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Rising popular discontent worries Cuban regime, repression increases

A family from Palmarito de Cauto (Santiago de Cuba) which was affected by hurricane Sandy protests on street

Fourteen activists of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) were violently arrested by the political police this past week in the Eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo, said Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, general coordinator of the mentioned pro-freedom group.

“Specifically, there were 13 human rights activists detained and one relative“, explained the dissident, “3 of these are being held in the Third Police Unit of Santiago de Cuba, confined in very harsh conditions since last Monday when they carried out a public protest demanding respect for the citizens affected by Hurricane Sandy in Santiago“.

Another 6 detainees, arrested on Tuesday, November 27th, were beaten, according to witnesses.  One of them- Lazaro Romero-suffered a severe head injury, added Ferrer.  This occurred when the group was on its way to greet Lady in White Adriana Nunez Pascual, who was celebrating her birthday that day.  It was also reported that Alexei Varga Martin suffered violent physical aggressions.

“Meanwhile, last Friday- the 23rd- Francisco Claro Osorio was arrested after he was accused by policemen of putting up signs with anti-Castro messages throughout the city“, said Ferrer Garcia, “afterward, they detained his brother- Ruben Claro- when he was taking him some products for his personal hygiene in the police unit“.

This 30th of November, Abel Lopez Perez was also detained.  “His brother- Hector Lopez Perez- was also detained.  Police agents searched his home and we still have not been able to confirm if they occupied some materials or equipment which we use to record or publish denouncements, etc“.

Ferrer assures that this wave of arrests- as well as many others being reported throughout the country- is attributed to the increase of pro-democracy activism in the streets of Cuba.

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