Some of the greatest freedoms one enjoys in the U.S. are freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and freedom of not being arrested or detained without being charged with a crime. Then, if one is arrested and charged with a crime, then one is given the opportunity to prove oneself innocent of the charges before a legal system composed of an “objective” Court. Court with attorneys representing each side along with a judge. In Cuba, there is no Court, and there's only the government's position.
In Cuba, ninety miles from U.S. shores, the government has the right to incarcerate anyone for any reason the government wants. There is no freedom of speech, so one cannot talk against the government in any way. There are no free newspapers except the government issued paper, Granma, which only writes articles based on what they want the island residents to think irrespective of the truth and with no other viewpoints.
People who speak views opposite to the government position or who write or speak about the truth about what occurs in Cuba can be incarcerated and placed in jail indefinitely without any recourse. For example, according to the New York Times, Roberto de Jesus Guerra Perez, a twenty six year old journalist for La Nueva Prensa Cubana Websites for Radio Marti (The new Cuban press for Radio Marti) was recently released from a Cuban jail for taking part in an anti-Castro government protest, the pro-democracy coalition known as the Assembly to Promote Civil Society after spending almost two years.
According to the Washington Times, Radio Marti is a radio broadcast to the island of Cuba financed by the U.S. Congress started over 22 years ago, and also has a T.V. component that is about six years old. Radio Marti broadcasts the message that people expressing their opinion without fear of reprisal is what democracy is about. They further transmit information on democracy that open debate and discussion on any topic does not make anyone need to worry about being incarcerated indefinitely.
According to Pablo Rodriguez Carvajal, a member of PayoLibre, a group that runs the news of what occurs to Cubans on the island who speak with views opposite those of the Cuban government, he says that Roberto de Jesus Guerra Perez is only one of about 300 people who have been or are still incarcerated because of communicating views that don't agree with the Cuban government. These people include doctors, lawyers, and common laborers on the island. And, these people who are communicating to others what is happening in Cuba are being incarcerated with no official charges, indefinitely. These writers are examples of people simply being put away by the Cuban government simply because these reporters and dissidents are expressing their concerns and worries about the injustices occurring on the island. What a difference ninety miles can make.
REFERENCES:
(1)New York Times
(2)Washington Times
(3) Pablo Rodriguez Carvajal, of PayoLibre organization
