State security organizes mobs to attack Cuban resistance leaders

 Update: State security agents repeatedly made death threats against Jorge Luís García Perez “Antunez” in reprisal for his trip to Panama and the Summit of the Americas

Jorge Luís García Perez “Antunez and Iván Fernández Depestre

ACT OF REPUDIATION ORDERED AGAINST JORGE LUÍS GARCÍA PÉREZ ANTUNEZ. STATE SECURITY OPERATION AND CASTRO MOBS SURROUND HIS HOME

Link to audio denouncing regime action (In Spanish): https://youtu.be/n_Ulli4Q0Bk

Placetas, Villa Clara April 14, 2015. Assembly of the Cuban Resistance. Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez", National Secretary of the National Resistance Front Orlando Zapata Tamayo denounces over telephone that Cuban State Security has given orders to the populace of Placetas, to do a violent act of repudiation in reprisal for his presence as a member of the Cuban resistance last week at the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

"It's a big crowd around my house in the 7ma del Sur, I’m with former political prisoner Ivan Fernandez Depestre and also alert the world that the son of my wife, Yedier Rodriguez and his girlfriend who are minors are in my house. Castro mobs in retaliation for the defeat that we gave them in Panama are preparing an act of repudiation and also to the journalist and Sakharov Laureate Guillermo Fariñas. In the city of Placetas they have closed all workplaces and schools under the threat that if they are not going to the repudiation act against Antúnez their wages will be suspended," said Antúnezto the Cuban Democratic Directorate.

The Assembly of the Cuban Resistance issues a call of alert to international human rights organizations and the free and democratic community of the world for the freedom of and physical integrity of Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antúnez, former political prisoner Iván Fernández Depestre, as well as his wife’s son, Yedier Rodriguez and his girlfriend.

Original press release in Spanish http://www.directorio.org/comunicadosdeprensa/note.php?note_id=4405

Alert: 3 former political prisoners missing in Cuba

Human rights alert in Cuba

 
Update April 2, 2015 at 10:00pm: They have been released

 Via Uncommon Sense and the Cuban Democratic Directorate:

Three former Cuban political prisoners -- Egberto Ángel Escobedo Morales, Jorge Luís García Pérez “Antunez” and Iván Fernández Depestre were arrested Wednesday as they left the Panamanian embassy in Havana, according to the Cuban Democratic Directorate.

Why the activists were at the embassy wasn't clear, but it probably is more than a coincidence that Panama next week will host the Summit of the Americas, which has been billed as the coming out party for normalized relations between Cuba and the United States. Several Cuban dissidents are expected to participate in side events during the summit designed to highlight the poor human rights situation on the island.

As of early Wednesday evening, the whereabouts of Escobedo, Antunez and Fernandez were not known.

Cuban Democratic Directorate: Releases of political prisoners initiated in Cuba

"This political prisoner goes out to fight for the rest who remain imprisoned" - Iván Fernández Depestre

Out of Jail: Iván Fernández Depestre

Cuba, January 8, 2015. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Iván Fernández Depestre, Cuban prisoner of conscience and Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Civic Resistance Front activist, was released from prison on January 8 in the afternoon at the start of the releases of some political prisoners in Cuba as a result of bilateral negotiations between the United States and the Castro dictatorship.

"I was told I was being transferred to another province but was released. I want to thank all those who fought so much for me that they did not fight in vain and they are part of this success. I want to send a message to the world that I feel very proud to have the support that I have and to have so many people who care for me. And that this political (prisoner) goes out to continue fighting for the other political prisoners who remained jailed. Long live free Cuba!” expressed Fernández Depestre by telephone to the Cuban Democratic Directorate moments after arriving home.

Three other political prisoners were released in the center of the country, according to Belkis Toledo Rodríguez, activist of the Cuban Reflection Movement who reported from Santa Clara that Jorge Ramírez Calderón, Hanoi Almeida Pérez and José Lino Ascencio López were released.

Recognized by Amnesty International and Ai Weiwei

 From the East of Cuba, José Daniel Ferrer García, representative of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) informed the Directorate that five political prisoners from Santiago de Cuba had been released: Bianco and Diango Vargas Martín, Enrique Figuerola Miranda, Ernesto Roberto Riverías Ton and Lázaro Romero Hurtado.

"They are being released on parole, in one of those tricks of infamy that they have accustomed us to. They put on the sheet of paper that they were released on condition of good behavior; when they came denying them any kind of benefit because according to the State Security jailers they had behaved very badly by also protesting within the prisons. What is most important remains to be resolved, it is for this that we fight, ending the arbitrary legal order that gives rise to so many innocent people going to prison, the lack of independence of powers of the state of Cuba that is the largest factory of prisoners of conscience, " said García Ferrer.

En castellano.

Cuban prisoner of conscience Iván Fernández Depestre beaten up and threatened with death by prison official

"Attention, I've just been informed that prisoner of conscience Iván Fernández Depestre was brutally beaten in prison..." - Yris Tamara Pérez Aguilera over twitter on October 23, 2014 at 10:43am

Iván Fernández Depestre: Prisoner of Conscience & Art Icon

Iván Fernández Depestre should not be spending one moment in prison for exercising his rights as a person.. According to Amnesty International:

 Mr Depestre was charged with “dangerousness”, a pre-emptive measure defined as the “special proclivity of a person to commit crimes” after he was accused of “meeting with antisocial persons”. He had no access to a lawyer during his trial and was sentenced to three years in jail on 2 August [2013]. 

Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience on September 11, 2013 and the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has an image of him on display in an exhibition in Alcatraz that opened. Below you can judge for yourself what the Cuban government describes as "dangerous."


Jailed unjustly since July 30, 2013 for nonviolently participating in a public event to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Cuban national hero Frank País in the central province of Villa Clara. In the video above are the images taken that day leading up to his arrest.

Iván Fernández Depestre (Primavera Digital)

Today Iván was brutally beaten up by and recieved a death threat from the lieutenant 2nd chief in Guamajal prison in Cuba. Below (in Spanish)Yris Tamara Pérez Aguilera gives a report of what took place.

Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei's solidarity with a Cuban prisoner of conscience

 “The misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned. This is not the case. When you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill.”
— Ai Weiwei

Trace consists of 176 portraits of those imprisoned or exiled for their beliefs

Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei has a new exhibit titled @LARGE: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz  that opened on September 27, 2014 and will be on view through April 26, 2015 at the old Alcatraz prison.

 Trace, one of seven installations by the artist features 176 portraits, all built using Lego bricks. Each portrait “represents an individual who has been imprisoned or exiled because of his or her beliefs, actions, or affiliations." Ai Weiwei has called them “heroes of our time.” One of them is Cuban prisoner of conscience Iván Fernández Depestre.












Take a look inside "@Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz” in the video below and hear from the people behind this unprecedented exhibition exploring human rights and freedom of expression.


Often times victims of repression are made to feel alone and isolated by the regime oppressing them but with this exhibition Ai Weiwei highlights many who are still jailed. Among them a Cuban prisoner of conscience.

Ai Weiwei Explores Human Rights and Freedom of Expression
in Series of New, Site-Specific Installations Inspired by Alcatraz Island
Exhibition on view September 27, 2014 Through April 26, 2015
For more information visit here.
 

Women's Movement launches campaign "Iván Fernández Depestre is innocent, free him now."

On March 7, 2014 over twitter the the "Rosa Parks Women's Movement for Civil Rights" launched an effort to obtain the freedom of a Cuban activist imprisoned on July 30, 2013 and recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. His name is Iván Fernández Depestre.

 First heard of Iván Fernández Depestre in August of 2013 when I learned that he was on hunger strike protesting his unjust imprisonment.  Iván Fernández Depestre is a Cuban national of 42 years of age born on October 28, 1971 with identity card number: 71102805363 who lives in the interior of Cuba in  Placetas, Villa Clara province. 

On the afternoon of July 30, 2013 Iván together with other nonviolent opposition activists Loreto Hernández García, Yuniel Santana Hernández, along with Yaite Diasnelli Cruz Sosa, Xiomara Martin Jiménez and Donaida Pérez Paseiros carried out a march in memory of the Cuban martyr Frank País, who was killed in the struggle against Fulgencio Batista (the prior dictator to the Castro brothers).    

He was tried on August 2, 2013 in a secret, closed door and summary trial in Placetas, Villa Clara and condemned to 2 years in prison for "pre-crime social dangerousness."  Prior to his arrest, he appeared in a video stating: I want change. I cooperate with the resistance. Cuban changes if you want it to."

On September 11, 2013 Amnesty International recognized  Iván Fernández Depestre as a prisoner of conscience.

He remains unjustly imprisoned today and he is not the only one.  Help spread the word about his plight and help to obtain his freedom.

Amnesty International recognizes Iván Fernández Depestre as a “Prisoner of Conscience”.

Iván Fernández Depestre who was arrested on July 30, 2013 and went on hunger strike for over a month protesting his unjust imprisonment recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and is demanding his immediate release.

Iván Fernández Depestre: Prisoner of Conscience

 11 September 2013

Cuba must immediately release prisoner of conscience

Authorities in Cuba must immediately and unconditionally release a political activist imprisoned solely because of his political views, Amnesty International said as it adopted Iván Fernández Depestre a “Prisoner of Conscience”.

The 40 year-old political activist, was arrested on 30 July in the central province of Villa Clara as he peacefully participated in a public event to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Cuban national hero Frank País.

“Iván Fernández Depestre is being held only because he holds opinions contrary to those of the Cuban authorities. He must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Javier Zúñiga, Special Advisor for Amnesty International.

Mr Depestre was charged with “dangerousness”, a pre-emptive measure defined as the “special proclivity of a person to commit crimes” after he was accused of “meeting with antisocial persons”. He had no access to a lawyer during his trial and was sentenced to three years in jail on 2 August.  He is currently on hunger strike.

“The Cuban authorities seem to be using every trick in the book to punish those who dare to speak up about human rights. They are even using a law that punishes potential offences on account of ‘antisocial behaviour’ to imprison political dissidents, independent journalists and government critics,” said Javier Zúñiga.

“It is a sad reflection of the state of the rule of law in Cuba, when people are convicted to prison terms not for what they have done but for what they might do.”

On 4 September, local activists were arrested after they went to meet Mr Depestre at the Guamajal prison. They were later released.

Articles 78 to 84 of the Cuban Criminal Code established that those convicted of “special proclivity to commit crimes” can be sentenced to between one and four years of re-education in "specialized work or study establishments" or sent to "a work collective".

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/cuba-poc-ivan-fernandez-depestre-2013-09-11

Iván Fernández Depestre: Day 29 on hunger strike

Political prisoner Iván Fernández Depestre on hunger strike: Day 29

 Iván Fernández Depestre is a Cuban national of 42 years of age born on October 28, 1971 with identity card number: 71102805363 who lives in the interior of Cuba in  Placetas, Villa Clara province. Since July 30, 2013 he has been and continues to be slowly dying on hunger strike protesting his unjust imprisonment since day one. Today marks 29 days on hunger strike and there are signs that his life is now in the balance.

 

I believe that hunger strikes should be a method of last resort that should be well thought out on all fronts in order to analyze the likelihood of success and its moral soundness in a particular circumstance.  

Nonviolence practitioner Michael Nagler has laid out five rules for hunger strikers to consider:

1. Have to be the right person for the job. Not to be used by just anybody.
2. Right audience. (You should only fast against someone who was in sympathy with you on a very deep level. Gandhi never fasted against the British.)
3. Doable demand
4. Last Resort
5. Consistent with the rest of your life

Iván Fernández Depestre should not be spending one day in prison for exercising his fundamental rights, but going on hunger strike as a first option is a tactic that I would not counsel. Furthermore, the Castro regime has no sympathy for the Cuban activist, and would happily see him die.

Nevertheless, the man's actions are nonviolent but I would remind activists entertaining following that line of action that there are at a minimum 197 different nonviolent actions that one could attempt before arriving at the extreme of carrying out a hunger strike.

However, other human rights defenders in the island and abroad are mobilized trying to save Iván Fernández's life and finding other means to pressure the regime in order to obtain his demand of freedom.
 

Iván has been jailed since July 30, 2013 under circumstances where anywhere else in the free world would just be the exercise of one's civic duty. Although not formally recognized, he is a prisoner of conscience.  On the afternoon of July 30, 2013 Iván together with other nonviolent opposition activists Loreto Hernández García, Yuniel Santana Hernández, así como Yaite Diasnelli Cruz Sosa, Xiomara Martin Jiménez and Donaida Pérez Paseiros carried out a march in memory of the Cuban martyr Frank País, who was killed in the struggle against Fulgencio Batista (the prior dictator to the Castro brothers).  

This was not his first demonstration. Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez" has made public videos that show Iván taking part in nonviolent demonstrations for a free Cuba. On July 22, 2013 he marched in tribute to the memories of martyred dissident leaders Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas and Harold Cepero Escalante who both died under suspicious circumstances on July 22, 2012 in Cuba.


 
He was tried on August 2, 2013 in a secret, closed door and summary trial in Placetas, Villa Clara and condemned to 2 years in prison for "pre-crime social dangerousness." 

Diario de Cuba describes his current health status as critical. Now is the time to get the word out and demand this courageous activist's freedom using all creative, nonviolent means at our disposal.

Cuban Dissident on Hunger Strike Since July 30: SOS Free Ivan Now!

"SOS: Free Ivan Hernandez De Pestre." - Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" , August 19, 2013 over twitter

Iván Fernández Depestre on hunger strike

Over twitter today, Cuban opposition activist Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" tweeted that Iván Fernández Depestre is "dying before the complicit indifference of the accredited press in Cuba." Why is this man in danger of dying? It is due to a combination of factors: a cruel dictatorship, non-interest by the press, and the lack of familial support for Iván. Amnesty International recognized 5 other Cubans as prisoners of conscience but has still not designated him as one. Hopefully, the won't do it posthumously as they did with Wilman Villar Mendoza who died in January of 2012.

Iván Fernández Depestre is a Cuban national of 42 years of age born on October 28, 1971 with identity card number: 71102805363 who lives in the interior of Cuba in  Placetas, Villa Clara province. He has been unjustly imprisoned since July 30, 2013 under circumstances where anywhere in the world would just be the exercise of one's civic duty. Although not formally recognized, he is a prisoner of conscience.

On the afternoon of July 30, 2013 Iván together with other nonviolent opposition activists
Loreto Hernández García, Yuniel Santana Hernández, así como Yaite Diasnelli Cruz Sosa, Xiomara Martin Jiménez and Donaida Pérez Paseiros carried out a march in memory of the Cuban martyr Frank País, who was killed in the struggle against Fulgencio Batista (the prior dictator to the Castro brothers).  Portions of the demonstration were recorded and posted on youtube in the video below.

The women involved in the march were able to complete it on this occasion while the men were detained and abandoned in different parts of the city, with the sole exception of Iván Fernández Depestre who was taken to police headquarters in Santa Clara and accused of social dangerousness, an Orwellian form of "precrime" and tried on August 2, 2013 in a secret, closed door and summary trial in Placetas, Villa Clara and condemned to 2 years in prison.

He is being targeted for two reasons 1) being a member of the Opposition Movement Youth Awaken, affiliated to the Central Opposition Coalition (CCO) and the Orlando Zapata National Civic Resistance and Civil Disobedience Front and 2) having a difficult family situation that does not support him. State security is targeting him because with the lack of family support they view him as a weak link and are trying to break him.

Iván in protesting this injustice has been on hunger strike since the day of his arrest demanding freedom and today marks 21 days and their is fear for his life. An S.O.S. has been issued from Cuba fearing for Iván's life.