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HAVANA, March 25 (Reinaldo Cosano Alén / www.cubanet.org) - Police in
Candelaria, Pinar del Río province, dressed as civilians, descended from
two cars and a pick-up truck with tourism license plates and raided a group of
peddlers March 5, beating and arresting them.
The peddlers, most selling agricultural produce or home-made foods, were
taken to the Candelaria police station. They were fined 500 pesos and their
merchandise was confiscated.
"Police came back March 12, in civies, and suddenly attacked other
peddlers, among them a 60-year-old woman," said Alberto Hernández, a
local dissident.
Peddlers here try to make a few bucks by selling simple foods or produce,
but the government calls them illegal because they don’t have licenses. The
peddlers themselves and many residents say they supply items that are otherwise
unobtainable.
William Barreto, general secretary of the Union of Democratic Youth, said, "The
State has not issued licenses for years; on the contrary, they have eliminated
them."
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