New Threat Against Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello.

NEW THREAT AGAINST MARTHA BEATRIZ ROQUE CABELLO LINKED WITH THE DATE OF MAY 20TH THE LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY TO PROMOTE CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA URGENTLY REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN THE FACE OF A POSSIBLE PHYSICAL AGGRESSION AND INCARCERATION Miami, Florida, May 12, 2006 – On May 10th, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello was once again threatened by members of Castro’s “Fast Response Brigade” stationed near her home. She was informed that she could not leave her house on May 20th. When Martha Beatriz was granted the leave from prison under an extra penal license in July of 2004, she was informed that there were no conditions placed on her leave. The pro-democracy leader would not have accepted any restriction or conditions on her prison release. As a result of this new threat, Martha Beatriz has requested in writing that attorney Amelia Rodriguez Cala represents her before the Ministries of Justice and Interior, seeking an end to the daily harassment. If Martha Beatriz does not receive a prompt response to her request, she has instructed Ms. Rodriguez Cala to initiate the necessary steps for her to return to prison to complete the remainder of her 20 year sentence. Last night Martha Beatriz contacted those of us listed below and the office of Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart to inform us about her position and to end us a copy of the attached letter. In light of this new threat, it is of the utmost importance that all international media accredited in Havana and representatives of the government with Embassies in Cuba to monitor the situation closely and to be willing to visit Martha Beatriz during the course of next week, especially on May 20th. We also call upon the local news media, as well as the international community, to denounce these new threats in support of Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello. For more information: Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello 011-537-406821 in Havana www.asambleasociedadcivilcuba.info mbrc1712@yahoo.es Ángel De Fana Sylvia G. Iriondo Mario Martínez 305-269-1812 305-361-6800 1-954-547-8472 ### Havana, May 11, 2006 Ms. Amelia Rodriguez Cala Salvador Allende Collective Firm Centre of Havana Respected Amelia: As you well know, due to the state of my health, I am on an extra penal leave pronounced on July 22, 2004, for cause No. 12/2003 of the TPP City of Havana, for the crime of “Acts against the independence and territorial integrity of the State.” During more than 9 months, I have suffered meetings of repudiation, that have continued increasing, to the point that there are people standing permanently in the hallways of the building where I reside, offending me, harassing me, and, this past April 25 I was brutally beat, prohibiting me from leaving my home. It is impossible to explain to you in such a short space the vexation, the insults, the acts of bodily harm and the humiliations that I have received. When I was given the document granting my extra penal leave, I was in the State Security Wing of the Military Hospital Carlos J. Finlay and this act had the presence of 3 officials, one from the Directorship of Jails and Prisons, and two from State Security. Before giving me the document that stated that I was being granted the extra penal leave, I asked these officials what limitations this new status implied. In particular, one official by the name of Aguila, whom I know from Villa Maristas, responded: “You can do whatever you want, except step on the grass”. At no time would I have accepted to leave the prison if I had been informed of any political or personal restrictions. Yesterday, May 10, I received a new warning from the Rapid Response Brigade that is active by my home, who literally said to me: “Just to warn you, on May 20 you cannot leave your home, we will not allow it. And you can also forget about receiving anymore packages, we are not going to allow any more little boxes to enter your home.” As you can well see from this brief account, the manner in which the government wants me to live my life is unbearable, and at no time do I believe that these are the “inflamed people”, as they try to make it seem, on the contrary, I know that they are people that violate the law with the consent and approval of the government, since it directs them. After this brief explanation, I ask you to represent me before the Ministers of Justice and Interior, requesting that this state of harassment cease, that it can bring about the grave consequence of the loss of my life. If I do not receive a positive response, I authorize you to immediately begin the negotiations to reject my current status of an extra penal leave and return to the penitentiary establishment where I will fulfill my sentence, of 20 years of privation of freedom. I must make clear that since the last threat is linked to May 20, these negotiations must occur as quickly as possible and I would await the response until May 18, and the following day I will use the liberties that my condition as a dissident has granted me. Thanking you in advance for your attention to this matter, and informing you that I will make this letter public, I remain, Respectfully, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello