Cuban activist in incommunicado detention - Urgent Action Amnesty International

Document - Cuban activist in incommunicado detention

UA: 355/11 Index: AMR 25/006/2011 Cuba Date: 9 December 2011

URGENT ACTION

CUBAN ACTIVIST in incommunicado detention

The whereabouts of Cuban human rights activist Ivonne Malleza Galano are
unknown after police detained her during a peaceful demonstration on 30
November in Cuba's capital, Havana City. Her husband , Ignacio Martínez
Montejo, has also been detained after participating in the same protest.

On 30 November, Ivonne Malleza Galano, a member of the Ladies in Support
(Damas de Apoyo) to the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), and her
husband Ignacio Martínez Montejo were arrested by police officers while
they were staging a peaceful demonstration against hunger and poverty
and holding a banner with the slogan "Stop hunger, misery and poverty in
Cuba" in Fraternity Park (Parque de la Fraternidad) in Havana City.
Ivonne Malleza Galano was handcuffed and pushed into a police vehicle.
Two police officers arrived, tried to confiscate the banner and detained
her, along with Ignacio Martínez Montejo. Video footage posted on the
internet shows Ivonne Malleza Galano being arrested by the police
officers at Fraternity Park while the crowd gathered round her and asked
the officers to let her go.

The whereabouts of Ivonne Malleza Galano are unknown and the authorities
have not told her relatives whether she is still in police custody,
whether she is facing charges, and where she is held. Ignacio Martinez
Montejo is still being held at the Ninth Police Station (Novena Estación
de la Policía) on Acosta Avenue, Diez de Octubre Municipality, in Havana
City. It is not known if he has been charged with any offence.

Since the beginning of the year, the Cuban authorities have detained
hundreds of people for short periods, to prevent them from taking part
in peaceful demonstrations.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

Calling on the authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts of
Ivonne Malleza Galano, and to ensure that she has immediate access to
her family, lawyer and any medical assistance she might require;

Asking for details of any charges they face to be made public, and
calling on the authorities to ensure that any legal proceedings against
them conform to international fair trial standards;

Urging the authorities to remove unlawful restrictions on freedoms of
expression, association and assembly in Cuba.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JANUARY 2012 TO:

Head of State and Government

Raúl Castro Ruz

Presidente de la República de Cuba

La Havana, Cuba

Fax: +53 7 83 33 085 (via Foreign Ministry); +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban
Mission to UN)

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

Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your Excellency

Interior Minister

General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra

Ministro del Interior y Prisiones

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

Fax: +537 85 56 621, +1 212 779 1697 (via Cuban Mission to UN)

Email: correominint@mn.mn.co.cu

Salutation: Su Excelencia / Your Excellency

And copies to:

Attorney General

Dr Juan Escalona Reguer

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

Salutation: Señor Fiscal General / Dear Attorney General

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
date.

URGENT ACTION

CUBAN ACTIVIST IN INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/006/2011/en/217701e4-328f-46f1-b1e0-89f472785a94/amr250062011en.html