Elías Biscet and his wife Elsa Morejón. |
A letter faxed from Cuba on June 5th by Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet's wife,
Elsa Morejón, denounces his critical state and makes an urgent appeal for
his life. Dr. Biscet is President of the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights in
Cuba and a prisoner of conscience held at a prison in Pinar del Río
Province, far from his family.
I am Elsa Morejon Hernández, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet's wife. He is
President of the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba and a prisoner of
conscience. The purpose of this message is to denounce the critical state my
husband is in.
Dr. Biscet has been kept in a punishment cell in solitary confinement since
April 23rd at the prison "Kilo Cinco y Medio" located at Luis Lazo
Highway in Pinar del Río Province. His cell is 6 ft by 3 ft, has
insufficient light and ventilation, and no shower or running water. He must use
a hole as a toilet and the only water he gets for hygiene is delivered in a
bucket. He sleeps on the floor, as there is no bed. He is prohibited from
keeping any books, including his bible, or any personal belongings, including
food, vitamins, medications, paper, or pens. He is forbidden from communicating
by mail even with his family and has no access to fresh air or sunlight. The
only items allowed in the cell are a bed sheet, a towel, toothpaste, dental
floss, soap, and deodorant. His civilian clothes, along with his shoes and
underwear, were confiscated on April 23rd and returned to me by prison
authorities. From that day on he only wears a pair of shorts and beach thongs in
lieu of shoes.
For over a month the family has been unable to speak with him over the
phone. Official visits scheduled for May 2nd (a hygiene visit), May 13th (a
regular visit), and May 28th (a conjugal visit), as well as all delivery of food
and other items have all been suspended. On the three occasions the family has
been to the prison, we have only been able to see the warden, the chief of
internal security, the political reeducator, and other State Security officials
of the Pinar del Rio province. They sustain the following:
"He was put in a punishment cell for refusing to wear the prison
uniform, which is considered an act of indiscipline."
"All prisoner rights are suspended in that cell."
"If we gave him his civilian clothes, he would never wear the uniform."
"If we give him underpants, he might take off his shorts."
"The authorized white t-shirt bears a letter "P" on the back,
so he does not accept it."
"Even shoes without shoelaces are not allowed in this type of cell."
"Any medicine he might need would be provided by prison authorities.
All prisoners receive one vitamin tablet per day."
"He gets food, which he eats, although Biscet does not accept special
foods, such as chicken, vegetables, and soup, because he alleges these should be
given every day instead of once a month."
"A doctor has taken his blood pressure, but he has refused a medical
check-up, fearing a disease could be transmitted into his blood system."
"We have spoken with him and he continues to refuse wearing the
prisoners' uniform."
As a result of our continued requests to receive something in writing from
my husband, on May 28th, 2003 we received a note from Oscar that states: "I
am innocent of the charges for which I was condemned, which is why I will
maintain my ideological position. A true man cannot betray himself, so I only
appeal to the living God and pray to our Lord, as He is not neutral and never
abandons his flock. I am in good health, but feeling very lonely."
We have told prison authorities the following.
My husband is a peaceful man, who loves God and non-violence. He is a human
being, not an animal. We understand there is a rule requiring a prison uniform
be worn, but we know that most of the 75 prisoners accused of alleged crimes
against state security are wearing their civilian clothes, as Cuba has a
shortage of prison uniforms. In addition, the nature of these sanctions has
negative consequences for the penitentiary reeducation system and, in turn, they
violate international human rights treaties against torture and cruel punishment
to which Cuba is a signatory. They not only violate his physical integrity, but
are ill conceived methods that can only provoke negative effects that generate
illness, such as psychological trauma, dermatological diseases, respiratory
problems, acute infections, eye problems, and nutritional deficiencies.
People are sent to prison in punishment, not for punishment. In addition, prison
rules indicate that prisoners have basic rights and Rule No. 31 states: "Corporal
punishment, imprisonment in a dark cell, as well as any cruel, inhumane or
degrading punishment, are strictly prohibited as disciplinary actions."
My husband's health was good before he went to prison in 1999. Today he
suffers from Grade 1 hypertension and severe gum disease.
In 1999 Dr. Biscet was sentenced to 3 years in prison for exercising his
right to protest against the death penalty in Cuba and for appealing for the
release of all political prisoners. He fully served his sentence in the Cuba Sí
prison in Holquín, 768 km away from his family, and was released on
October 31st, 2002. He was arrested again on December 6, 2002 for attempting to
express himself and associate himself according to his views on human rights.
He was being held at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana, accused of
violating the public order. On March 29, 2003, he was transferred to State
Security Headquarters and summarily tried for undermining Cuba's territorial
integrity and sovereignty. On April 7th he was sentenced to 25 year in prison.
On May 22, 2003, he was transferred to the Kilo Cinco y Medio prison of Pinar
del Rio.
Dr. Biscet is 41, black, married, and a father. His crimes are honoring the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, opposing abortion and the death penalty,
and organizing civil rights' movements through non-violent disobedience to
reclaim the rights of fellow Cubans that he believes are being violated.
This man does not deserve to die in a dungeon. This man and his family have
lost everything except their faith in God for the noble cause of human rights.
He deserves just treatment and does not present any danger for the society. He
deserves to be free, with his family and his people. We know that my husband's
life is in danger. For this reason, we ask for the urgent help of all people of
goodwill, including Cuban authorities.
The nature of politics is different from serving justice. Human improvement
must be a challenge shared by all nations in order to save humankind.
Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Lic. Elsa Morejón Hernández
Avenida de
Acosta, No. 464, Entre 8va y 9na
Lawton, Municipio 10 de octubre
Ciudad
Habana, Cuba cp. 10700.
Tel. 991774.
This letter was faxed from Cuba on 6/5/03 to Eugene M.
Chudnovsky, Distinguished Professor, Chair Department of Physics and Astronomy,
Herbert H. Lehman College, The City University of New York. Translated from
Spanish by Maria C. Werlau, 6/6/03.
Versión
original en español
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