January 21, 2008

Movement of the opposition denounces the Cuban regime.

BARACOA,CUBA, January 21 (Keider Rodríguez Fernández/www.plantados.org)- The opposition Movement: John Paul II, whose headquarters is in Baracoa, in the Guantanamo province denounced repressive measures against opponents and students, as well as the total indifference of the Cuban authorities to the general problems of the population.

Cuban police official Rudel Duran Rodriguez confiscated several books and bracelets with the name of Change "Cambio" from activist Raul Duran Montero. Similarly, arbitrary arrests, threats by the police chiefs of sectors to implement the law on Dangerous to Society and "Pre-criminal measures," are methods used by the police to intimidate Castro's political opponents who are fighting for democratic changes in the island.

Likewise, Pre University students are victims of a subtle repression by laws or decree, as Resolution17707, or evaluation of students to carry on with university studies, a law that assesses the integrity of the students with the guidelines of the revolution. A method that favors students who have a greater participation in the regime's political activities or work in the field of volunteers, they are given preferential access to graduate studies even if their academic average is lower that other aspirant who are not involved in the organization of the masses.

Also, the operators of the telephone company (ETECSA) of Baracoa have been complaining that a toxic gas was giving them nausea, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, metallic taste and loss of voice; however, their complaints were not addressed until 12 workers had to be hospitalized urgently with the above mentioned symptoms. They were diagnosed with suffering from a gradual lead poisoning.

Finally, these activists express that hundredth of children and teenagers have to receive classes in open spaces at the expense of serious mosquitoes infestations in the area, or in school buildings whose roofs and walls have collapsed due to deterioration and neglect. Examples of the above mentioned deteriorated schools in the Baracoa area are the "Arturo Perez and Regino "Julio Antonio Mella" schools.

Source: netforcuba.org