Read more on this Website: http://www.biscet.org
LIBERAL MAIN STREAM MEDIA AND
DEMOCRATS IGNORE PRISONER ABUSE IN CUBA
June 2004 - A letter released in Havana, Cuba on June 23rd, by
Elsa Morejon Hernandez, wife of prisoner of conscience, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, denounces
the critical situation this Cuban physician is facing at Prison Kilo 8 in the province of
Pinar del Rio, 162 km. away from his home where he is serving a 25 year sentence after
being sanctioned ( Case # 15 of the year 2003) for committing crimes “against the
sovereignty and the integrity of the Cuban territory.”
On June 17, 2004, Officer Mario Luis, who says he is carrying
out “new orders which all prisoners must obey”, prohibited the delivery of any
daily rations of foodstuff offered at the penitentiary to Dr. Biscet’s cell. Since
that day, Dr. Biscet is eating only what other prisoners might bring him. Dr.
Biscet’s family wasn’t informed of this new regulation until June 19, during a
30 prison visit on Father’s Day.
Dr. Biscet stated to his family the following: “Since April of 2003 when I was
unjustly sanctioned, I have never gone to the dining halls of either of the two prisons
where I have been confined, because I was always punished in isolation cells. On January
16 of this year, the prison director proposed that I leave the isolation cell to share a
prison cell with 16 common prisoners. I accepted on the condition that I wasn’t going
to participate in any political activity or go to the prison dining halls where there is
inadequate hygiene, there are fights amongst prisoners, and violations exist regarding the
quality and quantity of the food provided. My presence at the dining hall would force me
to peacefully confront prison authorities regarding these violations, since I am both a
physician and a human rights activist. The prison director accepted my arguments and
allowed an inmate to bring me the food to my cell daily. Since June 17, I haven’t had
any food brought to me, practically forcing me to be on a hunger strike. No one has given
me an explanation for this, not even the prison director. This new reprisal is directed
only against me since there are other prisoners who refuse to eat at the prison dining
hall and their food rations are presently brought to them. I am praying to God so that his
situation is resolved in the best manner possible. I ask you, my mother and my friends to
read Psalm 11. I have the spiritual sustenance and the strength that God provides to all
those who love him in justice and truth.”
The family found Dr. Biscet’s high blood pressure under control but found him very
thin, having lost around 60 pounds of body weight since his incarceration in Prison Kilo
8. His teeth are totally deteriorated due to the dire prison conditions he has suffered
and is suffering, and the lack of medical attention which he refuses to accept because he
distrusts the intentions of the military medical personnel at the prison.
Dr. Biscet has had only two prison visits since January of 2004, each visit lasting two
hours. He has never been permitted to receive a phone call from his family. The prisoners
have no television, they are not permitted to have a radio, a mattress to sleep, a fan,
nor do they have access to a shower or enough water to bathe, and cells lack windows.
Dr. Biscet’s family considers him an innocent man, his only crime being “a
soldier of non-violence, on behalf of human rights and a pro-life defender”. So that
this situation is resolved, they urgently request that all men and women of good will
appeal to the Cuban government on behalf of Dr. Biscet’s life and the psychological
well-being of all his family. Prison authorities keep silence before the family’s
request for permission to take food to Dr. Biscet in prison “so that he does not
become ill or die of starvation.”
Elsa Morejon’s testimony was obtained from Cuba via fax in the USA. Translation to
English:
Coalition of Cuban-American Women
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESO DE CONCIENCIA EN CUBA
Junio 2004- En una misiva dada a
conocer en la ciudad de La Habana el pasado 23 de junio, Elsa Morejon Hernandez, esposa
del preso de conciencia en Cuba, Dr. Oscar E. Biscet, denuncia la dificil situacion que
atraviesa este galeno quien se encuentra en la prision Kilo 8 en la provincia de Pinar del
Rio a 162 km de su hogar, sancionado a 25 años de prision en la Causa 15 del 2003 por los
supuestos delitos de “atentar contra la soberania y la integridad del territorio
cubano.”
Desde el 17 de junio, 2004, el Oficial Mario Luis, quien dice cumplir “ordenes nuevas
que todos los presos deben de acatar” prohibio que le siguieran llevando a la celda
al Dr. Biscet los alimentos que ofrece el penal a los reclusos y desde ese dia solo
ingiere algun alimento sin elaborar que le regala algun preso. Los familiares del Dr.
Biscet no se enteraron de dicha situacion hasta el 19 de junio, cuando se les permitio una
visita de 30 minutos en la Prision Kilo 8 por el Día de los Padres.
Segun palabras del Dr. Biscet a su familia: Desde el mes de abril del 2003, cuando me
sancionaron injustamente en esta causa, yo nunca he ido a un comedor en ninguna de las dos
carceles en que me han tenido preso, pues siempre me tuvieron aislado y en calabozos de
castigo. El 16 de enero del año en curso, el director de la carcel me propuso sacarme del
calabozo de castigo a convivir con 16 presos comunes en un cubiculo. Le dije al director
que aceptaba con la condicion que yo no participaria en ninguna actividad politica ni iria
al comedor, pues en el comedor la higiene es inadecuada, hay situaciones de riñas entre
presos y hay violaciones en cuanto a las normas establecidas en calidad y cantidad e
higiene de los alimentos. De ir yo al comedor, me pondria obligatoriamente a una
confrontacion pacifica entre las autoridades del penal ante dichas violaciones pues soy
medico y me considero activista por los derechos humanos. El director del penal acepto mis
motivos y permitio que un recluso me trajera los alimentos a la celda. Desde el 17 de
junio no he recibido mas los alimentos y me han obligado a estar practicamente en huelga
de hambre. Nadie me ha dado explicacion alguna, ni siquiera el director ha venido a darme
una explicacion. Esta nueva represalia es solamente conmigo ya que aquí hay varios presos
que no van al comedor y les siguen llevando la comida a la celda. Estoy orando a Dios para
que esta situacion se resuelva de la mejor manera posible. Dile a mi madre que lea el
Salmo 11 que le envie, tu tambien y mis amistades. Yo tengo el alimento espiritual y la
fortaleza que Dios le da a los que le aman en justicia y en verdad.
La familia del Dr.Biscet encontro que,
aunque el galeno tiene controlada la hipertension arterial, esta “extremadamente
delgado, ha perdido alrededor de 60 libras de peso corporal desde que esta en dicha
carcel, y su dentadura presenta un deterioro total, producto de varios factores de riesgos
imperantes en los aislamientos en calabozos y la no atencion medica que se niega a recibir
por parte de los militares alegando que no confia que hayan buenas intenciones.”
Segun la Sra. Morejon, desde enero del 2004, el Dr. Biscet solo ha tenido dos visitas de
dos horas cada una, nunca se le ha permitido una llamada telefonica a su familia, los
presos en ese penal no tienen television, no se les permite tener un radio, ni un colchon
para dormir, ni un ventilador, no tienen acceso a una ducha, ni agua suficiente para
bañarse, y las celdas carecen de ventanas.
La familia del Dr. Biscet lo considera un hombre inocente, siendo sus unicos delitos
“ser un soldado de la no violencia, la vida y los derechos humanos” y piden a
todos los hombres y mujeres de buena voluntad que intercedan ante el gobierno cubano para
que se resuelva esta situacion que atenta contra la vida del Dr. Biscet y la integridad
psicologica de toda su familia. Las autoridades del penal guardan silencio ante la
solicitud de la familia de permitirles llevarle alimentos al Dr. Biscet a la carcel
“para que no enferme o muera de inanicion.”
Testimonio de Elsa Morejon dado via fax desde Cuba. Traducido al ingles.
Coalicion de Mujeres Cubano-Americanas
Elsa Morejon Hernandez
|
