The Cuban government insists that the protests are part of a strategy to change the regime, supported by Washington.
A protester accused of crimes such as contempt and public disorder was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the longest sentence imposed on a detainee related to the July 11 protests in Cuba, according to a human rights organization and his family members.
The Municipal People’s Court of San José de las Lajas, a town 35 km from Havana, imposed Roberto Pérez Fonseca, 38, the “joint and unique sanction to serve 10 years” in prison for the crimes of contempt, attack, public disorder and instigation to commit a crime, indicates the sentence dated October 6 and to which the AFP, after his family was notified this week.
Three court judges determined Pérez Fonseca’s guilt based on statements by local police officer Jorge Luis García Montero, the only testimony recognized by the magistrates. Two defense witnesses were dismissed as “partial” and because they were a relative and a friend.
The uniformed man said that, on July 11, Pérez Fonseca “incited the rest of the people to form groups, to throw stones and bottles”, even towards a local grocery store in dollars.
Pérez projected a stone that fell on the officer’s wrist, “causing abrasions that did not require medical assistance,” and threw another stone that hit a patrol, “which did not present damage,” in addition to ignoring the COVID-19 confinement order. , indicates the document.
The sentenced protester, a father of two children, was apprehended on July 16 by this same policeman at his mother’s house.
The sentence “is excessive and violates all guarantees of due process,” said Laritza Diversent, director of the Cubalex human rights NGO, indicating that it is the longest sentence applied for these demonstrations.
“It responds to a criminal policy” with “severe penalties as an exemplary effect so that the rest of society is inhibited”, to “instill fear and fear”.
The Cuban government insists that the protests are part of a strategy to change the regime, supported by Washington.
The convict’s mother, Liset Fonseca, believes that the real reasons for the long sentence are that her son broke a photograph of the late leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and that he verbally confronted García Montero when he detained another young man.
“Breaking the picture, that cannot be forgiven. They had to do something that was a great lesson, “says the woman, anticipating that they will appeal the sentence.
In addition, “my son faces that Rompehuesos”, nickname with which he says he is known to this officer in San José de las Lajas, a city in the central province of Mayabeque.
The demonstrations on July 11 and 12 in 50 cities, shouting “freedom” and “we are hungry”, caused one death, dozens of injuries and 1,130 detainees, according to Cubalex, based in Miami. More than 560 remain in prison. (I)
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