|
The Friends
of Cuban Libraries
NEW YORK, March 16, 2003 (Friends of Cuban Libraries) - On March 14 the
International Relations Committee of the American Library Association wrote a
letter to Cuba's Foreign Minister regarding the situation of Leonardo Bruzón,
who has been imprisoned without charge or trial since February 2002. Mr. Bruzón,
a prominent Cuban human rights activist and independent librarian who is the
director of Havana's 24th of February Library, has been on a hunger strike
since December 2002 to protest his arrest. In her letter to Cuba's Foreign
Minister, the chairperson of the ALA International Relations Committee, Betty
Turock, expressed concern for the failing health of Mr. Bruzón and asked
that he be given urgently-needed medical attention.
On February 24 Amnesty International, widely regarded as the world's most
influential human rights organization, had issued an Urgent Action Appeal on
behalf of Leonardo Bruzón, whose weight has reportedly dropped to about
32 kilos (70 pounds) as a result of his prolonged hunger strike. In addition
to calling for urgent measures to save the life of Leonardo Bruzón,
Amnesty is also requesting Cuban officials to release him from custody on the
grounds that he is a prisoner of conscience who has been detained solely for
peacefully dissenting from government policies. In 2001 Amnesty had issued an
earlier appeal on Leonardo Bruzón's behalf after he was arrested for
showing the Disney film "Hercules" during a children's program at his
library. He was released from custody on that occasion but was re-arrested in
February 2002.
In recent news, Leonardo Bruzón has been transferred to the Carlos
Finlay Military Hospital in Havana for medical treatment, and several people
suspected of providing information about his case to foreign journalists and
human rights organizations have been threatened with arrest by the Cuban secret
police. Among the persons threatened in this manner is the prisoner's elderly
mother.
Contact: Robert Kent (tel. 718-305-9201)
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 funding from other sources.
For more information, telephone: (USA) 718-305-9201; website:
(www.friendsofcubanlibraries.org); mailing address: 4-74 48th Avenue, #3-C,
Long Island City, NY 11109 USA. |
