Cuban Democratic Directorate has more on the arrests Sunday and Monday of several dozen young Cubans:
A group of young Cubans were arrested on the morning of October 28th during a public demonstration of their disapproval of the Cuban regime’s so-called “elections.”
According to several sources from Cuban independent civil society who confirmed the story, the youths demanded an end to repressive measures directed against them, freedom for the people of Cuba, and also protested being forced to take part in the vote.
“These young people represent the youth that suffers and will continue to suffer under this dictatorial state. They are tired of so many lies, so much fraud, harassment, and so many repressive measures […] They are demonstrating that this series of votes is truly an electoral farce,” stated Julio César López Rodríguez, of the Frank País 30th of November Democratic Party, one of this story’s sources.
According to a statement by Juan Carlos González Leiva, Executive Secretary of the Cuban Human Rights Rapporteur Council, dozens of young people were also arrested on October 29th and taken to Zanjas y Dragones prison in Centro Habana for wearing bracelets bearing the word “CHANGE.” As of this writing, more than 60 young people remained in custody.
“The Cuban Human Rights Rapporteur Council expresses its profound concern to the international community and to public opinion, as it believes this could be the beginning of a crackdown aimed at eliminating the peaceful Cuban dissident movement,” stated González Leiva on Radio República.
Among those arrested for wearing one of the bracelets, was Pável Cepeda Prieto, the nephew of political prisoner Fabio Prieto Llorente. According to a report posted at Payo Libre, officers beat Cepeda when he told them that he knew the word on his bracelet was referring to change in the government. They loaded him into a patrol car and took him to the police station, where he was held for 12 hours in a dirty cell.
In all, about 60 young people received similar treatment, according to the report, by independent journalist Juan Carlos Fonseca Fonseca.
Meanwhile, a new Cuba Encuentro report, quoting sources in Cuba, suggests that those arrested may eventually be charged with being “pre-criminal social dangers,” which carries a prison sentence of up to 4 years.