Saint Julian School's building as it stood on February, 2002. Photo by Teresa Fernández Montero, Arucas, Grand Canary, Canary Islands, Spain

Saint Julian School’s front lobby as it stood on February, 2002. Photo by Teresa Fernández Montero, Arucas, Grand Canary, Canary Islands, Spain

Prisoner Is Threatened

Reporting from Havana, Miguel Galbán, Havana Press, Nueva Prensa Cubana (New Cuban Press).
Contributor Jadir Hernández, Universidad Cívica Cubana (Cuban Civic University), La Nueva Cuba (The New Cuba)

February 6, 2003 - Human rights activist Virgilio Marante Güelmes, imprisoned at Valle Grande jail in this capital since last January 24, was expelled from Company #17.

Virgilio was present in those premises with two common prisoners, with the approval of the jail’s authorities, because he refused to participate in the recount. Marante Güelmes told his relatives, during a routine visit, that in the morning hours of the 24th, when temperatures were very low, he was expelled from the unit, with the consent of the re-educator whose last name was Costa.

Two common criminals—known as Manuel, chief of Discipline Control, and Mayito—threatened to hit him if he did not obey them. Besides, he adds, in the outside area they forced him to stand without a coat close to five hours, until he was returned to Company #14.

As a consequence of the bad treatments, he was affected with a violent flu attack and up to this moment, his jailers are preventing him from receiving medical attention and they don’t allow him to receive medicines. The National Directorate of Jails and Prisons of the Interior Department (MININT, its Spanish initials) knows about hundreds of cases like these, but they do not intercede in favor of the prisoners, as a punitive measure.

Virgilio Marante Güelmes, a Delegate of the Human Rights Movement 24th of February, in the area of Güines, in the southern part of Havana, is being charged with an alleged public disorder crime, which occurred last December 6 in Lawton neighborhood in the 10th of October Municipality of Havana. He could face one year in jail if found guilty.

Also jailed at Valle Grande prison for the same reasons are the human rights activists Raúl Arencibia Fajardo, Henry Saumell Peña, Carlos Alberto Domínguez, Lázaro Miguel Rodríguez Capote and Rafael Corrales Alfonso.