JOURNALISM OF THE CUBAN REALITY IN THE EASTERN ZONE

The events in Santiago of Cuba, facts and protagonists.

Lizeth Bravo/APLO
Santiago of Cuba, 7 of December, 2007

A group of opponents a long walk decided to the past realize 4 of December from the Cathedral to the Church of Santa Teresita, where they tried to participate in the misa of the 5 of afternoon, the traditional misa of Santa Barbara. Some of the participants refer that they had like objective to take advantage of the religious moment to request by the political prisoners and whom three days before had been stopped in City of Havana.

The long walk was realized enough with normality tells to Rubén Sanchez Fertile valley, although some showed posters with the phrase, “I do not cooperate and the dictatorship down�. The stretch between the Cathedral, located in the park Turfs and the Church Santa Teresita de Jesus is approximately of 14 pictures, around 1 km of distance.

To 4 of afternoon, Sanchez says to Rubén Fertile valley one of the participants, lacking about 10 meters to enter the Church Santa Teresita two cars of patrol and one police motorcycle tried to cut the passage to the march.  The demonstrators ran towards the temple, obtaining to enter the first hall and to close the door, but the police to kicks abrió the door and entered sprinkling gas pepper. “Then we ran towards the second hall - it continues saying to Sanchez Fertile valley but also they overcame the door and they entered with pistol in hand. To Denia Rodriguez of the Toro one dress of was striking it to civilian, when it in self-defense gave back galletazo to him, then was rushed to him above, been when I tried to defend it and they struck to me yet what they brought, broke the shoes to me, the pants and they handcuffed to me. They entered me to the force a patrol car they struck and me in the face against the vehicle�.

According to the testimony of the participants, the attitude of the Father Jose Conrado Rodriguez restrained the repressive act, that already had brought about the faint of several people inside the Temple product of gases used by the police. The Tte. Colonel Luis Felipe Carbonell Hatred, Head of Confrontation of the Political Police, that directed the operative one was questioned by the Father Jose Conrado, questioning what was happening within its Temple, something that described as one pachanga terrorist.

According to the father Jose Conrado and several witnesses in the place they refer that they participated more than 200 cash police, including the bodies of intelligence dressed civilian. A multitude of finds out 300 and 500 people congregated themselves around the incident. One thinks that was the reason for which the authorities chose the church to carry out their act of violence, to avoid that in the public thoroughfare the situation them outside control and would add the population generally.

The opponents were stopped and taken for the station of police located in Eyrie and street 6, in Reparto Santa Barbara, more well-known by “Patrol�. They transferred soon them for Operations, that is the Training center of the Security of the State, in the Heights of Versailles. According to witnesses, they offended them there, they put the air conditioning to them on the verge of freezing and they tried to intimidate them. In hours of the dawn, according to the own Rubén Sanchez Fertile valley, it and was transferred 7 more for the station of police of Micro, retained them there until the 9 at night of day 5, where he was, at least he, released. Soon one knew that all were released,

The facts have served as incentive the santiaguera opposition, but when the Church is pronounced for the first time abiertamente against the abuses of the Cuban authorities. The archbishop of Santiago of Cuba, monsignor Dionisio Garci'a has requested to the authorities of the Office of Religious Subjects a personal encounter to analyze the situation, indicating that he is something that there is to be sorry and he must himself talk on this.

Here the list of some of the participants:

Address:  Stroll of 155 Martí # and Sign and San Fermín, Santiago of Cuba. 
Telephone: (22) 63 44 78