"People like you should give him a shot. For you to know what happens when you oppose the revolution." Michel Parra, 20, has detailed Human Rights Watch (HRW) the nightmare lived in Cuba since the social outbreak of July 11, the day that changed the history of the Castro Revolution. He with Him's sister Ana Laura, 22, were violently detained for marching peacefully in Matanzas, 100 kilometers from Havana.
In the interrogation hall you wanted to bend for 15 minutes with punch, baston and kicks on back, hands, feet, testicles and glutes. Michel and Ana Laura accused them of being financed, if even leaders of the protests. They were insulted them with the disqualifying "worm", a topic that has been used for decades against those who fled the dictatorship to the United States or other countries. At the beginning of August they received home prison and also paid a $ 40 fine.
Michel and Ana Laura were no exception. Since power, a "systematic repression plan with arbitrary detentions, abuse against detainees and abusive criminal proceedings was used in response to protests," HRW has confirmed 100 days of 11-J.
"The Government responded by deploying a brutal strategy of repression aimed at instilling fear among the population and suppressing the dissension," contributed by John Pappier, researcher at HRW, who adds cases of gender violence and dozens of processing without guarantees, systematically violating universal law At a fair trial.
More than a thousand people were arrested during the July operators, of which 500 remain incarcerated, according to the statistics of the Cubalex Organization. In this way, Cuba leads the statistics of political prisoners, ahead of Venezuela (260) and Nicaragua (150).
Despite such brutality, Cuban rebels maintain their challenge against revolution: the Government has banned civic march due to the November 15, arguing that the socialist system is "irrevocable"; He has also redoubled harassment and persecution against conveners.
Testimonials such as Gabriela Zequeira, 17, confirm the impunity enjoyed by revolutionary agents, whether police, military or paramilitaries from the shock brigades. The smallest knew that she was in serious trouble after being stopped simply because she was close to one of the demonstrations. She is young and, therefore, suspicious in the Cuba of the old revolution. "That happens when you protest and you are counterrevolutionary," the agents who were arrested were arrested.
Gabriela, a minor, made her in a cell with 16 adult women. Later he was stripped and forced her to make squats. "One of the agents ordered her to be inspected her own vagina with her finger," says researchers who revealed Zequeira, after being sentenced to eight months in prison for "public disorder".
María Cristina Garrido, 39, and militant of the Republican Party of Cuba, also suffered the anger of the agents, who stopped her next to her sister when she was going to a police station to help some friends captured. She led her to the prison of San José de las Lajas, intended for people with HIV. With the passing of the days, her officials began to beat her in her arms and legs, as well as wake her up at dawn to shout in favor of Fidel Castro and the Revolution. Upon refusing, she was transferred to a punishment cell without water, without light and without service.
The two sisters, accused of public disorder, contempt, attack and resistance, continue in prison.
"They came to protest because they had nothing to lose, but the regime has shown them in their own flesh that they do have a lot to lose. Our conclusion is that the regime has opted for fear and repression to prevent any other type of manifestation by instilling the Fear. We will see if for 15-N the Cubans will be able to exercise their right to protest or fear is going to be imposed, "concluded José Miguel Vivanco, director for the Americas of HRW.
Date Of Update: 20 October 2021, 08:19
