CPJ holds Cuba responsible for welfare of jailed journalists

CPJ holds Cuba responsible for welfare of jailed journalists

New York, March 4, 2010—A week after the death of jailed Cuban dissident
Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a journalist on a hunger strike is seriously ill
while health conditions of imprisoned reporters remain dire. As the
seventh anniversary of the massive crackdown on dissidents approaches on
March 18, the Committee to Protect Journalists renews its call for the
Cuban government to immediately and unconditionally release all jailed
journalists.

Zapata Tamayo, a dissident jailed in 2003 and sentenced to 25 years on
charges of disrespecting authority, died at a Havana hospital on
February 23 after refusing food since December to protest prison
conditions, the press reported.

Zapata's death, which sparked condemnation from the international
community and an unusual statement of regret from President Raúl Castro,
highlighted the terrible conditions of Cuban jails and the inhumane
treatment of imprisoned dissidents. It also prompted strong reactions
from dissidents on the island.

"We urge President Castro to ensure the proper care of all journalists
currently incarcerated," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ Americas program senior
coordinator. "We hold the Cuban government responsible for the health
and welfare of those imprisoned."

Guillermo Fariñas, 48, a Cuban journalist and political activist in the
city of Santa Clara, has been on a hunger strike since February 24 to
protest Zapata's death and demand the release of more than 20 jailed
dissidents—including several reporters—suffering serious ailments, his
colleague Licet Zamora told CPJ in a telephone interview. He was rushed
to a hospital on Wednesday after his condition deteriorated, according
to The Associated Press, but was later released.

Fariñas, who almost died in 2006 after an extended hunger strike to
protest restrictions on Internet access, hasn't had food or water for a
week and was showing symptoms of dehydration, hypoglycemia, and low
blood pressure, Zamora said on Monday.

Jailed journalists Pedro Argüelles Morán and Adolfo Fernandez Sainz also
reacted to Zapata's death and fasted for three days, Laura Pollán, a
leading human rights activist told CPJ.

Pollán, wife of jailed independent journalist Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez—a
2008 CPJ awardee—told CPJ that jailed journalists Pedro Argüelles Morán,
José Luis García Paneque, Alfredo Pulido López, Adolfo Fernández Saínz,
Normando Hernández González, Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, José Ubaldo
Izquierdo Hernández, and Fabio Prieto Llorente continue to suffer
serious illnesses while receiving inadequate attention.

CPJ research shows that that the health of Cuban journalists has
seriously deteriorated amid poor prison conditions and insufficient
health care. Relatives and friends described health problems ranging
from diabetes and a tumor to pneumonia and cataracts. In some cases,
they say, the journalists have received little medical attention. They
say poor and unsanitary prison conditions have exacerbated the medical
problems. Pre-existing ailments have worsened in prison, while a host of
serious new illnesses have arisen among those jailed.

Cuba continues to be one of the worlds's leading jailers of
journalists—behind only Iran and China—with 22 independent journalists
currently imprisoned. Twenty of these journalists were jailed during the
March 2003 crackdown, known as the Black Spring. After perfunctory,
closed-door trials, the journalists were handed prison sentences of up
to 28 years in prison on antistate charges stemming from their
reporting. The journalists had worked for independent news agencies,
filing stories by phone and fax to overseas news outlets and Web sites.

"Journalists in Cuba have paid a huge price solely for exercising their
right to freedom of expression," said Lauría. "Seven years is enough;
these sentences are cruel and vindictive. We call on President Castro to
immediately and unconditionally release all journalists and grant
freedom of expression and information to all Cuban citizens."

CPJ holds Cuba responsible for welfare of jailed journalists - Committee
to Protect Journalists (4 March 2010)
http://cpj.org/2010/03/cpj-holds-cuba-responsible-for-the-welfare-of-jail.php