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Polish librarians demand
release of jailed Cuban colleagues
The
Friends of Cuban Librarians.
Dec. 15, 2004.
NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2004 (Friends of Cuban
Libraries)- The
Polish Librarians Association has issued
an "Appeal for Cuban Librarians"
calling for the release of their Cuban colleagues
imprisoned during the Castro regime's 2003
crackdown on dissidents and human rights
activists. In a message to the Friends of
Cuban Libraries, Piotr Bierczynski, the
Vice Chair of the Polish Librarians Association,
wrote: "We would like to ask you to
acquaint everyone interested in the ending
of persecution of the Cuban librarians with
our appeal."
Below is the text of the Polish appeal,
which marks a new stage in the worldwide
campaign to win the freedom of the brave
people in Cuba who are enduring persecution
because of their innovative effort to defend
intellectual freedom, the most cherished
principle of librarians.
APPEAL FOR CUBAN LIBRARIANS
In solidarity with protests voiced by IFLA
and influential personalities of public
life, the Polish Librarians Association
is expressing deep concern for the events
of sentencing several Cuban librarians to
serve exceptionally lengthy prison terms
for the charge of organizing independent
libraries. The actions of the Cuban authorities
relate to the worst traditions of repressing
the freedom of thought, expression and information
exchange, exercised by all regimes throughout
the history. These repressions are a violation
of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights of December 10, 1948, which
states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom
of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference
and to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless
frontiers."
The measures of the Cuban government are
aimed not only against the persecuted librarians,
but also against users, whose access to
alternative media and publications thus
becomes constrained. Shutting independent
libraries impoverishes the cultural life
of the Cuban Nation, which it is guaranteed
by Paragraph 1 of Article 27 of the above
Declaration:
"Everyone has the right freely to
participate in the cultural life of the
community, to enjoy the arts and to share
in scientific advancement and its benefits."
The Polish Librarians Association is appealing
for uniting the efforts of all individuals
and organizations, which treasure freedom
of expression and intellectual independence.
Therefore:
We are demanding the release of our fellow
Cuban librarians!
We are reminding you that the imprisonment
of intellectuals is a disgrace to
the original ideas of the Cuban revolution!
The Presidium of the Main Management of
the Polish Librarians Association
Translated by Marta Sobieszek
Source: http://ebib.oss.wroc.pl/sbp/interwen10.html
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