19 years without justice for Joachim Løvschall, the Danish student gunned down in Cuba by one of Castro's soldiers

 "The greatest incitement to guilt is the hope of sinning with impunity."- Cicero
 

Joachim Løvschall: 1970 - 1997

Joachim Løvschall was studying Spanish in Havana in the spring of 1997. He was gunned down by a soldier of the Castro regime in Havana, Cuba nineteen years ago today on March 29, 1997. The identity of the soldier has never been revealed to Joachim''s family. No one has been brought to justice. Joachim's family is not satisfied with the explanation offered by the Cuban dictatorship.

The killings and disappearances have continued but in Cuba over the past 19 years there is no independent press and a dictatorship that does not practice transparency. 

Alberto Romero 1976 - 2015

On January 8, 2015 Alberto Romero, a 39 year old Cuban American attorney from Tampa, Florida was found in Havana, Cuba dead, tied up with a family friend, beaten, stabbed and in Alberto's case one hand was severed.

Today, we remember Joachim and continue to demand justice for him and his family. Hopefully this information will assist others thinking of traveling to Cuba to take the proper precautions for themselves and their loved ones.

Cuba: Releasing with one hand while crushing with the other

In through one door and out through the other.

Ermis Carbonell protesting to be allowed to finish his studies

 Less than a month after President Obama's and Raul Castro's simultaneous speeches announcing the normalization of relations, the release of three Cuban spies ( one serving a life sentence for murder), and the further loosening of sanctions the results are unsurprising.

On the one hand there is the high profile release of 53 political prisoners along with the high profile coverage of the repression meted out against a daughter of the nomenklatura who dared to try to organize a free speech happening in the Plaza of the Revolution.

On the other hand dissidents have been arrested and brutally beaten down to the point that teeth have been knocked out and bones broken, but since they are not sons or daughters of the revolutionary elite their suffering doesn't make the news. For example today over twitter the Christian Liberation Movement highlighted the plight of one of their members who had engaged in a peaceful protest (video) to demand the right to return to university to complete his studies. Unfortunately in Cuba the the regime says that the "universities are for revolutionaries" and if one is a dissident one no longer has a right to an education. Ermis was expelled in 2013 with only three classes remaining to complete his studies. The expulsion was politically motivated.

"Ermis Carbonell of Christian Liberation Movement in Santiago de Cuba detained for protesting because they won't allow him to finish his studies. He received a beating, and is detained in a motorized unit in Santiago charged with contempt. According to Christian Liberation Movement spokesperson Regis Iglesias: "Ermis was beaten in the Palace and they fractured one arm.They transferred him to Motorized. Reported the MCL Provincial Coordinator Marcos Diaz."

On January 10, 2014 over twitter Rosa María Payá Acevedo tweeted: "As releases are announced Yosvani Melchor is transferred to a maximum security prison." This young man who is developmentally disabled has been jailed in order to blackmail his mom into becoming an informant for state security against the Christian Liberation Movement.

Mother and her unjustly imprisoned son Yosvani

Last Thursday night (January 8th) or Friday morning (January 9th) Alberto Romero, a Cuban American attorney visiting family in Cuba, was killed. Circumstances surrounding his death remain murky at this hour but is cause for concern.

Alberto Romero killed in Cuba

Prior to that on December 26, 2014 the dissident Marcelino Abreu was arrested for wearing a change bracelet and was repeatedly kicked by state security who in the process knocked out a tooth and broke his nose. He was released on January 6, 2014.

Marcelino Abreu beaten bloody for wearing a bracelet

 The laws that outlaw the basic exercise of fundamental human rights have not been changed one iota and the prisons will continue to be filled with those who dissent, and their will be new prisoners of conscience. The climate of fear continues in Cuba under the current regime that the United States will later this month pursue normal relations with.

Cuban dissident and rapper Angel Yunier Remón Arzuaga, who on October 15, 2014 was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in a sham trial. Angel was tear gassed and arrested on March 21, 2013, for criticizing the Castro regime and held since that time in conditions that can only be described as inhumane. He was finally released on January 8, 2015 and gave the following message:

“…I’m not really free yet, because our country is not yet free, but I am now alongside my children and my wife. I am here again, confronting the situation that all us Cubans have to face.”

Cuban American attorney killed in Cuba last week while visiting family

Details still murky

Albert Romero killed in Cuba

Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Alberto Romero (age 39), a Tampa based marital and family law attorney, was killed in Cuba while visiting extended family last week either on Thursday night or Friday morning. Below is an excerpt of the statement made by the deceased attorney's family:

"The family of Alberto Romero is privately grieving the loss of their loved one as more details are being sought and the circumstances of this tragedy are being investigated," a written statement from the family said. "At this profoundly sad time, the Romero family respectfully requests privacy as they surround themselves with family, loved ones and close friends."

Miriam Mason, a former co-worker and friend said a close family friend whom Romero referred to as a cousin also was killed. According to the press account the family has limited information about the circumstances of Romero's death, but has been working with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor's office to secure the return of Romero's body so his family can plan a memorial service.

Martí Noticias obtained additional information and reports that the crime took place on Thursday, January 8th and that the name of the second victim is Hector Mario Cruz Naranjo, originally of Sancti Spíritus and resident of Marianao in Havana.

The home were the two victims were found is located on 4th street between 13 & 15 in Vedado in Havana. It is a rental home and before had been the property of Eduardo Barreeiro, a Spanish businessman.

Martí Noticias spoke with an aunt of Cruz Naranjo, Blanca Cruz  who lives in Miami. She said that her nephew was a couturier and attended to Romero when he rented in Havana during his visits to cuba.  The aunt suggests that the motive may have been robbery because "nothing was left" in the room.

The victims were found after a friend of Cruz Navarro tried to communicate with him and would not respond to his calls. Shortly afterwards the owner of the home went to the room rented by Romero and found the crime scene. The two men were tied up, beaten, stabbed and in the case of the Cuban American atttorney one hand was severed according to the source. Martí Noticias obtained a copy of the death certificate.


Cuba is a travel destination that has an under reported record of tourists murdered or gone missing.