Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, 39 years old, blind lawyer and Christian Human Rights activist is the president of the Cuban Foundation for Human Rights [Fundación Cubana de Derechos Humanos], an unofficial human rights group. During the late 1990's, González Leiva created the Fraternity of the Independent Blind of Cuba and the Human Rights Foundation of Cuba, which he actually presides.
The journalist Jesús Alvarez Castillo was on his way to cover a meeting of the Cuban Foundation for Human Rights, but he was reportedly stopped and injured by members of the State Security and due to the injuries they caused him he had to go and remain to the hospital.
On 4 March 2002, the group of men had gone in Antonio Luaces Iraola Provincial Hospital in Ciego de Ávila to visit Jesús Alvarez Castillo and protested against this attack. After the visit Juan Carlos González Leiva and the group of human rights activists, also members of Human Rights Foundation of Cuba; conducted a peaceful protest in Ciego de Ávila proclaiming loudly "Long live Christ the King!" "Long live free Cuba" "Long live human rights!"
Shortly after, González Leiva, together with 7 other human rights activists, were savagely beaten by State Security agents and paramilitary groups. The beating caused González Leiva 4 stitches on his head. They were arrested and incarcerated in the State Security Prison of Pedernales, Holguín, 300 km. from Ciego de Avila.
Afterwards, the human rights activists were sent to various prisons in the country, without even notifying their families. Leiva had been physically and psychologically tortured in the State Security prison in the city of Holguín, in eastern Cuba, and his life was at risk. This was the denouncement sent overseas via telephone by his wife, Maritza Calderín Columbie.
Juan Carlos González Leiva reportedly had to have four stitches in his head as a result of the police aggression on his arrest on 4 March 2002. Initially medical attention was denied to him although he was in a severe pain. He reportedly suffered from chest pain, high blood pressure and a 'nervous condition' The doctor of the prison reportedly told him that there is nothing wrong with him. In addition, he claims to have received several threats from his cell mate.
On April 27, 2004 González Leiva was handed a four-year prison term but had immediately been given a conditional release.
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