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Alert

IAPA concerned over harassment of imprisoned journalists' relatives

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 19 March 2004 IAPA press release:

IAPA Concerned over Harassment of Relatives of Imprisoned Journalists in Cuba

Miami (March 19, 2004) - The Inter American Press Association (SIP) protests the harassment of wives and relatives of the imprisoned independent journalists by journalists from the Cuban government.

Blanca Reyes, wife of Raúl Rivero, complained to the IAPA that journalists from CHTV television station came to her house last Sunday. "Reporter Ronaldo Segura and a cameraman asked to do an interview, but I did not let them in my house and I told them that if they wanted an interview they would have to invite the foreign press or give me the unedited tape," Reyes said, referring to the possibility that information that she gave may be altered.

When the journalists insisted, Reyes exclaimed, "Why did you not interview us when they put Raúl in jail and during the past year."

Several relatives of the jailed journalists and dissidents were interviewed, but they fear that the information will be used as propaganda for the Cuban government.

Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information Rafael Molina expressed IAPA's support for a letter from Blanca Reyes, read during the organization's Midyear Meeting, in which she thanks the IAPA for keeping the name of Raúl Rivero and the other imprisoned journalists on the international public agenda.

Molina, from El Nacional, in the Dominican Republic, added that during the meeting, held on March 12-15 in Los Cabos, Mexico, the IAPA approved a resolution on Cuba that demands "the immediate release of the imprisoned journalists and an end to the harassment of independent professionals."

For more information, please visit: http://www.sipiapa.org