Speak Out for Cuban Human Rights Advocates in the New Year

Alert Issued: December 28, 2004

Cuban brothers and human rights defenders Luis Enrique and Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia will be starting the New Year in separate prisons, serving long sentences in harsh conditions for their advocacy of basic human rights.

In March 2003, as part of a large crackdown on civil society, Luis Enrique and Jose Daniel Ferrer were arrested, tried, and sentenced to 28 and 25 years in prison, respectively. There have been reports that the two have been held in solitary confinement for long periods in substandard conditions. There have even been reliable reports that Luis Enrique Ferrer was stripped and beaten by prison officials in recent months.

Human Rights First believes that they, along with the other 73 dissidents imprisoned during the crackdown, have been wrongly imprisoned, solely for openly exercising basic rights guaranteed to them in both international and Cuban law.

Fourteen of the original 75 dissidents have been conditionally released for medical reasons, and there is reason to hope that continued international pressure could lead to further releases.

Join us in urging the Cuban authorities to order the immediate and unconditional release of the Ferrer brothers and all others imprisoned solely for their advocacy of human rights.

Tell Me More

In March 2003, 75 Cuban dissidents were arrested, tried, and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison in the most severe crackdown the island has seen in recent history. Many of the imprisoned dissidents were organizers of the Varela Project, a constitutionally-based civic initiative that collected signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on democratic reforms and respect for basic freedoms.

Human Rights First believes that these people have been wrongfully imprisoned, solely for openly exercising basic rights guaranteed to them in both international and Cuban law and has urged the Cuban Authorities to order their immediate release. To date, fourteen of the dissidents have been released following international pressure.

As coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement, Luis Enrique Ferrer, age 28, organized groups of people who were able to collect hundreds of signatures for the Varela Project. As a result of the work that put organizers like Luis Enrique Ferrer and his older brother, independent journalist and human rights advocate Jose Daniel Ferrer at great personal risk, over 11,020 signatures were collected and presented to the National Assembly in May 2002. Luis Enrique Ferrer personally presented copies of the signatures to visiting foreign legislators.

He and his brother, Jose Daniel Ferrer, age 34, have played an active role in the young, but growing, human rights and democracy movement within the island. Luis Enrique Ferrer is serving a 28 year sentence; Jose Daniel Ferrer a 25 year sentence.

Sample Letter:

Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz
Presidente de los Consejos de Estados y de Ministros
La Habana, CUBA
Fax: 011-53-7-333-085

Dear Sirs:

I would like to bring to your attention the case of Jose Daniel Ferrer and Luis Enrique Ferrer, two imprisoned brothers and human rights advocates. Sentenced to 25 years and 28 years, respectively, on April 2003, it appears that Jose Daniel Ferrer and Luis Enrique Ferrer have been imprisoned solely for exercising and promoting basic rights.

I am deeply concerned by recent reports of the substandard conditions of detention in which Luis Enrique Ferrer is being held. He was reportedly stripped and beaten by State Security and prison officials and is now on hunger strike.

As you are aware, in March 2003, 75 Cuban dissidents were arrested, tried and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison for charges ranging from "disrespect" of the Revolution, committing treason, or giving information to the enemy. This crackdown on human rights defenders and independent journalists in Cuba is the most severe in recent years and has been condemned widely by human rights organizations, foreign governments and the United Nations.

I strongly urge you to order the release of Luis Enrique Ferrer, Jose Daniel Ferrer, and all other individuals who were arrested and convicted on the basis of their peaceful political activities and their efforts to promote and protect basic human rights in Cuba.

According to the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which Cuba actively participated in drafting and passing, all persons have the right to effective access to participation in the government of their country and in the conduct of public affairs. The Declaration also provides that everyone has the right "freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms." The important work of Cuban human rights defenders should be recognized by the government and they should be supported rather than persecuted.

While they remain in detention, I urge you to ensure that Luis Enrique and Jose Daniel Ferrer are not subjected to abuse and that their conditions of detention meet basic international standards. International human rights law requires that all persons held in detention are treated with humanity and dignity and that they are not subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The Cuban government should ensure the application of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the UN Body of Principles for the Protection of all Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, which further elaborate the basic standards to be achieved in ensuring respect for the rights of detainees.

I will continue to monitor these cases closely and appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

cc.

Dr. Juan Escalona Reguera
Fiscal General de la República
Fiscalía General de la República
San Rafael 3
La Habana, CUBA
Fax: 011 53 7 669 485/333 164

Sr. Felipe Pérez Roque
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Calzada No. 360
Vedado, La Habana, CUBA
Fax: 011 53 7 333 085
E-mail: cubaminrex@minrex.gov.cu

Embassy of Switzerland
Cuban Interests Section
2630 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
Fax: 202-986-7283