miami/The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) denounced this Friday the “continuous surveillance”, “harassment” and the “permanent threat” of arbitrary arrests and prison sentences for the few journalists from the unofficial media still in Cuba.
In its mid-year report on press freedom in the Americas, the IAPA condemned the prison sentences and restrictions imposed on journalists and editors on leaving Cuba, as well as the sentences on people who have published critical articles on anti-system networks or pictures of protests.
“Those journalists who are still unable or unwilling to emigrate suffer the pressure of continuous investigation, harassment against their family members and contacts, and the constant threat of arrest or -regular and prison sentences,” the document says.
The IAPA includes the prison sentences of three journalists: Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca, Jorge Bello and José Antonio López Piña. The first, for publishing political leaflets labeled as “enemy propaganda”; the other two, to participate in the July 11, 2021 protests.
The report also reports on the arrest of Jorge Luis Tan and the sexual assault against Iris Marino
The report also reports on the arrest of Jorge Luis Tan and the sexual assault against Iris Marino, a member of the group’s board of directors. Cuban hourlinking the two issues to issues related to their work.
The document reveals that at least four journalists from the handful of unofficial media whose professionals remain inside Cuba are prohibited from leaving the country irregularly (without proceedings legal against them).
The text also recalls the legal process against the academic and editor of Cuba x Cuba Alina Barbara Lopez and writer Jorge Fernández Era was arrested at home.
The position of these unofficial media and their professionals on the island is precarious, according to the report.
“All (unofficial media) work without legal or commercial recognition and external material support means additional risk because the Penal Code punishes receiving funding foreigner without permission from the prison,” explained the IAPA.
In addition, these journalists have “no access to social security that recognizes their work” or “guarantees that they will receive state or private payments for retirement, maternity or holidays, or to have the investments keep their bank. ”
The document also reveals that the state telecommunications monopoly, Etecsa, “continues to block dozens of independent media websites and organizations” and restricts internet access to specified dates or during protests.
