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U.S. Condemns Initiation of Trials Against Activists in Cuba

(Says kangaroo court trials of 78 Cubans worst repression in a decade)
(350)
The United States condemns the initiation of trials against at least
78 members of Cuban civil society for simply pursuing their right to
assembly, according to an April 3 statement by State Department Deputy
Spokesman Phillip Reeker.
The statement noted that at least a dozen individuals face life in
prison, while others face 15 to 30 year sentences for their "crimes."
The State Department said the Castro regime's effort to pursue summary
justice against the activists in kangaroo courts represents "the most
despicable act of political repression in the Americas in a decade,"
and called on the international community to condemn the trials and
demand the release of the activists.
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 3, 2003
STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
Cuba: Kangaroo Courts
The United States condemns the Cuban regime's initiation of trials
against at least 78 members of independent Cuban civil society.
Dozens of Cubans whose only "crimes" were to demand their fundamental
rights of assembly now face summary justice in regime kangaroo courts.
The Cuban government has denied the international media and members of
the diplomatic corps permission even to observe these sham
proceedings.
We understand that at least a dozen individuals -- including democracy
stalwart Marta Beatriz Roque, poet and independent journalist Raul
Rivero, independent labor activist Pedro Pablo Alvarez and civil
disobedience advocate Oscar Elias Biscet and "Todos Unidos" leader
Oswaldo Alfonso all face life sentences. A number of Project Varela
organizers, including Oswaldo Payá's number two, Antonio Diaz, face 15
to 30 years in prison.
The Castro regime's actions are the most despicable act of political
repression in the Americas in a decade. While the rest of the
hemisphere has moved toward greater freedom, the anachronistic Cuban
government appears to be retreating into Stalinism.
The United States calls on the international community to join us in
condemning this repression and in demanding the release of these Cuban
prisoners of conscience.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)