Cuban poet protested in Princeton

News Bulletin. The Friends of Cuban Libraries. Oct. 11, 2001.

A September 20 poetry reading by Pablo Armando Fernandez, a controversial Cuban author, turned into a lively debate at the Princeton (New Jersey) Public Library. Mr. Fernandez's appearance, sponsored as part of the American Library Association's nationwide "@ Your Library" program, was protested by a number of individuals and organizations. Some of the protestors objected to the event at Princeton, scheduled nine days after the attack on the World Trade Center, because they regarded Mr. Fernandez as a spokesperson for the Cuban government, which has been placed on the U.S. State Department's list of nations that sponsor terrorism. [Note: the Friends of Cuban Libraries take no position on the advisability of inviting Mr. Fernandez to speak at such a time].

Five members of the Friends of Cuban Libraries attended the program at the Princeton Public Library with the goal of drawing attention to the repression of independent librarians in Cuba and the role of Mr. Fernandez in the mistreatment of dissident writers. Before the event began, the Friends distributed among the audience copies of an "Urgent Action Appeal" from Amnesty International on the arrest of Leonardo Bruzon Avila, one of Cuba's independent librarians now being persecuted for offering uncensored reading materials to their compatriots. The Amnesty appeal noted that "many librarians have been detained, harassed and threatened with arrest if they continue their work...." and urged the Cuban government to allow them to "carry out their legitimate peaceful activities without interference from the
authorities."

Soon after Pablo Armando Fernandez read samples of his poetry, people in the audience, including members of the Friends of Cuban Libraries, asked him a series of polite but pointed questions about human rights violations in Cuba. Among other instances of intolerance, Pablo Armando Fernandez was twice asked to explain his role in the persecution of Maria Elena Cruz Varela, a prize-winning poet who in 1991 organized a human rights organization called Alternative Criteria. Following this act of dissent, she was assaulted in her Havana apartment by a government-sponsored vigilante group. After being dragged by her hair down several flights of stairs, Ms. Cruz Varela was taken outside of her apartment building and again beaten in front of a cheering mob, which included a group of schoolchildren trucked in for the occasion. She was then forced to eat papers containing her writings before being arrested and imprisoned; Maria Elena Cruz Varela was named a Prisoner of Conscience by! Amnesty International. The official Cuban writer's union, known as UNEAC, of which Pablo Armando Fernandez is a prominent member, not only failed to speak out against the mistreatment of their colleague but expelled her from its ranks. The writers' union also organized a letterwriting campaign to denounce Maria Elena Cruz Varela as a "counterrevolutionary."

Pablo Armando Fernandez refused to answer any questions about the case of Maria Elena Cruz Varela and responded angrily to similar inquiries from the Princeton audience about his role in the persecution of other Cuban authors. After a member of the audience persisted in asking questions about human rights violations, Mr. Fernandez exploded in anger. Shouting that he had copies of all the e-mails criticizing his appearance at the Princeton Public Library, he advanced toward the questioner with his hands extended, as if to seize her by the throat. At this point he had to be physically restrained by the moderator of the program. Following other pointed inquiries from members of the audience, the literary event at Princeton came to a sudden halt as Mr. Fernandez abruptly sat down, folded his arms, and shouted: "I will answer no more questions!"

Members of the public who hear about upcoming appearances by other Cuban literary figures are encouraged to send details to the Friends of Cuban Libraries, as we look forward to taking part in similar polite but persistent dialogues. Please contact us at one of the addresses provided below.

BACKGROUND: The Friends of Cuban Libraries, founded in June, 1999, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit support group for Cuba's independent librarians. We oppose censorship and all other violations of intellectual freedom, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, regardless of whatever government may be in office in Cuba. We are funded entirely by our members and do not seek or accept funds from other sources. For more infomation, please send e-mail to: (rkent20551@cs.com) or telephone: 718-340-8494 (USA). Mailing address: 4-74 48th Avenue, #3-C, Long Island City, NY 11109 USA.

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