The Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos (OCDH) denounces that during the past month of July, 630 arbitrary detentions were made, 340 of them were made against women. July is the month with the highest number of detentions so far this year.
It is a source of additional concern the noticeable increase in the level of physical violence that the Cuban government employs against opposition and human rights activists. An example of such an increase in government repression tactics is the case of Antonio González Rodiles, coordinator of the Estado de Sat opposition movement who suffered a severe beating inflicted by the political police on July 5th.
Similarly, the OCDH wishes to call attention to the intimidation campaign initiated by the government several weeks ago to prevent street demonstrations by human rights activists during the announced visit to Cuba of the US Secretary of State in August and also to block the participation of activists in activities programmed for the Pope’s visit to Cuba in September.
We wish to ask the international community not to cease its demands for respect of human rights in Cuba particularly now when the government is trying to hide its continuing history of human rights violations.
