Cuba

WHEREAS for 50 years the Cuban government has restrained press freedom, the right to free expression of ideas and citizens´ access to information without government censorship WHEREAS in the almost two years of his government, Raúl Castro has not advanced the free circulation of information, freedom of expression or free association, nor demonstrated any respect for the practice of independent journalism WHEREAS twenty-seven journalists are in jail with sentences ranging from one to 28 years, several of whom are suffering from serious health problems yet are refused special release WHEREAS the government has increased repression against independent journalism throughout the country with temporary detentions, fines, confiscation of money and work equipment, beatings, blockages of residences, reprisals against relatives, limits on movement in the region of residence, opening of correspondence, blocking Internet access and prohibitions on attending public events WHEREAS access to the Internet is still restricted for the Cuban people, and the government is increasing its efforts to block Web sites, arguing that their content is contrary to the social interest and national security WHEREAS the authorities have strengthened Internet surveillance and reprisals against an emerging movement of young bloggers who challenge the mechanisms of government censorship WHEREAS on November 6, police officers intercepted and violently beat Yoani Sánchez and other independent bloggers in the street while they were trying to attend a peaceful demonstration in Havana WHEREAS Principle 1 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says: “No people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people” WHEREAS Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says: “Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, pressure, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated promptly and punished harshly. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES to demand the unconditional release of the jailed journalists and government respect for the work of independent journalists on the island to demand the suspension of repression against independent journalists and bloggers to condemn the intensification of government control of the Internet and the deliberate blocking of Web sites that disseminate information and ideas that do not conform to the line of the government media to condemn the recent detention and violent beating by police officers of Yoani Sánchez and a group of independent bloggers in the public street.