Urgent......Antunez Has Disappeared!!

I just found out from the blog of Chiquita, that Cuban opposition leader Antunez has disappeared!

message Antunez's sister .... anyone who can help spread the news .... thank you


From: Jorge Luis Garcia Perez (Antunez)
To: Maria Elena Morejon
Sent: Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 6:45:54
Subject: Re: Hello Brother

Ola Maria Elena, I am Bertha Antunez from Miami, Right now I have my brother's email open and I'm just looking for friends and supporters to denounce that my brother Jorge Luis disappeared Monday the 7th at 4:00 in the afternoon while traveling to Havana, for the assembly of the agenda for the transition, all assume that he has been arrested along with another opponent, Frank Reyes López, they were traveling together. The authorities have refused to give news to the families of both men. If you can raise your voice for my brother, get in touch with his wife Iris, and with Idania or other opposition within Cuba. Thank you. More about the plight of this brave Cuban.

Amnistia Internacional-Fear for Safety of Antúnez

PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 25/003/2009

30 March 2009

UA 89/09 Fear for safety

CUBA Jorge Luis García Pérez, usually known as Antúnez (m), activist

Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera (f), his wife

Carlos Michael Morales Rodriguez (m), journalist

Diosiris Santana Pérez (m)

Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena (m)

Activist and political dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, usually known as Antúnez, began a hunger strike on 17 February, in protest at the human rights situation in Cuba. Since 17 March, police and State Security officers have surrounded his house, threatening him, his wife Tamara Pérez Aguilera, Carlos Michael Morales, Diosiris Santana Pérez and Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena who joined him in the hunger strike. All five are in grave danger.

Antúnez and his companions are carrying out their protest at his house, in the town of Placetas, 300km east of the capital, Havana. They are calling on the authorities to stop the "repression and torture" of Antúnez's brother-in-law, Mario Alberto Pérez Aguilera, who is imprisoned at Santa Clara Provincial Prison. They are also calling for the release of political prisoners, the ratification ofhuman rights treaties and provision of adequate housing to all Cubans. On 15 March, with their health failing, the group switched from a hunger strike to a restricted diet, eating only fruit and drinking fruit juice.

Since 17 March, at least 20 state security and police officers have been keeping guard in front of Antúnez’s house and have cordoned off the street, stopping friends and relatives trying to visit Antúnez. No one has been allowed to approach the house. Antúnez’s brother has tried to visit him several times, and been detained every time.

According to Antúnez, the officers keeping guard have shouted, "Antúnez, if you don't quit this protest you're going to die" (Antúnez o te mueres o suspendes esta protesta). He told Amnesty International that on the night of 25 March, pepper spray was fired into the house through an open window. On other nights, thehouse has been pelted with stones, and a pile of rubbish has been dumped at the house entrance.

Carlos Michael Morales and another man who had been taking part in the hunger strike were arrested on 2 March at Placetas Hospital after they went to seek medical treatment. Carlos Michael Morales was given eight days' house arrest, after which he managed to return to Antúnez's house to resume his protest.

Antúnez told Amnesty International that "the siege to my home prevents us from getting almost any of the provisions we need to continue our fast, or any medicine" (This constant harassment outside my house, keeps us from going out to aquire the necessary fluids needed to continue with this liquid fast, as well as aquiring medications).

Antúnez is a well-known dissident, who was released in April 2007 after 17 years in prison. He had been detained in 1990 and sentenced to five years on a charge of "enemy propaganda." In May 1993 he was sentenced to an overall total of 15 years' imprisonment on new charges of "enemy propaganda," "attempted sabotage" and "illegal possession of a weapon," all supposedly committed while he was briefly at liberty after escaping in October 1992. His sentence was later increased for "attempted escape".

Rock musician Ciro Díaz and photographer Claudio Fuentes went to Placetas on 24 March to visit Antúnez, but were arrested, apparently for "public disorder." They were both released without charge the next day, and brought back to Havana by State Security officials.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Freedom of expression, assembly and association are severely limited in Cuba. Those who attempt to express their views, organize meetings or form organizations that contradict government policy or the aims of the state are likely to be punished by imprisonment, loss of employment, harassment or intimidation. Political dissidents are routinely detained for around 24 hours, during which they are interrogated.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- urging the authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of Antúnez, Iris Tamara Pérez Aguillera, Carlos Michael Morales Rodriguez, Diosiris Santana Pérez and Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena, and allow them to come and go from their house freely, without fear of reprisals or arbitrary detention;

- calling on the authorities to allow those who want to visit them to do so without harassment;

- calling on the authorities to reform the laws, regulations and administrative practices which curtail freedom of expression, association and assembly.

APPEALS TO:

Head of State and Government

Raúl Castro Ruz

Presidente

La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +53 7 8333085 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

+1 2127791697 (via Cuban Mission to UN)

Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)

Salutation: Su Excelencia/Your Excellency

Attorney-General

Dr Juan Escalona Reguera

Fiscal General de la República,

Fiscalía General de la República, San Rafael 3, La Habana, Cuba

Fax: +53 7 860 4268

Salutation: Señor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General

Interior Minister

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra

Ministro del Interior y Prisiones

Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba

Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister

COPIES TO:diplomatic representatives of Cuba accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 11 May 2009.

Latin America and European Leaders Show Support for Cuban Dissidents, on Hunger Strike Since Feb. 17

Viedos from Cubademocratic Directorio Democratico Cubano (Cuban Democratic Directorate). A group of European and Latin American leaders express their support for the hunger strike by the Cuban human rights activists.

Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez y Diosiris Santana Pérez have all been on hunger strike since February 17, 2009. I think it's important to report that all of the strikes are Afro-Cubans. The racist Castro Regime is showing what truly racist bastards they are. Once again the communists show the world their true colors.

The reason for the hunger strike are as follows:

(1) The cessation of the torture and repression against the opposition in jail Mario Alberto Pérez Aguilera (a black man) and other Cuban political prisoners.

(2) The claim for the speedy and just resolution to the cases of thousands of Cubans to live without a home, returning to the campaign for a dignified and decent housing for every Cuban.

(3) The cessation of repression against peaceful human rights defenders, with the requirement to the Castro government to ratify and publish international human rights covenants and hence the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Cuba is a signatory.

Fist Part:



Second Part:



Third Part:

Cuban Guitarrist Ciro Diaz & Photographer Claudio Fuentes Arrested in Cuba

Two men arrested for showing solidarity with prominent Cuban dissident Antunez. I translated this news from the blog: "La Babosa Azul"

Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo, guitarist for the Cuban Band "Porno Para Ricardo", has been arrested in the city of Placetas along with photographer Claudio Fuentes Madan, as they showed solidarity with Jorge Luis García Pérez, know by Antunez, who is president of the dissident group Presidio Politico Cubano "Pedro Luis Boitel".

Antúnez is in very poor health, do to a continued hunger strike, in protest against the abuses without parallel by the facist-communist regime in Cuba. More information will be published as received.

The information was received staight from Havana, at this very moment. Spread this news, as fast as possible, to stop the dictatorship and be able to obtain Ciro and Claudio's unconditional freedom.

We hold Fidel Castro, Raul Castro and a large group of snitches at their command if any harm comes to Claudio and Ciro.

http://lababosaazul.cubaunderground.com/36-ciro-y-claudio-arrestados-en-placetas.html

Telephone number of Lutenant Colonel Fulgencio (53) 42 213800!! If calling from outside Cuba: 011-53-42-88-2994.

The one responsible for the arrest of Ciro Diaz y Claudio Fuentes, is Lutenant Colonel Fulgencio Vage Luna. I invite the readers of the blog, the media and foreign reporters interested in this - to call directly into the police station and ask for the reason for the arrests.

Cuban Dissident "Antunez", Writes a Letter to President Obama

Secretos de Cuba, has published a letter written by Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez and addressed to Barack Obama. It is necessary that all blogs publish this letter and call the attention of other countries, mainly the United States, to put their hand and help the prisoners of conscience, forgotten in the prisons of Cuba.

Open Letter to the President of the United States

Mr President, I write to you from Cuba, this small Caribbean island, Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez", one of the thousands of former political prisoners in Cuban prisons who suffered torture and all forms of repression by the prison guards in their inordinate desire to destroy and break our will to struggle and resist.

I am one of many Cubans who inspired by the struggle of Martin Luther Kin, is on the streets calling for the Cuban civic resistance and civil disobedience as a strategy to achieve the much-awaited and necessary change to democracy in my country where there is a tyranny now in power for half a century, contravening the fundamental freedoms of its citizens, imprisoning alternative voices, and pushing people to extreme poverty, both economic and moral.

Mr President, I must stress that I the author of this letter, was arrested by combined forces of the political police on the eve of your ascension as president, with the deliberate purpose of preventing me from attending an embassy, which had invited me, along with the peaceful opposition also LORETO HERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA too witnessed this important historical event, your inauguration as the democratically elected president.

It is ironic and embarrassing for many a paradox that while in the grand and hospitable country, a black man took the highest judiciary, just 90 miles away, two black youths were also arrested, confined in filthy cells, by organs of political repression for almost 72 hours.

Imagine how many letters you received and will continue to receive, Cubans inside and outside the island. In my humble letter I would like, on behalf of hundreds and hundreds of my brothers imprisoned for their ideas, the beaten, harassed and punished for fighting in a peaceful and open manner, suggesting that the government in Havana is continuing and will remain faithful to its traditional vocation anti-democratic and dictatorial. This is evidenced by the arrests and the escalation of repression against their people who maintain peaceful opposition.

Mr President, the dictatorship in Havana was reluctant to give the smallest opening that it brings into play and the only thing you must know is: the regime will perpetuate itself in power at the expense of pain, suffering and sacrifice of an entire people.

History has shown, so do not forget that any relaxation of policy towards the Castro regime is equivalent to the oxygenation of his government and law enforcement apparatus.

On the other hand, I'm among those who believe that the initiatives for dialogue and understanding are positive and indicate strong qualities of those who promote them. But it has been shown that a dialogue with the deaf and intransigent counterproductive, and even more risky when done without real and concrete conditions for the repressors.

In that sense I believe that the basic and essential condition to require the dictatorship of the Castro, is the urgent and immediate release of all political prisoners in Cuba, as well as the sincere assurances of implementing an immediate and effective program for deep and radical reform political, economic and social changes that are aimed at establishing a democratic society with a genuine rule of law, and assure you with great respect and responsibility that it would prolong this long and difficult ordeal than 5 decades the Cuban people suffer.

I can not ignore, which in the opinion of all my compatriots are and must always be our main demand and ask: the freedom of each and every political prisoners in Cuba. Know that hundreds and hundreds of my brothers are dying in filthy and solitary cells, starvation, disease and abuse, men and women whose only crime was to defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of man, advocate and fight for a free society.

We hope you and your government solidarity to them and their families. We hope that your administration not overlook a detail, and really as obvious as a fundamental and pernicious that the main restrictions that our people suffer are those that we just applied a system that refuses the liberation of markets, free enterprise, and with the poverty that creates a constant outflow causes, above all things and blame others for the damage they are causing their own people.

Cubans as lovers of freedom, we do not oppose all such noble initiatives aimed at bringing fence and reunification of Cuban families separated, much less that can be helped in such difficult times.

I do not believe that decent and patriotic, is that many continue to use the so-called flight of the community to swell the coffers of the repressive apparatus to gain the privileges enjoyed by foreign tourists who visit Cuba at the expense of domestic crude.

The freedom to leave their country and return a basic right is universally recognized, but when used against those who suffer oppression, when passion or personal interest strengthens the oppressor, it falls on something as serious as it is unpatriotic.

Mr. President, for the Cuban homeland is much bigger and important than ourselves, and after this long and disastrous totalitarian experience we arrived at the full conviction, that similarity of the civil rights movement in the U.S., we just Cubans We shall be free when we are ready for the greatest sacrifices, and vicissitudes.

Although the solution to the problem of Cuba is not a democrat or republican, but the effort and determination of the Cubans, we are aware that the solidarity and support of a president of his intelligence, charisma and prestige could help to accelerate change both the longs Cubans.

I wish him every success in their governance, and reiterating that and do not forget to follow up these people and their struggle for freedom.

* Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez.

Former Cuban political prisoner who stayed 17 years and 38 days in punishment cells and confinement, subjected to the cruelest torture of all kinds to maintain his dignity as a defender of Human Rights.

Cuban Oposition Leader Antunez is Hospitalized

I have learned via Secretos de Cuba, that Cuban dissident and opposition leader Jorge Luis Pérez (Antúnez), has been hospitalized, following a 24 day hunger strike.

PRESS RELEASE

Opposition leader in hospital, after hunger strike.

The prominent opposition leader Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antúnez) was hospitalized in Placetas, Villa Clara, about noon on March 13, 2009

The president of the Presidio Political movement "Pedro Luis Boitel, all known as" Antunez, "who has been on hunger strike for 24 days to demand improvements for the prisoners and opponents of the Cuban Regime, has been hospitalized Just a few hours ago in the intensive care room Placetas Hospital in a critical condition, including the danger of his life.

Francisco Chaviano González reported by telephone to the reporter about this incident, which in turn met through relatives affected. For this reason, it has called on the national and international public opinion in order to solidarity with this fighter who is in serious condition, and whose just claims the Cuban authorities have ignored.

Reported from Havana, Ana Margarita Brito Perdigón, Press Agency Yayabo Press.

Havana, Friday March 13 2009, 2:42 P.M.

Via Secretos de Cuba