Léster Luis Gonzélez Pentón was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by Cuban authorities in March 2003 during the notorious Black Spring. He was one of 75 leading journalists and human rights defenders targeted, 21 of whom are still held.

English PEN is particularly concerned about Léster Luis Gonzélez Pentón’s health. According to their information, he often undertakes hunger strikes to protest against poor prison conditions, although he suffers from diagnosed chronic gastritis, sinusitis, lower back pain and anxiety. He also reportedly underwent a hernia operation in 2008 with a further one due on 26 June.

Fifty years on from its revolutionary beginnings, the Cuban government continues to imprison journalists whom they accuse of ‘destabilising the country’. On 14 January, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report on Cuba, asserting ‘freedom of expression is virtually nonexistent…(with) the country second only to the People´s Republic of China for the number of journalists in prison.’ It also noted the increased use of arbitrary detention to stifle freedom of assembly and potential government critics.

This report comes almost a year since Cuba ratified the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 19 of the ICCPR states that ‘Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression’, and Article 9 declares, ‘No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.’ 

The United Nation’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has declared that all those sentenced during March 2003 are being arbitrarily detained. PEN therefore believes that the imprisonment of Léster Luis Gonzélez Pentón is a direct breach of the ICCPR. According to HRW, this year the European Union is due to examine Cuba’s adherence to the ICCPR, as part of its assessment of ‘whether to maintain diplomatic relations.’

Please send appeals:

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Lester Luis Gonzalez Penton;
• Referring to the fact that his sentence is in clear violation of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, to which Cuba is now a signatory;
• Expressing concern for all those detained arbitrarily following the March 2003 clampdown and calling for their releases 
 
Appeals to:

Head of State and Government
Raúl Castro Ruz
Presidente
La Habana, Cuba

 Dr. Juan Escalona Reguera
Fiscal General de la República
Fiscalía General de la República
San Rafael 3
La Habana, Cuba

 General Abelardo Colomé Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior
Plaza de la Revolución
La Habana, Cuba

Sr. Felipe Pérez Roque
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Calzada No. 360
Vedado, La Habana, Cuba

Please send appeals to the diplomatic representative for Cuba in the UK:
 
His Excellency René J. Mujica Cantelar
167 High Holborn
London
WC1 6PA