Further information: Prisoners of conscience freed - Amnesty International

Cuba: Further information: Prisoners of conscience freed

Further information on UA: 355/11
Index: AMR 25/002/2012
Cuba Date: 23 January 2012

URGENT ACTION PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE FREED

Cuban human right activists Ivonne Malleza Galano and Ignacio Martínez
Montejo were released from detention on 20 January, along with Isabel
Haydee Álvarez, who was detained after calling on officials to release
the two activists. They had been held for 52 days without charge,
following their participation in a peaceful anti-government
demonstration on 30 November 2011. Ivonne Malleza Galano and Isabel
Haydee Álvarez were released at 5pm and Ignacio Martínez Montejo at 9pm.
On their release they were told by state security officials that they
would face "harsh sentences" ("condenas severas") if they continued
their dissident activities. Amnesty International had adopted them as
prisoners of conscience, as they were detained solely for exercising
their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and had
called for their immediate and unconditional release. On 30 November,
Ivonne Malleza Galano, a member of the Ladies in Support (Damas de
Apoyo) to the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), and her husband Ignacio
Martínez Montejo, were arrested by police officers while they were
staging a peaceful demonstration in Fraternity Park (Parque de la
Fraternidad) in Havana City. The protest was against hunger and poverty,
and they were holding a banner with the slogan "Stop hunger, misery and
poverty in Cuba". Ivonne Malleza Galano was handcuffed and pushed into a
police vehicle. Two police officers arrived, tried to confiscate the
banner and detained her, along with Ignacio Martínez Montejo. Video
footage posted on the internet shows Ivonne Malleza Galano being
arrested by the police officers at Fraternity Park while the crowd
gathered round her and asked the officers to let her go. Isabel Haydee
Álvarez, an onlooker watching the demonstration, was detained after
protesting that the authorities should let the couple go. Ivonne Malleza
Galano is a member of the Ladies in Support (Damas de Apoyo) to the
Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco). The Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco)
are a group of female relatives of former prisoners of conscience and
current political prisoners. They organize peaceful marches where they
distribute flowers and call for the release of those who are still
detained. In 2005, the European Parliament awarded The Sakharov Prize
for Freedom of Thought to the Ladies in White. The Ladies in Support
emerged as a solidarity group who support and participate in activities
organized by the Ladies in White. Amnesty International will continue to
closely monitor their situation and will take further action as
appropriate. No further action is required. Many thanks to all who sent
appeals. This is the third update of UA 355/11. Further information:
www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR25/001/2012/en Names: Ivonne Malleza
Galano, Ignacio Martínez Montejo, Isabel Haydee Álvarez Gender m/f:
Ivonne Malleza Galano (f), Ignacio Martínez Montejo (m), Isabel Haydee
Álvarez (f)

Further information on UA: 355/11 Index: AMR 25/002/2012
Issue Date: 23 January 2012

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/002/2012/en/c67e2d7d-5a35-42f1-bed0-094eb3a229d7/amr250022012en.html