Lady in White Sonia Garro and two other activists released

Lady in White Sonia Garro and two other activists released / 14ymedio
Posted on December 10, 2014

14ymedio, Havana, 9 December 2014 — On the afternoon of Tuesday, 9
December, Sonia Garro, Ramón Alejandro Muñoz and Eugenio Hernández were
released from prison and are now in their respective homes. In a clear
political gesture, Raul Castro's government has given way before
national and international pressure demanding the immediate release of
the Lady in White, her husband and others charged in the same case.

In a telephone conversation with 14ymedio, Sonia Garro referred to
health problems she has on leaving prison, and sent her thanks "to
everyone who has supported me." The Lady in White commented that she
still doesn't know the conditions of her new situation and that in the
coming days she must report to the Sixth Police Station, in the Marianao
municipality to learn more details.

The news was received a few hours before the worldwide commemoration of
Human Rights Day, a date that Cuban activists remember with pilgrimages,
meetings and street demonstrations. Every year the government unleashes
a repressive wave around this time, which concludes with hundreds of
detentions throughout the country, cuts in mobile phone service to block
communications between dissidents, and a high number of house arrests.

For her part, Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, said that
Garro and the other two activists received a change of custody
conditions and as of today will not have to await trial in prison. This
does not mean that the charges against them have been dropped or that
their trials have been cancelled, she said. Soler also said that the
movement she leads will continue to defend all those people who are
political prisoners or prisoners of conscience. "We will maintain our
morning demonstration on the corner of L and 23rd at eleven in the
morning," she concluded.

The detention of these three people had occurred during a demonstration
by a group of Government supporters outside the home of Sonia Garro
Alfonso and Ramón Alejandro Muñoz González in March of 2012. The
Government sympathizers, supported by State Security agents, tried to
block the couple from participating in events to mark the anniversary of
the crackdown on dissent (the Black Spring) that began on March 18, 2003
and resulted in the imprisonment of 75 peaceful activists.

The prosecutors accused Garro, Muñoz and Hernández of public disorder
and attempted murder. Sonia Garro Alfonso also faces the additional
charge of assault for alleged use of violence or intimidation against an
agent of the State. Her trial had been postponed without explanation on
three occasions, in November 2013, June 2014, and the latest delay in
October 2014.

Amnesty International has long called for the trial to be held in
accordance with international standards. This would include "ensuring
the right of the accused to call witnesses and to challenge the evidence
against them."



Source: Lady in White Sonia Garro and two other activists released /
14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/lady-in-white-sonia-garro-and-two-other-activists-released-14ymedio/