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FROM
CUBA
Violent eviction leads to near-riot
HOLGUIN, Cuba - September 5 (Llannis Meriño
Aguilera, APLO / www.cubanet.org) - A forced
eviction in Banes August 12 lead to a near-riot
by neighborhood residents, who became riled
up by police and Housing Authority officials'
manhandling of the house's residents, including
an older woman who suffered an ischemic
attack and was left lying on the pavement.
Neighbors stoned the approximately 15 police
officers and two officials from the Housing
Authority, their vehicles, and an ambulance
that was present. Firemen were called to
disperse the crowd by training their fire
hoses on them.
The evicted head of the household, Juan
Artigas, said the officers had come into
the house breaking doors and windows and
had beaten up several members of his family,
including himself and his aunt, Maura Leyva,
who, according to eyewitness Dania Torres
"had an ischemic attack, and they just
threw her to the ground in the middle of
the street, and refused to render first
aid."
Ms. Leyva was later hospitalized, said
Carlos Sánchez, who described himself
as among those who were evicted.
Artigas said some of his belongings had
disappeared in the confusion, citing 2,000
pesos he had under his mattress, and two
pair of shoes, among other items.
Artigas, who is now charged with "disobedience",
explained he had refused to vacate the house
after authorities declared him an illegal
occupant even though he had been living
there for over 10 years and the house had
belonged to his mother, now deceased.
Artigas said housing officials maintain
his mother emigrated to the United States,
thereby losing title to the house. Artigas
said not so; his mother was an invalid who
could not and did not leave with some other
members of her family and had since died
in Cuba.
Versión
original en español
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