VZCZCXRO2165
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHUB #3582/01 3452111
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 112111Z DEC 06
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0988
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HAVANA 023582 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016 
TAGS: PHUM KDEM SOCI CU
SUBJECT: ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, CUBAN MOB ATTACKS ACTIVISTS 
 
REF: OP CENTER CALL TO USINT HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER 
 
     12/10/06 
 
HAVANA 00023582  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly for Reason 1.4(d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: A large group of Cuban communist militants 
and State Security officials broke up a Human Rights Day 
march by 12 peaceful activists, throwing several to the 
ground in front of UNESCO's Havana office.  The activists, 
led by Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramirez, were pushed, kicked and 
punched, though not severely, and briefly detained.  Several 
camera crews and various photojournalists covered the event, 
which received prominent media attention.  Poloff was roughed 
up slightly and had his camera broken.  Later, 35 "Ladies in 
White" marched without incident after attending mass at Santa 
Rita church.  The same day, around 30 leading activists 
gathered at the COMR for lunch and a spirited discussion on 
human rights and democratization.  A newly released political 
prisoner and others endorsed the USG position that Raul 
Castro needs to consult with the Cuban people about 
democratization, not with the USG.  The GOC's heavy-handed 
response to the Ferrer demonstration suggests that the regime 
fears popular discontent with Raul Castro's rule.  Ferrer, 
for his part, says he is planning a bigger dissident event 
for early next year.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) At least 200 communist militants mobilized by the 
Cuban Government joined at least 100 State Security officials 
December 10 in confronting and attacking 12 dissidents 
holding a silent march to mark International Human Rights 
Day.  The activists, calling themselves the National 
Patriotic Front, started marching at 11 am around a small 
park in front of Havana's UNESCO building.  The State 
Security officials were unmistakable by their earphones, and 
the pistols bulging from their waistbands.  (Dozens of other 
political-police officials maintained an intimidating 
presence on surrounding blocks.) Also present at the park 
were at least three uniformed members of the Cuban military, 
including one officer. 
 
SHOVED, KICKED, PUNCHED 
----------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) When the activists made it two-thirds of the way 
around the park, a man raised his hand to signal action by 
the militants, who, chanting "Viva Fidel," blocked the 
activists' path and pushed, kicked and punched them.  The 
activists tried to stay together and continue their march, 
but the violence intensified.  The mob isolated several 
activists and threw them to the ground.  Each time an 
activist was isolated s/he was grabbed by State Security 
officials and frog-marched away, into detention.  On at least 
two occasions, State Security officials halted a passing 
(GOC) car, forced the activist inside, entered the car 
themselves and sped off.  One activist had his "CHANGE" 
T-shirt yanked off.  No serious injuries occurred, although 
activist Jamier Hernandez suffered a dislocated wrist and the 
lone female marcher, Yusnaimy Jorge, hyperventilated.  All 12 
activists were detained at a police station and released less 
than an hour later. 
 
JOURNALISTS PRESENT 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ferrer had made public his plans for the 
(unauthorized) march, and the international press was on 
hand.  CNN, EFE and at least one other media organization 
sent a camera crew, and at least six other photojournalists 
were present.  International media covered the park incident 
widely.  (Note: We did not see any journalists being 
mistreated, but EFE reported that some foreign reporters were 
"verbally abused" by militants.  End Note.) 
 
POLOFF STRUCK 
------------- 
 
¶5. (C) As the last few remaining activists were being led 
away, a State Security official approached Poloff and ordered 
him to stop taking photos.  Poloff explained that he was 
standing on a public street.  Three men, suspected State 
Security officials, then shoved Poloff while a fourth struck 
him on the arm, causing the camera to fall to the ground. 
Poloff recovered the pocket camera, now broken, and did not 
offer resistance, leaving the scene.  He was followed to his 
car by a half-dozen thugs who made a number of vague threats. 
 
FERRER SATISFIED 
---------------- 
 
HAVANA 00023582  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶6. (C) Ferrer told us December 11 that the march went "better 
than I'd ever imagined... It will cost the Cuban Government 
politically for doing what it did at such an inopportune 
time."  Ferrer said the disproportionate State Security 
reaction to the march shows that State Security is afraid of 
the people.  Ferrer, of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for 
Health and Human Rights, also said he is planning a bigger 
event early in the coming year.  He said (please protect) he 
would organize five or six small groups of eight to ten 
dissidents each and have them simultaneously enter the 
lobbies of a half-dozen tourist hotels in Havana, carrying 
signs that read: "No More Apartheid in Cuba."  (Note: Most 
Cubans are denied access to upscale hotels.  End Note.) 
 
'LADIES' MARCH WITHOUT INCIDENT 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Roughly an hour later, 35 "Ladies in White" - 
relatives of political prisoners -- held their weekly march, 
without incident, in front of Havana's Santa Rita church. 
The Ladies followed their march with a joint call for the 
release of their loved ones, and a cheer in support of human 
rights.  (Note: Leading Lady Laura Pollan told us that on 
December 9, the group held a rare Saturday march from 
Pollan's home past the University of Havana to the outdoor 
Coppelia ice cream parlor.  She said the public's response 
was overwhelmingly positive.  End Note.) 
 
USINT HONORS PRO-DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU) Also on December 10, the COM hosted a lunch and 
human rights discussion for around 30 leading activists, 
including Martha Beatriz Roque of the Assembly to Promote 
Civil Society, Vladimiro Roca of All United, Elizardo Sanchez 
of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National 
Reconciliation, and six Ladies in White.  (Oswaldo Paya of 
the Christian Liberation Movement was invited but unable to 
attend.)  COM Parmly offered a toast lamenting Cuba's 
totalitarianism and the plight of Cuba's political prisoners, 
but at the same time honoring the courage of those who speak 
out for freedom.  This touched off a debate that was both 
spirited and emotional.  Some participants criticized the 
lack of unity among opposition groups; others wrangled over 
the implications of accepting U.S. assistance, while still 
others cried while thanking the United States for providing 
support to the dissident movement when "nobody else cared." 
A focal point for the gathering was the display of the 
"prisoners of conscience quilt," crafted by a Boston NGO. 
 
"WE WILL DETERMINE WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE" 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) At one poignant moment during the discussion, 
veteran dissident Felix Bonne recalled one of the times he 
was arrested, trying to argue with police that he and his 
group were only a small number of professors stating a point 
of view.  "We (the regime) will determine who and what you 
are," was the reply.  This was in the context of whether or 
not accepting U.S. aid made any difference in how harshly the 
regime would handle opposition.  Recently released political 
prisoner Hector Palacios, among others, argued that the USG's 
rejection of talks with Raul Castro was spot on: "He has to 
negotiate with us, the Cuban people, first." 
 
CANADIAN AMBO'S TAKE 
-------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) An hour after the mob attack on Darsi Ferrer and 
company, Poloff bumped into Canadian Ambassador Bugailiskis, 
as well as German, Dutch and EC officials at Santa Rita. 
After chatting briefly on what had happened, the Canadian 
envoy shared her planned course of action: telling the GOC 
that "although we know no Cuban Government officials were 
involved in the attack, the GOC should take steps to stop 
citizens from attacking other citizens."  We noted that State 
Security officials, many with earphones and firearms visible, 
took part in the beatings and detained the activists.  We 
noted that Cuban soldiers were also present.  We suggested 
holding the GOC accountable for what was clearly its 
involvement in attacking peaceful human rights activists. 
She replied: "That would get us nowhere."  We replied: "At 
least it would be honest." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
 
HAVANA 00023582  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶11. (C) The GOC mobilized an unnecessarily large group of 
communist militants - mainly Party members, veterans, and 
members of Committees for the Defense of the Revolution - to 
snuff out the Human Rights Day demonstration.  State Security 
usually avoids conspicuous shows of violence against 
dissidents in Havana, home to many foreign journalists and 
diplomats.  Its heavy-handed response suggests a 
characteristic Raul trait -- fear of public discontent -- but 
surprisingly little concern about public relations.  Raul's 
clique had heretofore been careful not to appear in public to 
be taking a hard line (e.g., through isolated releases of 
detainees, while mobilizing widespread intimidation tactics.) 
 In this case, however, they panicked.  The debate among 
dissidents at the Residence, on the other hand, revealed a 
cross-section of views on how best to deal with the current 
political situation in Cuba.  All present agreed on the basic 
objectives for the near term: release political prisoners, 
and permit free association among Cubans to allow them to 
build a post-communist society. 
PARMLY