“Wave of Political and Social Repression” in September, according to CCDHRN

"Wave of Political and Social Repression" in September, according to
CCDHRN / 14ymedio
Posted on October 6, 2015

14ymedio, Havana, 5 October 2015 – This September there were at least
882 arbitrary arrests for political reasons, according to a report by
the Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation
(CCDHRN). The figure is the highest in the last 15 months, says the
independent entity which also warns about an increase in "physical
assaults against peaceful opponents by police agents and their
collaborators."

The cases of physical violence reported and verified y the CCDHRN
reached 93, "while there were 21 in August." The Commission, chaired by
human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez, points out that "September did
not lack many acts of harassment and vandalism, either." These include
"house arrests and extrajudicial bans on movement," says the text of the
report.

As "a true wave of political and social repression" there were "353
arrests of peaceful dissidents to prevent them from participating in
massive gatherings" with Pope Francis.

The opposition sector was not the only one that suffered police raids,
and the CCDHRN reiterates that "an undetermined number of beggars,
panhandlers and other homeless people who seek alms on the streets or
search for food or anything else in trash dumpsters were interned
without judicial order."

The case of the three from the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) who
"managed to breach the police cordon and approach Pope Francis" in
Havana's Revolution Plaza, is singled out with interest in the report.
Zaqueo Baez, Maria Anon and Ismael Bonet "have been jailed for 15 days,
under subhuman conditions, in the hands of the secret political police,
without access to defense attorneys and without formal charges." The
CCDHRN "is prepared to propose that they be internationally adopted as
possible Prisoners of Conscience."

Translated by Mary Lou Keel

Source: "Wave of Political and Social Repression" in September,
according to CCDHRN / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/wave-of-political-and-social-repression-in-september-according-to-ccdhrn-14ymedio/