Ladies in White: seven hours under siege as repression against them intensifies

Havana, April 26th, 2010. “The Union of Free Journalists of Cuba, confirms that the Ladies in White -mothers, wives, aunts and other relatives of the 75 Cuban political prisoners arrested, tried and imprisoned during Cuba’s Black Spring – were again the victims of the Cuban regime’s repression that for the third time forbade them to peacefully march, as they do every Sunday, after attending mass at Saint Rita’s Catholic Church.

Laura Pollán Toledo, Berta Soler Fernández, Julia Esther Núñez Pacheco, Asunción Carrillo, Loida Valdez, and Laura María Labrada Pollán, were intercepted by two uniformed agents of the National Revolutionary Police, and a Security of State agent when they were set to start their march on Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) in the Miramar neighborhood of the Playa municipality.

‘The police told us that we could not continue walking since we had not asked for a permit’ – said Loida Valdez.

For more than seven hours, the women found themselves under siege in the Ghandi Park (Parque Ghandi) by an “act of repudiation” staged by 80 members of government hordes.

‘They pushed us, we were insulted with obscene words. They brought a hoe, a pot and a spoon which they clanked noisily in our ears’ – stated Valdez. Foreign press journalists covered the incident. This reporter was detained 200 meters from the place by Security of State agents, and escorted away under threat.

It was also confirmed that an undetermined number of Ladies in White, and Support Ladies (Damas de Apoyo) were detained and prevented from attending mass on Sunday.

Laura Pollán Toledo, Berta Soler Fernández, Julia Esther Núñez Pacheco, Asunción Carrillo, Loida Valdez, and Laura María Labrada Pollán were forced to board a bus by Security of State agents and the mob, and then transported to their headquarters in the Cayo Hueso neigborhood of Centro Habana municipality.

‘We want them to gives us the legal document where the restrictions imposed against us by the government are clearly stated. The Ladies in White will continue our struggle, and we do not exclude the possibility that our blood may be spilled on the streets. As long as there are political prisoners, there will be Ladies in White clamoring for their freedom. The government should have no doubts about this. We are motivated by freedom, and we are willing to pay any necessary price’ – stated Laura Pollán Toledo.”

Source: Reporting from Havana, Cuba, Cuban independent journalist Carlos Serpa Maceira.

Fuente: OrlandoZapataTamayo.BlogSpot.com