Declaration in support of the condemnation by IACHR of Arbitrary Arrests of Human Rights Defenders in Cuba

The undersigned adhere to the condemnation expressed on 9 November by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) following the wave of arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders in Cuba, since it represent “acts, which violate people's fundamental rights—rights enshrined in the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, signed by Cuba—particularly the rights to freedom of expression and to a fair trial; the rights of assembly, association, petition, and protection from arbitrary arrest; and the right to due process of law”.

The Commission's 2011 Annual Report, referring to Cuba, noted that "temporary arbitrary detentions were still being made and could last hours or even a few days. The victims were persons identified as opponents of the regime and the idea was to prevent them from participating in political activities or to respond to demonstrations or the circulation of messages critical of the Government".

We send our solidarity to people who through nonviolent methods promotes democratic opening in the country ruled by the remaining dictatorship in Latin America and we add up our support to the request of the IACHR reiterating “that restrictions to political rights and to freedom of the expression and dissemination of ideas, the lack of elections, the lack of an independent judiciary, and restrictions to the rights to residence and movement constitute an ongoing infringement of the fundamental rights of Cuban citizens. The IACHR urges the State to undertake the necessary reforms to meet its international human rights obligations”.

Finally, we ask the diplomatic representations of democratic countries and international organizations in Cuba through their embassies or delegations in Havana, to provide recognition, support and protect peaceful opponents, assuming the political and moral duty to act in commitment in the defense of human rights.

Graciela Fernández Meijide (former secretary of CONADEP/Argentina), Jaime Malamud Goti (Jurist), Robert Cox (Journalist), Vicente Palermo (Sociologist), Luis Alberto Romero (Historian), Emilio de Ipola (Sociologist), Daniel Sabsay (Jurist), Marcos Novaro (Sociologist), María Sáenz Quesada (Historian), Sérgio Fausto (Political Scientist), Eduardo Amadeo (National Representative/Argentina), Patricio Navia (Political Scientist), Juan Octavio Gauna (Lawyer), Laura Alonso (National Representative/Argentina), Fernando Iglesias (Writer), Eduardo Viola (Sociologist), Jessica Valentini (Lawyer), Aleardo Laría (Lawyer and journalist), Sylvina Walger (Journalist), Carlos Oteiza Aguirre (Lawyer), Fernando J. Ruiz (Political Scientist), Julián Obiglio (National Representative/Argentina), Carlos Sabino (Sociologist), Carlos Facal (Lawyer), Heinz R. Sonntag (Sociologist), Ricardo López Göttig (Historian), Gabriel Palumbo (Sociologist), Alejandro Oropeza (Political Scientist), Fernando Pedrosa (Historian), Carlos Malamud (Historian), Daniel Muchnik (Journalist), Andrés Cañizález (Journalist), Antonio Camou (Political Scientist), Sabrina Ajmechet (Sociologist), Hugo Machín (Journalist), Carlos Gervasoni (Political Scientist), Tristán Rodríguez Loredo (Economist and journalist), Bernabé García Hamilton (Lawyer), Ricardo Lafferriere (former Ambassador), Claudia Guebel (Political Scientist), , Ricardo Manuel Rojas (Jurist), Oscar Alvarez Araya (Political Scientist), Francisco Quintana (Legislator of City of Buenos Aires), Jorge Elías (Periodista), Thomás Abraham (Filósofo), Diego Dillenberger (Periodista) and Gabriel C. Salvia (Journalist).