Secrecy Shrouds Upcoming Trial in the Case of Oswaldo Paya’s Death

Secrecy Shrouds Upcoming Trial in the Case of Oswaldo Paya's Death /
Yoani Sanchez
Translator: Unstated, Yoani Sanchez

The "100 y Aldabo" police station in Havana where Andres Carromero is
being held / ALEJANDRO ERNESTO (EFE)

We know that the trial of Angel Carromero — the Spaniard who was driving
the car in when Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero were killed — will be
held in Bayamo, 450 miles east of Havana. But we still don't know when
it will begin. Although Friday, August 31, was mentioned, the fact is
that there has been no official notification. Diplomatic sources expect
that the trial "will be held soon, but for now, there's no date."

The leader of the youth wing of the Spanish People's Party (PP) is
charged with reckless homicide and the prosecutor has asked for a prison
sentence of seven years. According the official Cuban media version,
Carromero was responsible for the accident that killed the two Cuban
dissidents on July 22. The island press release stressed that Carromero
was supposedly speeding on a road under repair and that this was the
principle cause of his losing control of the car and hitting a tree.

Thus, he will be judged based on Article 177 of the current Penal Code,
where it establishes that "the driver of a vehicle who, while breaking
the laws and regulations governing transportation causes the death of a
person, incurs the penalty of privation of liberty of from one to ten
years."

Nevertheless, the family of the leader of the Christian Liberation
Movement does not accept the official explanation of the facts and has
asked for an independent investigation.

Since the prosecution's sentencing request was announced a few weeks
ago, Carromero's case has entered a stage of maximum discretion on the
parts of both the Cubans and the Spanish, who have maintained silence
with regards to the press. Various diplomatic sources consulted
preferred to continue that reserve and remain "silent until the trial."

The Spanish government is hoping that once the trial is concluded,
Havana will expel the young politican or follow the treaty between the
two governments regarding the serving of sentences. In that case,
Carromero could serve his time in Spanish territory. However, we are far
from knowing the final outcome.

It is likely that the ruling will not be disseminated immediately after
the trial, but be delayed until after sentencing, which would mean
waiting several days before knowing the outcome. Already, he has been in
custody 40 days since the incident occurred.

Amid such secrecy, it is very difficult to confirm when the trial at the
Granma Provincial Court will begin. I traveled there this Thursday and
can confirm that, as August 31 dawned over Bayamo, the city appeared
quiet. The early hours of the day began, in the heat of August, with the
preparations for the start of the school year.

Numerous news agencies have traveled to Bayamo, intending to attend the
trial, but it's likely it will be held behind closed doors. Several
passersby interviewed were unaware the trial was going to be held at the
court there. However, they seemed to be aware of the events of July 22
which took the lives of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize winner,
Oswaldo Paya, and his colleague in the struggle Harold Cepero.

Given the political background of the Carromero case, there is a visible
anticipation in the international community and among island's dissident
activists as to what may happen in this case — quite complex and
surrounded by questions.

31 August 2012

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