From: ai-news@amnesty.org
Subject: Cuba: New wave of political oppression
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Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 17:04:34 +0000
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* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

17 January 2001
AMR 25/001/2001
10/01


Amnesty International has today sent a letter to the Cuban
authorities expressing its concerns at the recent serious
escalation in the arrests and harassment of political opponents
in Cuba.

     "The increasing number of people jailed for peacefully
exercising their rights to freedom of expression, clearly
demonstrates the level to which the government will go in order
to weaken the political opposition and suppress dissidents,"
Amnesty International said today.

     In its letter to the Cuban authorities, Amnesty
International has requested information about the legal situation
of 14 individuals who were detained in the context of the recent
escalation. Amnesty International believes that some or all of
those listed in its letter could be "prisoners of conscience".

     The current wave of oppression began in October 2000 with
the mass arrests and convictions of those engaged in
'counter-revolutionary' activities, such as trade union
activists. The harassment intensified in December, around the
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, during
which Angel Moya Acosta and Julia Cecilia Delgado were arrested
and subsequently sentenced to a year in prison for "disrespect".
Amnesty International calls for their immediate and unconditional
release as "prisoners of conscience".

Background
Angel Moya Acosta is a former Amnesty International prisoner of
conscience and member of the illegal Movimiento Opción
Alternativa, Alternative Option Movement. He was detained in
December 1999 after participating in a peaceful demonstration in
Pedro Betancourt village, Matanzas province, to celebrate the
51st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Although he was charged, no trial or sentencing ever took place.
He was released in August 2000.

     Julia Cecilia Delgado, president of the illegal
Asociación de Reconciliación y Recuperación de los Valores
Humanos, Association for Reconciliation and the Recovery of Human
Values, was detained after participating in a peaceful march on 4
December 2000.

     Currently, several hundred people, 16 of whom have been
identified by Amnesty International as "prisoners of conscience"
detained for peaceful exercise of the freedom of expression,
association or assembly, are imprisoned for political offences in
Cuba.  In addition to these "prisoners of conscience", Amnesty
International continues to be concerned at the severe harassment
to which dissidents, including journalists, members of political
organizations and human rights advocates, are subjected.

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