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Letters
Letter to Fidel Castro from the
Deputy of the German Bundestag, Rainer Eppelmann.
Your Excellency
Mr. President of the State Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba
Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz
La Habana
Berlin, November 11, 2003
Your Excellency Mr. President:
In my capacity as member of the Commission on Human Rights and
Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag, I would like to express in the
name of the entire Commission my deep concern for the catastrophic
conditions prevalent in the prisons where members of the opposition,
intellectuals, and independent journalists have been confined to since
last April.
Of special concern is the health condition of Mrs. Martha Beatriz Roque
Cabello, the Director of the Cuban Institute of Independent Economists
“Manuel Sanchez Herrero,” the only woman arrested during the last wave
of imprisonment of opposition leaders. This lady who has earned
international prestige and who has received awards for human rights
causes has been condemned to 27 years in prison and she has been
detained in the Manto Negro prison in extremely inhuman conditions that
threaten her health. Since her imprisonment last April, Mrs. Martha
Beatriz Roque has been suffering from chronic rheumatism, stomach
ulcers, and hypertension. She has not been given proper medical
attention nor has she been administered proper medication.
The Commission of Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German
Bundestag urges you to immediately set all political prisoners free. We
request that you also improve immediately the inhuman conditions of
imprisonment of the detainees and that you provide medical assistance
where necessary.
Against this backdrop, we severely criticize your decision to prohibit
the visit to your country of the High Representative of Human Rights of
the Federal Government, Mrs. Claudia Roth, and we urge you to
immediately correct this decision.
Cordially,
Rainer Eppelmann
Deputy of the German Bundestag
Source: German Delegate MCUD
NetforCuba International
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