United Nations A/HRC/22/NGO/86

General Assembly Distr.: General

18 February 2013

English only

Human Rights Council

Twenty-second session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development

Written statement* submitted by Liberal International, a

non-governmental organization in general consultative status
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in
accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
[11 February 2013]

*
This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non-
governmental organization(s).

GE.13-11097
A/HRC/22/NGO/86

Repression of human rights defenders and democracy

activists in Cuba
Liberal International (LI) welcomes the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the
situation with Human Rights Defenders to the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly,
Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, which focused on the use of legislation to regulate the activities
of Human Rights defenders. LI firmly supports the conclusions of the report which stress
that recent legislative developments in a number of countries are not in compliance with
international human rights standards, notably the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,
and do not contribute to a conducive working environment for defenders.
This statement would like to pay particular attention to the repression and constant
prosecution of human rights defenders and democracy activists by the authorities in Cuba
due to the illegitimate laws that govern the exercise of fundamental rights in the country.
Notes with deep concern that in spite of all the well-publicized, so called reforms of the
Cuban government, the situation for Human Rights activists and any other citizens who
legitimately decide to exercise their fundamental freedoms in Cuba continues to be
extremely difficult.
Stresses that the Cuban Constitution continues to consider the Communist party as the only
legitimate political party, at the same time as it establishes that no dissent or protest can be
used against the Cuban government. Activists who promote or defend Human Rights are
constantly persecuted, harassed and arbitrarily arrested. The political police and
paramilitary groups organized by the political police attack the activists on a daily basis,
increasingly using violence and other humiliations to prevent them from exercising their
rights.
Underlines that there are many examples of such behaviour occurring on a weekly basis. In
November 2012 Antonio Rodiles, who is a lawyer and the promoter of the campaign For a
different Cuba (a peaceful project aimed at debating current issues in Cuba), was beaten
and arrested. He was kept imprisoned for a few weeks among other activists. For example,
Yoani Snchez, who was also beaten and freed later on (after a few hours) and Jos Daniel
Ferrer: an activist who has received many death threats because he promotes and defends
Human Rights. The members of Ladies in White, an organization peacefully struggling
for the liberation of political prisoners, continue to be harassed, beaten and arrested by the
paramilitary groups organized by the political police.
Notes that the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, an
independent group which monitors the violation of Human Rights in Cuba, has documented
6,602 cases of arbitrary detentions for the year 2012, which means an increase of 50%
compared to 2011, and the number of political prisoners who have been sentenced or are
awaiting trial has risen to 82.
Defends the notion that even if a growing number of citizens decide to freely and
peacefully assemble to promote the democratic changes that are needed in Cuba, as well as
demand the respect of basic rights, such as the right to assembly, affiliation and expression,
they still end up being repressed by the Cuban government.
Underlines that peaceful activists denounce violations on a daily basis: they are expelled
from their work place, they are denied studies at higher levels, they suffer limitations to
travel in and out of the country, in spite of the new immigration regulations, etc.
Recalls the tragic death of the late opposition leader Osvaldo Paya and expresses deep
concern over the lack of proper investigation into his death.

2
 A/HRC/22/NGO/86

Expresses solidarity with all those brave people, many of whom belong to LI member
parties, who still live in Cuba and whom are constantly subjected to permanent harassment
and imprisonment by the Cuban authorities for trying to exercise their basic human rights.
Emphasizes that to present or promote any political idea that contradicts the postulates of
the Cuban communist party is considered a felony according to the Cuban laws.
Independent journalists, who are considered as opposition by the Cuban government, are
also victims of the governmental repression. It puts Cuba near the top of the list of countries
with the largest number of journalists imprisoned. These actions have been denounced by
international organizations such as Reporters without Borders and the Inter-American Press
Association.
Stresses that Calixto Ramn Martnez Arias, an independent journalist, has been in prison
without a trial since September 2012. He was arrested while conducting an investigation at
Havanas international airport Jos Mart, regarding medical equipment and medicines
which were spoiled because the government did not transport them on time. Amnesty
International has pleaded to the Cuban government to liberate this independent journalist
who has been arbitrarily and unjustly incarcerated.
Notes with deep concern that ngel Moya, one of the opposition leaders incarcerated
during the Black Spring of Cuba in 2003, stated last January that the authorities had denied
him the right to obtain a valid passport to travel abroad and come back to the country,
alleging reasons of public interest. Moya is a peaceful Human Rights defender and
recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
Highlights that on January the 19th, a group of activists in the city of Contramaestre, in the
Eastern part of Cuba, suffered a brutal beating by the paramilitary groups organized by the
political police. The paramilitary used wooden sticks, stones and machetes to attack the
peaceful activists, causing serious injuries to these Human Rights defenders, who were only
commemorating the first anniversary of the death of Wilmar Villar Mendoza, a young
activist who died after a month long hunger strike protesting against his unjust
incarceration. Photographs and testimonies of the activists attacked by the paramilitary are
available online.
Expresses deep concern that there are dozens of more cases of repression of Human Rights
defenders in Cuba.
Stresses that none of the changes that have taken place on the island could lead to a real
opening unless the persecution and the repression against those who peacefully defend the
free exercise and respect for Human Rights in Cuba ceases. The island will continue to
have the worst record in the Western hemisphere with regards to respect for fundamental
liberties.
Joins in calling for the release of prisoners and much like Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and Reporters without Borders expresses protest to the latest arrests of
Human Rights defenders.

Liberal International recalls

Its World Today resolution on Cuba as submitted to the 58 th Congress in Abidjan,
Cote dIvoire which calls for the immediate release of political prisoners and the
establishment a multi-party open democracy in Cuba.

Liberal International calls

On the international community to demand of the Cuban government to respect the
rights of people to express, affiliate and associate, to immediately release the dozens
of political prisoners in Cuba and to stop the arbitrary arrests of peaceful Human

3
A/HRC/22/NGO/86

Right defenders. All laws that justify the violation of Human Rights must be
abolished, and the Cuban people must be allowed to vote freely in elections without
coercion.