Friends of Cuban Libraries. Oct. 13, 1999
After a 3-month investigation of reports issued by the Friends of Cuban Libraries regarding the persecution of independent librarians, the intellectual freedom committee of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) has published a 5-page
report
condemning the Cuban government's "campaign of threats, intimidation, harassment, eviction, short-term arrests, and the confiscation of [the independent librarians'] incoming book donations or book collections." In a detailed case-by-case study, the committee, known by the acronym
FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression), has "confirmed the situation including the series of incidents reported by FCL [the Friends of Cuban Libraries]...." Further, the committee deplores the general absence of intellectual freedom in Cuba, as documented by Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, the World Press Freedom Review, and Reporters Sans Frontieres, and "urge[s] other concerned parties to send appeals on this matter to the President of Cuba...."
On behalf of IFLA, the committee's Chair, Alex Byrne, has written an Open Letter to President Fidel Castro in which he states: "As you are aware, Cuban citizens have formed 18 libraries... throughout Cuba to 'grant access to books, magazines, documents and other publications to which there
is no access in state institutions....' Sadly, a series of incidents indicates a pattern of State supported and instigated harassment of these independent libraries in Cuba, including threats, intimidation, eviction, short-term arrests, and the confiscation of their incoming book donations or
existing book collection. We seriously urge you to stop this harassment and meet the challenge of the independent libraries by upholding the intellectual freedom of all.... We also urge the Cuban government, the Cuban libraries and librarians to adhere to the principles of freedom of access to
information and freedom of expression...."
The full text of the committee's report, the Open Letter to President Castro, and supporting documentation may be found on the FAIFE website (www.faife.dk) in the "news and events" section.
The Friends of Cuban Libraries welcome the committee's authoritative report (with reservations regarding a few details) and hope librarians everywhere will take action in conformance with IFLA's 1983 resolution declaring: "In the name of human rights, librarians must, as a profession,
express their solidarity with those of their colleagues who are persecuted for their opinions, wherever they may be."
As Cuba, so far as we know, is the only country in the world where librarians are being systematically persecuted , the Friends of Cuban Libraries hope librarians and human rights activists everywhere will express solidarity by: (1) writing letters of protest to Cuban officials, (2) requesting
protests from their own national government, (3) asking their nation's diplomats in Havana to visit the independent libraries, (4) giving donations of books, writing paper, ballpoint pens and other supplies to people traveling to Cuba so they can be personally delivered to the independent librarians
(do not send letters or packages, which are confiscated before arrival!), and (5) translating this message, if appropriate, and sending it to magazines, newspapers, listserves and other bulletin boards, whether electronic or in paper form.
For further details, please contact the Friends of Cuban Libraries via Robert Kent (e-mail: kentr50@yahoo.com), telephone (USA) 718-340-8494, or
mail: 474 48th Avenue, Apt. 3-C, Long Island City, NY
11109 USA.
Background: the Friends of Cuban Libraries, founded in June 1999, is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit support group for Cuba's independent libraries. We oppose censorship and all other violations of intellectual freedom in Cuba, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, regardless of whatever leader or political party is in office. We are funded entirley by donations from our members and do not seek or accept support from outside sources. |