PINAR DEL RIO, January 24 (Bertha Peraza, APO) - Independent Cuban journalist Víctor Rolando Arroyo Carmona was beat in public by two agents of the Ministry of the Interior after the Popular Provincial Tribunal of Pinar del Río ratified his six month sentence for having
distributed toys to poor children in this city in western Cuba.
At the time he was lead out of the courtroom, the handcuffed reporter was pushed against the police car by one of the agents while another one beat him around the neck. "If you keep beating me, I am going to respond in kind," Arroyo managed to say while standing among the four agents
who were to transport him to the provincial prison known as "five and a half."
The appeals hearing started at 10 a.m. and lasted for an hour and a half. Inside and out of the courtroom were posted members of the Rapid Response Brigades (paramilitary groups in the service of the Interior Ministry, mascarading as citizens in support of the government), of the police and of
the department of State Security. State Security officers directed the police operation.
A few dozen dissidents were also in the area to show solidarity with the journalist. Others could not make it to the courthouse because they had been intercepted at home.
Juan Carlos Pérez Arencibia, Cecilio González, Feliciano Alvarez and René Robaina were besieged at Robaina's home in Consolación del Sur, near Pinar del Río. At the end of the trial, State Security agents withdrew the siege. The four belong to the Movement
August 5.
Víctor Rolando Arroyo Carmona was condemned for hoarding toys, according to Case 9 of 1999. Only three of the 15 witnesses that he called in his defense were allowed to testify.
The manager of the dollar store "El Fuego," where the journalist had bought the toys, declared that the purchase was legal. Arroyo's lawyer said that Arroyo had helped the economy of the country by buying in hard currency, and added that by giving toys to children her client did not
commit any violation of the law.
Notwithstanding, the Popular Provincial Tribunal ratified the six month sentence imposed by the Municipal Tribunal a few days ago against the journalist.
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