Please write a polite letter, or copy
the one below, on your personal or institutional
letterhead and mail to President Raúl Castro Ruz (postage 90¢).
Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente
c/o Cuban Mission to the United Nations
315 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10016
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my deep concern about the deteriorating health of Dr. José Luis García Paneque.
I
understand that Dr. García Paneque suffers from intestinal problems and
that he has reported repeated incidents of dizziness and diarrhea and
severe rectal bleeding. I am alarmed that his wife’s requests for
medical parole have gone unanswered and that Dr. García Paneque remains
without access to consistent medical care.
Dr. García Paneque was
arrested in March 2003, along with 74 others considered to be
dissidents by the Cuban government. He was sentenced to 24 years'
imprisonment under Law 88 and Article 91 of the Cuban Criminal Code.
Since his arrest, there have been consistent reports of abuse,
appalling prison conditions and denial of medical attention.
I
respectfully urge the Cuban authorities to provide medical attention to
Dr. García Paneque as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, I urge you to
quash the criminal charges against him and all journalists, writers and
librarians remaining in prison in violation of their universally
guaranteed right to freedom of expression as recognized in Article 19
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Sincerely,
[Your name and signature]
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