Write a letter to the Cuban government, urging them to release Normando Hernández González, José Luis García Paneque and Léster González Pentón, and all other writers who have been imprisoned in
violation of their right to freedom of expression.
[Date]
Raúl Castro Ruz, Presidente
c/o Cuban Mission to the United Nations
315 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY, 10016
Fax: (212) 779-1697
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sr. Felipe Pérez Roque, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Calzada No. 360
Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Fax: +53 7 8333 085
E-mail: cubaminrex@minrex.gov.cu
Your Excellency,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the 28 writers, journalists and librarians imprisoned in Cuba today in violation of their right to freedom of expression. As you are aware, 21 of these were arrested five years ago and sentenced during one-day court hearings in April 2003 to a total of 1500 years in prison. These include PEN American Center Honorary Members Normando Hernández González, José Luis García Paneque and Léster González Pentón. Seven other writers and journalists detained in the years since 2003 remain imprisoned as well.
These 28 writers, journalists and librarians have been imprisoned for non-violent activities that are protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Cuba signed this past February. I therefore urge you to abide by the terms of this covenant and facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of Normando Hernández González, José Luis García Paneque, Léster González Pentón, and all others imprisoned in violation of their right to freedom of expression. I’d also like to respectfully remind the Cuban government of its duty to protect the right to freedom of expression of all its citizens, including the right to send and receive information, and to introduce all legislative and judicial reforms necessary for the implementation of the ICCPR.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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