Amnesty International

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Amnesty International is calling on the Cuban government to stop repressing peaceful protesters.   The human rights organization urged the Cuban government to  guarantee the right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. On 11 July thousands of people took to the streets in Cuba to peacefully protest over the economy, shortages of medicines,  high  prices, the response to COVID-19, and harsh restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.  

Between 136 and 187 people detained or their whereabouts unknown

According to Amnesty International,  Human rights lawyers at the NGO Cubalex have produced a working list of 136 people – mostly activists and journalists – who have been detained by the authorities or whose location is unknown following Sunday’s protests. The NGO Cuban Prisoners Defenders says it has submitted a list of 187 names to the UN.  Many ordinary Cubans protested for the first time in years over the economic situation, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of medicines and restrictions on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said. The human rights organization said it continues to monitor the situation in Cuba.  The Cuban authorities do not allow independent human rights organizations to visit the country, and independent human rights lawyers are prevented from working in the country, Amnesty International said.