Another Sunday of Repression of Activists Throughout the Country

Another Sunday of Repression of Activists Throughout the Country / 14ymedio
Posted on October 13, 2015

14ymedio, Havana, 12 October 2015 – A new round of repression against
activists was experienced in Cuba this Sunday. The arrests began in the
early morning hours in order to prevent dissidents from participating in
the march on Fifth Avenue in Havana, which on this occasion included a
tribute to the late leader of the Ladies in White, Laura Pollan.

The march through this downtown street was joined by 57 Ladies in White
and 21 human rights activists, in addition to the mother and grandmother
of artist Danilo Maldonado, El Sexto. The walk began in Gandhi Park,
next to the Santa Rita Parish in the Miramar neighborhood. Later several
dissidents were arrested, among them the blogger Lia Villares and
dissident Antonio G. Rodiles.

Activist Arcelio Molina Leyva reported to 14ymedio that "the
headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) was raided, and
they stole everything they could," besides detaining "those who were
there." The dissident detailed that among those arrested were Jose
Daniel Ferrer Garcia, Ovidio Martin Castellanos and Yriade Hernandez
Aguilera.

UNPACU had called for a demonstration this Sunday for the liberation of
three of its members who were arrested after approaching Pope Francis
before his mass in Revolution Plaza. Activists Zaqueo Baez Guerrero and
Ismael Bonet Reni continue in custody and presumably on hunger strike,
according to members of their organization.

At least twenty activists from UNPACU were driven by police to the Third
Police Unit in the city of Santiago de Cuba. The number of arrests
throughout the country has been calculated by opposition sources at more
than 200 people.

Hours after his arrest, opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer was freed.

Translated by Mary Lou Keel

Source: Another Sunday of Repression of Activists Throughout the Country
/ 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/another-sunday-of-repression-of-activists-throughout-the-country-14ymedio/