May 23, 1997

CUBA NEWS

A Youth Director of the Cuban Opposition is Detained

Palma Soriano, May 5,1997,BPIC; Last April 30th,Radames Garcia de la Vega, Vice President of the Cuban opposition movement, Jovenes por la Democracia,was detained in the city of Palma Soriano. He was also the co-sponsor of an autonomous university project.

This occurrence was related, via telephone by Mrs.Graciela de la Vega, mother of the detained youth. She said that her son was practically kidnapped on a public street by an agent of the political police who drove a motorcycle with a side car. This occurred when both mother and son were returning to their home after having responded to an order from the Departamento del Seguridad del Estado to appear at the public registry office of said local.

After not knowing his whereabouts for 24 hours, an agent of State Security told Mrs.de la Vega that her son was arrested in the police station of Palma Soriano. He was accused of disrespect of President Castro, for which presumably he will be subject to a court trial.

The mother of the young opponent added that on June 6th, he will fulfill one year of house arrest imposed in an arbitrary fashion due to his anti-government political activities. She also called for international solidarity from universities and international organizations for the defense of human rights so that they will intercede in his case.

Last April 10th, the President of Jovenes por la Democracia, Nestor Rodriguez Lovaina, was condemned to 18 months of loss of freedom for supposed crimes of resisting arrest, and disrespect. An other director of this movement,Heriberto Layva Rodriguez, has stated that the State Security threatened him with jail before the celebration this summer of the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. REPORT: Mercedes Moreno

An Ex-Guerrilla of the Escambray is Threatened

;Havana, May 5,1997,BPIC; The Department of State Security-DSI- in the municipality of Pinar del Rio, last May 3rd. summoned Zoilo Rafael Gavilla Valdes, for an interview. He is a former guerrilla from the Escambray zone. The interview was conducted by Captain Mijares, chief of the DSI of that municipality, regarding supposed ties of Gavilla Valdes to an organization called "Independent Veterans". It is said that this organization is made-up of former anti-Castro fighters who are still living on the Island.

The former guerrilla denied his relations to that organization, but he told the official that he did belong to a former prisoners club. He also supported a program calling for the return of properties confiscated by the regime during the decades of the '60's and the '70's in his native province of Las Villas. Captain Mijares warned him about the possible legal implications that could result from his belonging to an ex-prisoners club. The authorities of the Country are preparing strong repressive measures against the members of this club.

Gavilla Valdes was captured at the end of the '70's during combat against government troops of the army and the Cuban militia,in the Escambray mountain range , which is located in the middle of the Island. He completed a long prison term and was deported to a prison town,San Carlos, today called Lopez Pena, located in the province of Pinar del Rio.REPORT: Lazaro Lazo

BPIC MAY 10,1997
The Decree Against Internal Immigration In Cuba Has Its First Casualty

Havana, May 8,1997,BPIC; Yolismil Paneque Estrada, a young first non-commissioned officer of the National Revolutionary Police, PNR-stemming from the eastern city of Manzanillo, committed suicide on Tuesday, April 22nd in this capital. This was due to his refusing to fulfill orders to take part in an eviction where his own family was involved. This occurrence places Paneque Estrada as the first mortal victim of Decree Law #217, issued by the government of Cuba in order to control the internal immigration to Havana.

Katia Remedios Palacios,18 years old and the wife of this non-commissioned police officer who took his life and who is expecting a child, told BPIC that Yolismil was sad because his superiors pressured him to leave her. They also wanted him to abandon his rustic home located in a marginal area at the entrance of La Palma in the town of Casablanca in the Cuban capital. According to the authorities, all inhabitants would be evicted because they are considered illegal.

Before Paneque Estrada shot himself in a shelter of the police office in the municipality of Regla, he left a note to his wife Katia,according to what friends of the deceased told her. Katia Remedios is sorry that she has not yet received this letter. However, she was told that in this letter Paneque Estrada wrote that he would never evict anyone, much less the woman of his life; that he loved her and from heaven would continue to help her so that she could leave this terrible situation. REPORT;Omar Rodriguez Saludes

Havana Continues to be Effected by Long Periods of Power Failure

Havana, May 8,1997,BPIC; Homes, medical centers, schools, businesses and factories in diverse locations in the Cuban capital were affected by interruptions in electrical services for more than 10 hours daily, since Monday, May 5th. This occurred after official announcements of breakage's in the thermo-electric plant of Santa Cruz, to the North of Havana.

The official announcement also indicated that the breakage's will be repaired in the course of 24 hours, beginning that same day, May 5th.On Tuesday, May 6th ,Cuban television stated in a news program that electrical service was being restored. However, on Wednesday,May 7th, the interruptions continued in the capital.

Additionally, inter-provincial bus service to Pinar del Rio and Matanzas was negatively affected by the lack of gasoline, in accordance with reports from passengers coming from these mentioned provinces.REPORT; Luis Lopez Prendes