Cuba Arrests Dissidents Before Pope's Havana Mass

Cuba Arrests Dissidents Before Pope's Havana Mass
"Unfortunately, this morning's actions by Cuba's state security
apparatus are only a glimpse into the constant and ongoing repression by
the Cuban regime."
Lydia O'Connor
Associate News Editor, The Huffington Post
Posted: 09/20/2015 04:20 PM EDT

Four dissidents opposed to Cuba's communist regime were arrested when
they tried approaching Pope Francis in Havana on Sunday, an activist
group reported.

The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba identified the dissidents as
Patriotic Union of Cuba members Zaqueo Baéz, Boris Reni, Aymara Nieto
Muñoz and Maria Josefa Acon Sardiña, who is also a member of the Ladies
in White, a peaceful protest group founded by female relatives of Cuban
political prisoners.

Photos showed some of them being dragged away by security personnel at
Havana's Revolution Square, where they reportedly tried to approach the
pope as his white popemobile carried him to the Mass he was giving.

They were yelling "freedom!" and anti-government slogans, according to
an Agence France-Presse photographer. Opposition groups have widely
criticized the pope's decision not to meet with them during his Cuba trip.

The Foundation condemned the nature of the activists' detainment.

"We are deeply disturbed by the arrests of these activists, specifically
the violent manner in which the nonviolent activists in Havana were
detained by Cuban officials," director of communications Jose Luis
Martinez told The Huffington Post in an email. "This, just after the
activists had received Pope Francis' blessing ... We urge His Holiness
Pope Francis to intervene on behalf of these activists for their
immediate and unconditional release."

Martinez noted that the activists were led by Baéz, whose cell phone was
confiscated by police. Such interferences in activists' communications
are all too common, he said.

"Unfortunately, this morning's actions by Cuba's state security
apparatus are only a glimpse into the constant and ongoing repression by
the Cuban regime to silence activists and dissident voices which have
included the arrest and short term detentions of dozens of activists
over the past several days in order to prevent them from attending papal
ceremonies," he said. "Cuban officials have definitely not been acting
in a manner that reflects the Pope's mission of peace and reconciliation
in Cuba."

Source: Cuba Arrests Dissidents Before Pope's Havana Mass -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cuba-pope-arrests_55fef33ce4b00310edf76d24