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Sweedish International
Liberal Centre, March 21, 2003,
Liberal International president's reaction to the arrests
His Excellency Dr. José Fernandez de Cossío
Embassy of the
Republic of Cuba
167 High Holborn
WC1 6PA
United Kingdom
Dear Mr Ambassador,
It is with deep concern that Liberal International has learnt of the arrest
of at least 23 persons working for democracy and human rights in Cuba on
Wednesday 19th March 2003. Among these persons are Liberal International members
Osvaldo Alfonso and Hector Maseda, president and vice president of Partido
Liberal Democrático de Cuba and Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, international
secretary of Partido Solidaridad Democrática.
Others include Jorge Olivera, Ricardo Gonzáles Alfonso, Loius Cino,
Miguel Galbán, Jorge L. García Paneque, Librado Linares, Léster
González, Ariel y Miguel Sigler Amaya, Enrique Pérez, José
Antonio Pérez Morell, Iván Hernández Carillo, Antonio Pérez
Alejo, Roberto de Miranda, Edel José García, Orlando Fundora,
Pedro Argüelles and José Ramón Gabril Castillo. In addition
to those mentioned above, there are approximately 250 political prisoners in
Cuba.
Liberal International is a political network of 90 liberal political parties
throughout the world, some in government, some in opposition, some promoting
liberal values in situations of authoritarianism. Among our political
commitments we support the ratification and observance of international human
rights standards and we recognise the essential need to promote political and
civil rights and therefore oppose all forms of dictatorship.
These arrests are another sign of the Cuban Government obstruction of
political and civil rights. Liberal International has brought the arrests of the
above-mentioned people to the attention of its member parties and will persist
in its firm criticism of the lack of political freedom in Cuba. We will continue
to monitor the human rights abuses taking place in Cuba closely.
Liberal International calls upon the Cuban Government to make sure that
these political prisoners are released from custody immediately. I also urge
you, Mr Ambassador, to forward our protest and this appeal to the government in
Havana.
Yours Sincerely,
Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
President Liberal International
Protest of 43 MPs from all the parties in the Swedish Parliament
Erik Ullenhag. Member of parliament, Liberal Party (fp). (+46 70 - 813 67
18). Niki Westerberg. Pressekreterare (fp) (+46 70 - 937 1525 /
niki.westerberg@riksdagen.se)
Release the political prisoners in Cuba
The proclamation that was initiated by Erik Ullenhag, member of parliament,
Liberal Party (fp), this Wednesday as a protest against the large-scale
detentions of oppositionals that is now taking place in Cuba, had one day later
resulted in the names from 43 members of parliament. Members from all the
political parties in the parliament have signed the petition that was sent on
the Thursday afternoon to the Cuban ambassador in Sweden.
- Of course it is very gratifying that so many members of parliament are
uniting in the protest against the violations from the Castro regime. But at the
same time I was informed during the day, that the detentions in Cuba are
continuing. Since Wednesday evening, Swedish time, about 50 persons working with
democracy and human rights, have been imprisoned.
- The purpose with our letter to the Cuban embassy, is to underline that the
surrounding world is reacting against the detentions in spite of the present war
in Iraq. The Castro regime should be aware that the world is supporting the
democracy movements in Cuba. I hope that the pressure that such a large group of
members of parliament is creating, may contribute to the discontinuation of the
detentions, and the release of the already imprisoned, says Erik Ullenhag.
The proclamation with signatures is to be found below.
To the Cuban ambassador in Stockholm
Immediately release the political prisoners
In the last few days, the Cuban regime has arrested at least 23 people who
work to promote democracy and human rights in Cuba. Among them are Jorge
Olivera, Oswaldo Alfonso, Ricardo González Alfonso, Luis Cino, Miguel
Galbán, Jorge L. García Paneque, Librado Linares, Léster
González, Ariel and Miguel Sigler Amaya, Enrique Pérez, José
Antonio Pérez Morell, Iván Hernández Carrillo, Antonio Pérez
Alejo, Roberto de Miranda, Edel José García, Orlando Fundora,
Pedro Argüelles and José Ramón Gabril Castillo. Even before
the recent arrests, there were at least 250 political prisoners in Cuba.
Your regim seems to be trying to take the opportunity to increase repression
toward the democracy movement, hoping that the world will not take notice of the
repressive measures because of the Iraq crisis. We, who have signed this
petition, are 43 members of parliament, representing all seven parties in the
Swedish parliament. We have signed in order to protest against the arrests you
are currently undertaking. You should be aware that we are monitoring what is
happening in Cuba and that you will not be able to continue the repressive
measures without attracting critique from other countries.
We presuppose that you, as an ambassador, will pass our protest on to Havana
and deliver our message that the political prisoners in Cuba shall be
immediately released. We also expect you to explain how Cuba can continue to
violate the United Nations this context, it is important to concede that the
current negotiations on attaching Cuba to the Cotonou Treaty will be severely
damaged if the Cuban regime not immediately releases the political prisoners and
carries out democratic reforms.
Stockholm March 20, 2003.
- Erik Ullenhag, Member of Parliament, Liberal Party (fp)
- Jan Emanuel Johansson, Member of Parliament, Social Democratic Party (s)
- Gunnar Hökmark, Member of Parliament, Moderate Party (m)
- Inger Davidsson, Member of Parliament, Christian Democratic Party (kd)
- Sven-Erik Sjöstrand, Member of Parliament, Left Party (v)
- Roger Karlsson, Member of Parliament, Centre Party (c)
- Ulf Holm, Member of Parliament, Green Party (mp)
- Tina Acketoft, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Marita Aronsson, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Stefan Attefall, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, Member of Parliament (m)
- Martin Andreasson, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Gunnar Axén, Member of Parliament (m)
- Hans Backman, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Axel Darvik, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Linnéa Darell, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Karin Granbom, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Kerstin Heinemann, vice talman och Member of Parliament (fp)
- Solveig Hellquist, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Lennart Kollmats, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Tobias Krantz, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Per Landgren, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Johan Linander, Member of Parliament (c)
- Göran Linblad, Member of Parliament (m)
- Lars Lindén, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Torsten Lindström, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Ana Maria Narti, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Cecilia Nilsson Wigström, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Birgitta Ohlsson, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Mikael Oscarsson, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Sven Gunnar Persson, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Jan-Evert Rådhström, Member of Parliament (m)
- Ulf Sjösten, Member of Parliament (m)
- Torkild Strandberg, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Henrik von Sydow, Member of Parliament (m)
- Sverker Thorén, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Lars Tysklind, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Marie Wahlgren, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Cecilia Wikström, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Allan Widman, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Christer Winbäck, Member of Parliament (fp)
- Ingemar Vänerlöv, Member of Parliament (kd)
- Lena Ödeen, Member of Parliament (fp)
SILC - Erik Jennische
Box 6508
SE - 113 83
Stockholm
Sweden
mobile: +46 (0)707 818145
ph: +46 (0)8 209452
fax:
+ 46 (0)8 208395
e-mail: erik.jennische@liberal.se
www.silc.liberal.se
Washington, DC, March 24, 2003 - In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), on Friday, March 21, 2003,
ten U.S. Senators announced the formation of the bipartisan "Senate Working
Group on Cuba." The letter said the working group would "examine U.S.
policies toward Cuba, including trade and travel restrictions," citing
Americans' right to travel and Cuba's potential as a U.S. export market. The
full text of the letter follows this release.
With the formation of the Senate Working Group on Cuba, both chambers of the
U.S. Congress now have Cuba working groups committed to a new approach on U.S.
policy toward Cuba. In the House of Representatives, the bipartisan,
fifty-member Cuba Working Group was formed in April 2002. That group produced a
"Review of U.S. Policy Toward Cuba," and announced a nine-point
legislative agenda. For more information on the House Cuba Working Group, visit
www.cubafoundation.org/congress.html.
The ten members of the Senate Working Group on Cuba are: 5 DEMOCRATS: Max
Baucus (MT); Byron Dorgan (ND); Maria Cantwell (WA); Blanche Lincoln (AR); Jeff
Bingaman (NM); 5 REPUBLICANS: Michael Enzi (WY); Chuck Hagel (NE); Norm Coleman
(MN); Jim Talent (MO); Pat Roberts (KS).
The following is the text of the letter announcing the launch of the Senate
Working Group on Cuba:
March 21, 2003
Dear Senators Frist and Daschle:
We are writing to inform you of our intention to launch the Senate Working
Group on Cuba. The Working Group will examine U.S. policies toward Cuba,
including current trade and travel restrictions.
The sanction policy of the United States has been ineffective since it was
adopted in 1962. Other nations trade with Cuba, and their producers benefit from
that trade. The U.S. policy places our farmers, workers, and companies at an
international competitive disadvantage. By some estimates, the United States
loses out on an export market of nearly $1 billion per year.
Current U.S. policy also hinders our ability to interact with the Cuban
people by restricting American citizens' right to travel to Cuba. We believe
that the American people can have greater influence on Cuban society by
developing a relationship with the Cuban people. That is the only way to
influence the peaceful transition to democracy and a market-oriented economy.
We are pleased with the formation of this group and look forward to working
with you on matters related to Cuba.
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
Michael Enzi
Byron Dorgan
Chuck Hagel
Maria
Cantwell
Norm Coleman
Blanche Lincoln
Jim Talent
Jeff Bingaman
Pat
Roberts
Cuba Policy Foundation
11 Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 835-0200 Fax (202) 835-0291
Web:
www.cubafoundation.org |
