“You Are A Confrontational Media Outlet,” Security Official Tells ‘14ymedio’ Correspondent

"You Are A Confrontational Media Outlet," Security Official Tells
'14ymedio' Correspondent / 14ymedio
Posted on November 30, 2014
Juan Carlos Fernández Hernández

14YMEDIO, Havana, 28 November 28 — At nine in the morning Friday,
14ymedio correspondent Juan Carlos Fernandez attended his summons at the
Piñar del Rio police station. It was the third interrogation to which he
has been subjected this year, although on this occasion he did not
receive an official warning. A major from State Security, who only
identified himself as David, accused him of collaborating with this
newspaper, which he characterized as a "confrontational" media outlet
that "serves the interests of a foreign power."

The accusation was accompanied by threatening phrases about a possible
"police action" against Fernandez if he continues "doing what you are
doing now," the officer confirmed. Nevertheless, to the question of the
accused about a possible arrest and legal prosecution, the interrogator
downplayed the seriousness of the reprisals.

Juan Carlos Fernandez defended his right to put his opinions into
writing and publish them in any press medium. "I warn you, the weight of
the law will fall on you," responded the man using the pseudonym David,
but without giving details. The officer invoked the Constitution of the
Republic of Cuba and said that "the Government counts on the support of
the people," at which point the reporter reminded him that the Communist
Party has fewer than a million members while the population of the
country exceeds 11 million.

Juan Carlos Fernandez is a member of the magazine Coexistence which is
published in Piñar del Rio, and since last August he has begun working
as a correspondent for 14ymedio in that province. His journalistic works
cover the cultural life of the city, reports about social topics and a
wide photographic coverage of the territory.

A couple of months ago, Juan Carlos Fernandez brought to light the
censorship that Piñareno painter Pedro Pablo Oliva had suffered with the
cancellation of his exhibit Dissidences and Utopias.

Translated by MLK

Source: "You Are A Confrontational Media Outlet," Security Official
Tells '14ymedio' Correspondent / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
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