UPDATE ON IMPRISONED CUBAN DISSIDENT
IN NEED OF MEDICAL TREATMENT
The Lawyers Committee expresses deep concern over ongoing detentionsAugust 25, 2024
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The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights expresses its continued concern about the deteriorating health of Cuban economist and independent journalist Oscar Espinosa Chepe. Mr. Espinosa Chepe suffers from a chronic kidney condition, a thoracic hernia, persistent hypertension, and severe weight loss among other ailments and is currently serving a twenty year prison sentence for his non-violent beliefs. He was recently transferred to a prison hospital.
In March 2003, nearly 80 Cuban dissidents were arrested, tried and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison for charges ranging from “disrespect” of the Revolution to committing “treason”, or giving information to the enemy. This crackdown on human rights defenders and independent journalists in Cuba is the most severe in many years and has been condemned widely by human rights organizations, foreign governments and the United Nations.
On June 5, 2003, the Lawyers Committee wrote to Cuban authorities expressing its concern for Oscar Espinosa Chepe and urging for his immediate and unconditional release. As long as Mr. Espinosa Chepe remained in detention, the Lawyers Committee urged the authorities to ensure that he was provided with appropriate medical treatment and that his conditions of detention met basic international standards.
In July 2003, Oscar Espinosa Chepe was transported to the Boniatico prison in Santiago de Cuba and, despite his most serious and grave health conditions, was reported to be held in solitary confinement for at least eight days. In recent weeks, Mr. Espinosa Chepe was transferred to a military hospital Carlos J. Finlay in Havana, a location that is much more accessible to his wife than the Santiago de Cuba prison on the south eastern tip of the island over 1,000 kilometers from his home.
Miriam Leiva, the wife of Oscar Espinosa Chepe, was permitted to visit her husband on August 14, 2003, after 51 days of isolation. Prior to being transferred to the military hospital, Mr. Espinosa Chepe was only permitted visits every three months. In his current location in the Havana military hospital, he is permitted a short weekly visit, and his wife is now able to bring him food and drinks. Oscar Espinosa Chepe’s wife has been informed, however, that her husband will be returned to the distant Santiago de Cuba prison as soon as an improvement has been determined
Despite the increased medical attention and visitations, Oscar Espinosa Chepe’s health continues to deteriorate. His wife reported that he appeared pale with inflamed legs and impaired speech, but that his morale was high when she visited him.
The Lawyers Committee continues to call on the Cuban authorities to order the immediate and unconditional release of Oscar Espinosa Chepe and all other individuals who were arrested and convicted on the basis of their peaceful political activities and their efforts to promote and protect basic human rights in Cuba. In view of Mr. Espinosa Chepe’s poor state of health that is worsening as a result of his incarceration, his release is especially urgent.
An electronic version of the Lawyers Committee letter sent in June can also be sent through the LCHR website:
http://capwiz.com/lchr/issues/alert/?alertid=2478841&type;=CULawyers Committee documents on Cuba can be found on our website at: http://www.lchr.org/defenders/hrd_cuba/hrd_cuba.htm
Should you require more information, please contact Kristin Flood (212.845.5298, floodk@lchr.org).
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