live in Spain and shows taped interview. Eniel Bosch, vice president of the association Misceláneas de Cuba spoke about the information monopoly in Cuba. The event finished with a screening of the short film the Dissidents, which provides more background about the Black Spring.




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2010-09-03 / Catholic News Agency

Spanish officials thank Catholic Church for 'important role' in release of Cuban prisoners

During a visit to Cuba, two officials from Spain’s Socialist Party expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church for its “important role” in securing the release of several political prisoners.

Leire Pajin and Elena Valenciano from the Socialist Party, praised the release of  political prisoners in Cuba and announced that six more newly-freed dissidents will be arriving in Spain tomorrow.

The six will follow in the footsteps of the 20 political prisoners released earlier this summer who were also immediately sent to Spain. The Cuban government announced last June its intention to free the 52 dissidents arrested in 2003.

The government officials said they are thankful for the “important role” the Church has played in the process after their meeting with Cardinal Jaime Ortega of Havana.

During their visit, Pajin and Valenciano will also meet with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, and other Cuban officials.


2010-09-03 / Nayana Jayarajan

Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez is Named IPI’s 60th and Final World Press Freedom Hero

The International Press Institute today declared Cuban blogger Yoani Maria Sanchez Cordero its 60th World Press Freedom Hero.  

Sanchez’s blog, Generation Y, is an acerbic critique of life in Cuba, and a telling reminder to the world of the restraints on free speech and expression on the Caribbean island.  

Sanchez, a graduate of Havana University, left Cuba for Switzerland in 2002, but returned two years later. On her return, she set up, along with a group of other Cubans, the magazine “Consenso” as a forum for reflection and debate.  

In 2007, spurred by what she saw as a growing repressive climate in her homeland, she launched her blog, Generation Y. Composed of reflections on daily life, politics and culture in Castro’s Cuba, the blog today boasts a readership of more than a million.        ...more

2010-09-03 / Esteban Israel (Reuters)

Despite embargo, Cuba a haven for pirated U.S. goods

HAVANA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A few weeks after Ashton Kutcher's latest comedy "Killers" premiered in the United States, the movie was already entertaining the masses in communist Cuba.

For two pesos, the equivalent of nine U.S. cents, the state-owned Yara movie theater in the heart of Havana offered Cubans a washed out and pixilated copy of Kutcher's adventures as a CIA assassin who is himself targeted for a hit.

"It's a very good flick. We just got it on DVD," says a woman in the ticket office.

The problem is that "Killers" will not be officially released on DVD in the United States until Sept. 7 and even then Cuba will be off limits due to the 48-year-old U.S. trade embargo against the Caribbean island.

But half a century of U.S. sanctions have turned Cuba into a piracy haven and a missed opportunity for U.S. businesses.       ...more


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