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Imprisoned
February 27
Rafael Solano, Havana Press, IMPRISONED, LEGAL ACTION
Solano, president of the independent news agency Havana Press, was arrested by state security on charges of alleged “association with persons with the intent to commit a crime.” A request by his lawyer to free him on bail was denied by Cuban State Security even though, according to his lawyer, there were no legal grounds for his imprisonment. During Solano's detention, his health deteriorated seriously. He lost a considerable amount of weight and was running a high fever. On March 12, CPJ wrote to President Fidel Castro to express its concern about the continued incarceration of Solano and the pattern of harassment against Cuba's independent journalists. On April 8, a day after the New York Times ran an article on his case and the challenges facing the Cuban independent press, Solano was freed but the case against him was still pending. CPJ sent another letter to President Castro, welcoming the release but urging him to drop the charges against Solano and to close the case. Solano said that upon his release from jail he was given an ultimatum; emigrate or face a possible prison sentence. On May 8, he left Cuba for exile in Spain.
April 23
Olance Nogueras, Bureau of Independent Cuban Journalists (BPIC), IMPRISONED
Nogueras, a reporter with BPIC, was detained by agents of the political police in the city of Cienfuegos, where he planned to meet with Danielle Mitterrand, president of the French human rights organization France Liberté. In a letter to President Fidel Castro, CPJ requested that Nogueras be released immediately. He was released two days later, after Mitterrand had left the country.
May 24
Lázaro Lazo, Bureau of Independent Press of Cuba (BPIC), IMPRISONED, THREATENED
BPIC reporter Lazo was arrested in Havana by two agents of Cuban state security. He was detained for four days in Villa Marista, the main prison of the state security agency, then released. Agents warned Lazo to stop working for BPIC and to leave Cuba.
August 12
Bernardo Fuentes Camblor, Patria, IMPRISONED
Magaly Pino García, Patria, IMPRISONED
Jorge Enrique Rives, Patria, IMPRISONED
Fuentes Camblor, Pino García, and Rives, reporters for the independent Cuban news agency Patria, were arrested in their homes in the city of Camaguey by members of the Cuban State Security police. The reporters were incarcerated in State Security's provincial headquarters in Camaguey, where they were interrogated about their activities as independent journalists and CPJ staff expert Suzanne Bilello's visit to Cuba in June. In a letter to President Fidel Castro, CPJ urged Cuban authorities to release the journalists immediately. All three were released on Aug. 16.
For more information contact americasweb@cpj.org