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Cuban
State
Security introducing chemical substance in
the food of imprisoned Cuban blind lawyer
Juan Carlos González Leiva.
Puente Informativo
Cuba
Miami
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
12:25 AM
(CIEGO DE AVILA/CUBA/January 7th/Puenteinfocubamiami.org)-
Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, a 37 year old
blind lawyer imprisoned in Cuba, president
of the Cuban Foundation for Human Rights,
reveals in a clandestine letter smuggled out
of Holguin Prison that State Security is
introducing a chemical substance in what he
eats and drinks. Food brought by his mother
and handled by a prison official caused
intense burning to his stomach and
intestines. This blind activist states that:
"twice in the last ten days I have smelled
and tasted creolina (a disinfectant) in the
water bottle. My aunt
says it smells to her like wood alcohol.
All this was verified by my mother, my
sister Minerva and my wife on December 31st,
day they visited me. My mother, who brings
me the water I drink, assured me she has not
seen this disinfectant (creolina) in more
than a year."
Gonzalez Leiva´s family considers him
innocent and has been fasting for several
weeks demanding his release as well as the
liberation of 9 other activists involved.
On March 4, 2002 Gonzalez Leiva and members
of the Cuban Foundation for Human Rights
carried out a peaceful protest in a hospital
in Ciego de Avila in solidarity with a
fellow activist severely beaten by the
political police. All arrested are awaiting
trial, accused of common crimes.
According to Gonzalez Leiva his family's
life is in danger when he states that: "in
view of the great injustice committed
against me by the Cuban government, they
(Cuban authorities) have radicalized their
position and I have a well founded fear that
serious confrontations with tragic
consequences could arise at any time with my
family since they are country folks with no
knowledge of what the peaceful struggle is
all about and are not integrated to any
dissident organization... I make the maximum
governmental authorities in Cuba responsible
of any situation and consequences that could
place in danger the physical integrity of my
loved ones."
Jose, a brother of this blind lawyer, was
harassed and forced to abandon his job and
has been threatened with imprisonment.
According to Gonzalez Leiva this same
brother Jose, another one named Onel Ramon
and his father where all three forced on a
bus and left abandoned several kilometers
from the city. They had to return walking
since State Security prevented cars passing
by from picking them up.
Gonzalez Leiva wishes to inform public
opinion that his cell mate named Joel Prado
de La Torre who identifies himself as a
pastor: "follows me around silently
everywhere I go like a shadow, including to
the bathroom whenever I'm in need of going.
For more than 15 days he waits until I lay
down and burns a bunch of grass which gives
off a strong odor and fills the room with
smoke... also, he keeps a razor with him
inside the cell."
Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva is presently
weighing 90 pounds due to a fast he began
September the 4th and concluded Christmas
Day, December 25, 2002 in protest for the
unjust accusations held against him and his
9 fellow human rights activists involved in
the case. He refuses to be represented by a
lawyer and dresses all in black as a sign of
mourning for the suffering of the Cuban
people.
From a prison cell where he suffers physical
and psychological tortures, a blind lawyer
reports the cruel and inhumane acts
committed in Cuba against men and women who
defend the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva urgently
asks solidarity from the national and
international community, World States,
Churches, and other institutions which
defend human rights.
All documented information obtained via
telephone was recorded, transcribed and
translated by the Coalition of
Cuban-American Women/LAIDA CARRO.
Email:
Joseito76@aol.com. Given to The
Information Bridge Cuba Miami on January
5th, 2003.
"Yo quiero que la Ley primera de Nuestra
Republica sea,
el culto de los Cubanos a la dignidad plena
del Hombre."
José Martí
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