Attacks on the Press in 2010 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Journalists in Prisonleave the country as a condition of release, but it’s clear that is whatauthorities wanted: All 17 of the reporters released as of December 1were immediately exiled to Spain. (One later relocated to Chile.)Three journalists swept up in the 2003 crackdown and a fourth arrestedin 2009 remained in jail when CPJ conducted its December 1census. The remaining detainees from the 2003 crackdown expressedtheir desire to stay in Cuba upon release, the reporters’ families toldCPJ. A story published in September by the Madrid-based daily ElPaís quoted Spanish officials as saying that imprisoned reporters whowanted to stay in Cuba upon release would be freed through a paroleprogram. The Cuban government, however, did not confirm thoseplans.Albert Santiago Du Bouchet Hernández, the detainee arrested in 2009,had not been offered release under any condition as of December 1,according to the Havana-based Cuban Commission on Human Rightsand National Reconciliation.imprisoned: march 18, 2003Iván Hernández Carrillo, PatriaA reporter for the independent news agency Patria in the westerncity of Colón, Hernández Carrillo was sentenced in April 2003 to 25years in prison under Law 88 for the Protection of Cuba’s NationalIndependence and Economy. Hernández Carrillo, 39, was subjectedto harassment and assault while in prison, according to his mother,Asunción Carrillo, who said prison authorities had encouraged inmatesto attack him.Although the government released a number of political prisoners in2010, Hernández Carrillo was among four Cuban journalists still inprison when CPJ conducted its annual census on December 1. Threehad been swept up in the 2003 crackdown and a fourth was arrested in2009.In July 2010, the Catholic Church brokered an agreement with Cubanauthorities to release 52 political prisoners, including 20 journalists,who were arrested during the 2003 crackdown. Spanish governmentofficials also participated in the talks. The Cuban government did notexplicitly demand that freed prisoners leave the country as a conditionof release, but it’s clear that is what authorities wanted: All 17 of thereporters released as of December 1 were immediately exiled to Spain.(One later relocated to Chile.)The remaining detainees from the 2003 crackdown expressed their367