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Miguel GALVÁN GUTIÉRREZ: journalist (Havana Press agency) and
coordinator of the Varela Project. Sentence 26 years. Prison Guanajay,
Havana. Year of Birth 1965. Charge Article 91 and Law 88. Sentence
confirmed on 3 June 2003 by the Supreme Popular Tribunal. On or
around 3 August 2003, Galván, was reportedly threatened by the Agüica
prison governor with a transfer to Guantánamo prison, over 500 miles
away from his family, if he continued passing news to the outside about
prison conditions. Transferred in May 2004 to Block 10 of Agüica prison
which houses prisoners considered highly dangerous, including those
serving life sentences for murder. Reported to have a physical disability
due to a road accident.
On 21 May 2006 it was reported that Galván had been kept incommunicado
since October 2005, and had been deprived of numerous rights,
including family visits, sunlight, letters and religious observance. On 15
June 2007 Galván was reportedly transferred from Agüica prison in
Matanzas to Guanajay prison in Havana. He is reported to have suffered
numerous illnesses in prison. Honorary Member: Sydney PEN
Julio César GÁLVEZ RODRÍGUEZ: freelance journalist Sentence15
years Prison Combinado del Este, Havana. Charge Law 88. Prison
Combinado del Este prison, Havana. He is said to suffer from high blood
pressure and arthrosis – a degenerative disease of the joints – and high
blood pressure. Received surgery for the removal of kidney stones in
early 2004. Reported in June 2005 to be suffering from severe pains due
to his athrosis and various other ailments. On 14 September 2007
González was transferred to the military hospital at Combinado del Este
prison, where he is being held. He is said to have developed serious respiratory
problems while in prison. Honorary Member: English PEN
José Luis GARCÍA PANEQUE: journalist (Agencia Libertad press
agency) & librarian (Carlos J Finlay Library) Sentence 24 years Year of
Birth c. 1965 Charge Law 88 and Article 91. Reported to have suffered
from mental illness during his imprisonment. Health concerns: reported
to have suffered mental illness, and held for one year in a prison psychiatric
unit from November 2004 to November 2005. He also suffers from
acute intestinal illness which has led to malnutrition, diarrhoea and
excessive weight loss. In late 2007 it was further reported that he had
contracted pneumonia and that he may have a duodenal ulcer. The
medical care in prison is believed to be inadequate and there are acute
concerns that his life is at risk. Current place of detention: Las Mangas
prison, Granma. Honorary Member: English PEN
Ricardo Severino GONZÁLEZ ALFONSO: president, Manuel
Márquez Sterling Journalists Society, director of De Cuba magazine, and
librarian (Jorge Mañach Library) Sentence 20 years. Prison Combinado
del Este prison hospital, Havana. Year of Birth 1950. Charge Article 91.
Health concerns: Reported to suffer from a number of ailments,
including gallstones, abscesses, heart problems, and bronchitis, all exacerbated
by his detention and lack of adequate medial attention. He is also
said to have spent some time in a prison psychiatric ward in 2005. Most
recent reports in August 2007, suggest that González’ health problems
have worsened. On 14 September he was transferred to the military
hospital attached to prison where he is being held (Combinado del Este).
He was receiving medical treatment and some medication, but was being
kept in uncomfortably hot conditions. Honorary member: Finnish PEN
and German PEN.
Léster Luis GONZÁLEZ PENTÓN: independent journalist
(Movimiento Democracia) and member of human rights movement
ALFA-3 Sentence 20 years. Prison Prisión de Jóvenes – formerly
known as Pretensado – Santa Clara. Year of Birth 1977 (February).
Charge Article 91. He is the youngest of the 75 opposition members
arrested in March 2003. Health: Reported to have received treatment in
August 2004 to rectify spinal problems. Later that year also diagnosed
with chronic gastritis and also operated for sinusitis. Again hospitalised,
this time for severe haemorrhoids, in October 2005. Hunger protests:
González has undertaken a number of hunger strikes in 2004, 2005 and
2006 against poor prison conditions. González’s mother, Mireya de la
Caridad Pentón Orozco, has reported that on 13 November 2007,
González had a surgical procedure for a umbilical hernia, at the Arnaldo
Milán hospital, in Santa Clara. Despite these problems, González has
the intention to publish a book with his journal and other testimonies,
describing his life in prison. Honorary Member: Sydney PEN and
American PEN Centre.
Alejandro GONZÁLEZ RAGA: freelance journalist Sentence 14
years. Prison Kilo 7, Camagüey. Charge Article 91. On 15 February
2006 González published an impassioned open letter appealing for international
solidarity for political prisoners in Cuba (see
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/feb06/16a2.htm). On 14 January
2007 CubaNet reported that he was writing poetry in prison.
Iván HERNÁNDEZ CARRILLO: journalist (Agencia Patria) and
librarian (Juan Gualberto Gómez Library) Sentence 25 years. Prison
Guamajal Hombres Date of Birth 24 May 1971. Charge Law 88. Said to
be accused in particular of possessing a computer from the USA.
Reported to have started a 13-day hunger strike on 15 August 2003 with
Adolfo Fernández Saínz and Mario Enrique Mayo to demand decent
food and medicine for seriously ill prisoners. Reported to have been
transferred from Holguín to Villa Clara Youth Prison on 9 January 2006.
Reportedly began another hunger strike on 25 June 2007 in protest at
mistreatment by the guards in Guamajal Hombres prison. Honorary
Member: Catalán PEN, Scottish PEN.
Normando HERNÁNDEZ GONZÁLEZ: director of the Camagüey
College of Independent Journalists (Colegio de Periodistas
Independientes de Camagüey), journalist (Cubanet) Sentence 25 years.
Prison Carlos J. Finlay military hospital in Havana Year of Birth 1970.
Charge Article 91 and other provisions of the Criminal Code.
Reportedly for criticising the government on Radio Martí. Prison
concerns/health conditions: Hernández has suffered numerous medical
complaints since his imprisonment, including high blood pressure, heart
and abdominal problems. It is also reported that he has suffered abuse in
prison including assaults by staff, being held with prisoners with acute
psychiatric disorders, some of whom are extremely dangerous. New
information: In July 2007, it was reported that Hernández had been
threatened by the head of the prison for refusing to shout a revolutionary
slogan. The official told him to watch his step or he could have an ‘accident’.
In September 2007, Hernández’ health reportedly remained critical.
On 14 September, he was transferred from the maximum security
Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey to Carlos J. Finlay military hospital in
Havana. According to his wife, Hernández was in pain but was being
well treated and was receiving medical care. The move prompted hopes
that he would soon be released. According to a diary that Hernández
wrote in prison and published on Cubanet.com (see
http://www.cubanet.org/revista/diarionormando.pdf), he had a colonoscopy
on 23 October, the results of which he was told were negative. Two
biopsies were taken to rule out the possibility of some other colon
problem; at the time of writing he did not know the results of these. He
reported that he was still in ill health, with gastric and intestinal pains,
and had again lost the few kilos he had put on since being transferred to
the hospital. Honorary Member: English & American PEN. Recipient
of the 2007 American PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.