Amnesty International - Where to Write for Release of El Sexto

Amnesty International: Where to Write for Release of El Sexto

UA: 273/16 Index: AMR 25/5244/2016 Cuba Date: 29 November 2016

URGENT ACTION

CUBAN GRAFFITI ARTIST ARRESTED AGAIN

Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado ('El Sexto') – named a
prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in 2015 – was
re-arrested on 26 November, shortly after the announcement of Fidel
Castro's death.

Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado (also known as 'El
Sexto') was arrested at his home in Havana, the capital, at
approximately 11.15 am on 26 November, hours after the announcement of
Fidel Castro's death. Danilo Maldonado was on the phone with his
girlfriend when state officials forced their way into his apartment.

According to his mother, Maria Victoria Machado, she and his sister were
initially unable to locate him, before they eventually located him at a
prison later that afternoon. Danilo Maldonado's mother says he is
currently detained in Guanabacoa, Eastern Havana. When Maria Machado
visited him on 27 November, officials did not give reasons for his arrest.

On 26 November, according to Cuba-based newspaper 14 y medio, Danilo
Maldonado had graffitied the words "He's gone" (Se fue) on a wall in
Havana. The news outlet reported that El Sexto's graffiti was one of the
first public demonstrations outside of the state-organized
demonstrations of mourning following the announcement of Fidel Castro's
death.

Short-term arbitrary arrests remain a common tactic to restrict freedom
of expression in Cuba. In October, the Cuban Commission of Human Rights
and National Reconciliation, which like other human rights organizations
is not recognized by Cuban authorities, reported 620 arbitrary
detentions of peaceful protestors and opposition activists.

Provisions of the Cuban Criminal Code, such as contempt of a public
official (desacato), resistance to public officials carrying out their
duties (resistencia) and public disorder (desórdenes públicos) are
frequently used to stifle free speech, assembly and association.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

 Calling on the authorities to release Danilo Maldonado Machado ('El
Sexto') immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of
conscience, imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his right to
freedom of expression;

 Calling on them to guarantee the right to freedom of expression,
including for dissident, opponent or activist voices.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 10 JANUARY 2017 TO:

President of the Republic

Raúl Castro Ruz

Presidente de la República de Cuba

La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +41 22 758 9431 (Cuba Office in Geneva); +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban
Mission to UN)

Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)

Salutation: Your Excellency

Attorney General

Dr. Darío Delgado Cura

Fiscal General de la República

Fiscalía General de la República Amistad 552, e/Monte y Estrella

Centro Habana, La Habana, Cuba

Salutation: Dear Attorney General/ Señor Fiscal General

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your
country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address
Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
date.

URGENT ACTION

CUBAN GRAFFITI ARTIST ARRESTED AGAIN

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On 20 October 2015, Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado ('El
Sexto') was released after spending almost 10 months in prison without
trial following accusations of "aggravated contempt". Amnesty
International considered him a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely
for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression (see:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr25/2710/2015/en/).

Danilo Maldonado Machado was accused of "aggravated contempt" after
being arrested on 25 December 2014 for transporting two pigs with the
names "Raúl" and "Fidel" painted on them, which he intended to release
in an art show in Havana's Central Park. He was never formally charged
nor brought before a court during the almost 10 months he spent in
detention.

Name: Danilo Maldonado Machado, also known as 'El Sexto'

Gender m/f: male

UA: 273/16 Index: AMR 25/5244/2016 Issue Date: 29 November 2016

Source: Amnesty International: Where to Write for Release of El Sexto –
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/amnesty-international-where-to-write-for-release-of-el-sexto/