FROM
CUBA
Cuban journalists and activists still
awaiting trial after two years in prison
NUEVA GERONA, Cuba, March 4 (Carlos Serpa
Maceira, UPECI / www.cubanet.org) - Six
activists and two independent journalists
are still in prison awaiting trial two years
after staging a public, peaceful protest
to protest the beating of another journalist.
The eight are all accused of public disorder,
disobedience, and resistance, and the prosecutor
in the case, Iliana Fajardo, is asking for
prison terms of between two and seven years
for the men.
On March 4, 2002, the eight held a peaceful
protest in front of the Antonio Luaces hospital
in Ciego de Ávila, where another
independent journalist, Jesús Álvarez,
had been taken after a beating by Interior
Ministry officers. The eight were beaten
up themselves and arrested at that time.
Amnesty International and Reporters without
Borders have petitioned the Cuban government
to release the men.
Versión
original en español
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