On July 22^nd  2005, dissident attorney René Gómez Manzano was arrested with 33 peaceful democracy and humanrights advocates, leaders and members of the Assembly for the Promotion of Civil Society abd independent journalists in Havana for planning to attend an opposition protest outside the French Embassy.

The group had picked the French Embassy for its rally to encourage Paris to keep pressure on Cuba to free 61 dissidents imprisoned in the 2003 crackdown that led to EU diplomatic sanctions.

Cuban authorities have freed 24 dissidents detained. Nine are remaining in detention among. Among them three, Rene Gomez Manzano, Oscar Mario Gonzalez, and Julio Cesar Lopez, may face charges  under repressive legislation, known as Law 88.The other six are being held on much lesser public disorder charges

René Gómez Manzano , independent journalist Oscar Mario Gonzalez and political activist Julio Cesar Lopez will face the Law for the Protection of Cuba's National Independence, said Elizardo Sanchez of the non-governmental Cuban Commission on Human Rights and Reconciliation. The three men told relatives they were informed of the charges by Cuban authorities.

No date for the trial has yet been set.

On August 17, 2005, the Asamblea para Promover la Sociedad Civil in Cuba, sent out a press release announcing that Rene Gomez Manzano, who is a member of the executive committee, declared himself on a hunger strike, or as it is known in Cuba "plantado".

The press release explains that onAugust 16, 2005, Gomez Manzano, who is being detained at the Departamento Tecnico de Investigaciones, located at Aldabo and 100 street, interrupted the weekly visit by his brother Jorge due to the humiliating conditions imposed on his family each time they wish to visit him.

Rene's bother was denied knowledge of the charges that Rene faces, and was told by the jail guard that Rene was up to date because he is a lawyer who must understand.

The current jail guard told Jorge that he could not discuss the case, nor could he pass along any messages to the prisoner and that their conversations should deal only with family matters. When Rene entered the visiting hall, it was obvious that they had also warned him of the same.

They had also warned Jorge that he could not bring food with him to give to Rene, nor was he allowed to leave personal hygiene products, even though this is routinely allowed on family visits. Rene got up and as he was leaving, told his brother that he will explain to the world that he will "plantarse", which means he is declaring himself on a hunger strike.

René Gómez Manzano  is a lawyer and prominent leader in the Assembly to Promote Civil Society, which organized a rare public meeting in Havana on May 20, bringing together over 100 representatives of Cuba’s pro-democracy movement.

In 1992, he created the “Corriente Agramontista,” a group of independent lawyers with the aim of peacefully promoting civil and political rights and respect for the rule of law. Following their involvement in publishing a document critical of the human rights and economic performance of the Castro regime and calling for reforms, Gómez Manzano and three of his colleagues were arrested in 1997 and accused of “counterrevolutionary activities.”

René Gómez Manzano  was jailed from July 1997 until May 2000 along with dissidents Marta Beatriz Roque, Felix Bonne and Vladimiro Roca, all of whom had criticized the Cuban Communist Party in a manifesto. All four were sentenced in 1998 to four years in prison for “acts of sedition.” The imprisoned activists became known as the “Group of Four” and their unjust imprisonment elicited a wave of international condemnation. Gómez Manzano was “conditionally released” in May 2000, although he continued his political advocacy out of jail.

The law, enacted in 1999 to rein in the political opposition, carries sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment for passing information to the United States that could be used to bolster anti-Cuban measures such as the US economic blockade. This would rise to 20 years if the information is acquired surreptitiously. The legislation also bans the ownership, distribution or reproduction of subversive materials from the US government, and proposes terms of imprisonment of up to five years for collaborating with radio and TV stations and publications deemed to be assisting US policy.

In March 2003 Cuban authorities arrested 75 dissidents. They were subjected to summary trials and were quickly sentenced to long prison terms of up to 28 years, some of these were under Law 88.

Please join IDHAE in urging the Cuban authorities to drop all charges against peaceful activists Rene Gomez Manzano, Oscar Mario Gonzalez, and Julio Cesar Lopez, and to immediately release all of those imprisoned for their efforts to promote basic human rights in Cuba.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:

-         urging that Rene Gomez Manzano, Oscar Mario Gonzalez, and Julio Cesar Lopez be immediately and unconditionally released, on the grounds that they are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly;

-         urging to respect freedom of expression and freedom of association and to immediately release all of those imprisoned for their efforts to promote basic human rights in Cuba.

APPEALS TO :

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Saudi Arabia accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.