Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Cuban Journalist held without trial, more serious charge considered
posted on Friday, May 07, 2010Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) informs on the situation of jailed independent journalist, Calixto Ramón Martínez Arias. The prestigious international organization echoes earlier reports on the arrest and confusing charges leveled against the independent communicator:
“In the latest ongoing wave of repression, it seems the Cuban authorities are bringing more serious charges against Calixto Ramón Martínez Arias, the Hablemos Press reporter, who was arrested with force on 23 April while covering an activity commemorating imprisoned dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo’s death.
Initially charged with ‘insulting behaviour,’ Martínez is still being held and is now apparently accused of ‘aggravated violence’ against a police officer at the time of his arrest although the authorities have offered no details about what allegedly took place. The vagueness indicates that the authorities themselves are not sure what they are claiming.
During his transfer to Valle Grande prison in La Lisa, on the outskirts of Havana, on 30 April, Martínez insisted that the charges were baseless. ‘This is an invention designed to stop my work and neither the police nor the prosecutor’s office can agree on the lies they are going to use to convict me,’ he said.”
RSF then “calls for the immediate release of Martínez, who has been arrested many times in the past and deported three times to the eastern city of Camagüey, each time in connection with his journalistic work.”
The organization warns that “[the Cuban] government’s treatment of independent journalists has been worsening of late in a new crackdown on anyone trying to express dissident views under a regime marked by a complete absence of civil liberties."
On a previous note from April 29th, RSF reported on the situation of jailed independent journalist Dania Virgen García, the arrest of Yosvani Anzardo Hernández, editor of the online newspaper candonga.org [at the time this note was being redacted, their web site was not accessible], and the summons to appear before the Revolutionary National Police served to Magaly Norvis Otero Suárez.
“In the latest ongoing wave of repression, it seems the Cuban authorities are bringing more serious charges against Calixto Ramón Martínez Arias, the Hablemos Press reporter, who was arrested with force on 23 April while covering an activity commemorating imprisoned dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo’s death.
Initially charged with ‘insulting behaviour,’ Martínez is still being held and is now apparently accused of ‘aggravated violence’ against a police officer at the time of his arrest although the authorities have offered no details about what allegedly took place. The vagueness indicates that the authorities themselves are not sure what they are claiming.
During his transfer to Valle Grande prison in La Lisa, on the outskirts of Havana, on 30 April, Martínez insisted that the charges were baseless. ‘This is an invention designed to stop my work and neither the police nor the prosecutor’s office can agree on the lies they are going to use to convict me,’ he said.”
RSF then “calls for the immediate release of Martínez, who has been arrested many times in the past and deported three times to the eastern city of Camagüey, each time in connection with his journalistic work.”
The organization warns that “[the Cuban] government’s treatment of independent journalists has been worsening of late in a new crackdown on anyone trying to express dissident views under a regime marked by a complete absence of civil liberties."
On a previous note from April 29th, RSF reported on the situation of jailed independent journalist Dania Virgen García, the arrest of Yosvani Anzardo Hernández, editor of the online newspaper candonga.org [at the time this note was being redacted, their web site was not accessible], and the summons to appear before the Revolutionary National Police served to Magaly Norvis Otero Suárez.
for the freedom of all cuban political prisoners
Etiquetas: Cuba, independent journalists, repression, RSF
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