Free Cuban journalists

Posted on Wed, Jun. 14, 2006

Free Cuban journalists

Tonight, Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba's National Assembly, is
scheduled to take part in the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists' Convention in Fort Lauderdale. Participants should seize on
this unique opportunity to hold Alarcón's feet to the fire regarding his
government's hostility toward Cuban journalists on the island.

In the United States, the right of journalists to freely practice their
trade is enshrined in the Constitution. Accordingly, NAHJ members have
the right and responsibility to question Alarcón about their Cuban
colleagues. They should also join groups like Reporters Without Borders
in calling for greater press freedom in Cuba and the release of all
imprisoned journalists.

One of these journalists, Armando Betancourt Reina, was detained on May
23. Following violent and unjust evictions by State Security in
Camagüey, Betancourt did his job as a reporter by collecting facts and
interviewing the victims. He later was arrested for ''public disorder,''
taken to State Security headquarters, where he was reportedly beaten,
and remains in prison.

Showcasing an enemy of press freedom at this convention should compel
NAHJ members to reach out to Betancourt and others in Cuba's independent
press corps, who would much rather report the news than make it. Doing
so will give NAHJ members a more-complete perspective of Cuba and
rightly shine the spotlight on its repressed journalists whose sole
''crimes'' are seeking the truth and having the courage to report it.

ALEX BURGOS, Raíces de Esperanza, Washington, D.C.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/14812962.htm