May 8, 2003

Dear Madam,

We would like to ask for your intervention before the Cuban authorities to seek justice for Mr. Raul Rivero, poet and journalist, recently sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Raul Rivero was arrested in Havana last March 31st, tried the following Friday –April 4th- and received a 20 year sentence on Monday, April 7th. We are Rivero’s son and daughter and we would respectfully like to ask for your interest in this case.

Our father is one of the most respected Cuban journalist and writers. During the 70’s he was the chief correspondent of Prensa Latina –the official Cuban news agency- in Moscow. In the 80’s he received numerous awards in Cuba for his literary work. Later on, he expressed his beliefs in pluralism and during the 90’s he created several groups of independent journalists that tried to change Cuban society and open up spaces to dissent, always through peacefully means. Please see the attached article by Mr. Rivero recently published in The New York Times.

Enclosed, too, you will find a translation of Mr. Rivero’s 20-year sentence. As you can see Mr. Rivero has been found guilty of: “Acting against Cuban independence and attempting to divide Cuban territorial unity”. As you can see, that crime is vague and the Cuban statute overbroad. Amnesty International has labeled Mr. Rivero as a “prisoner of conscience” and it is urging for his immediate release.

The evidence presented in the trial against our father was irrelevant: the journalist and his colleague had laptops, tape recorders, air conditioners and some plastic chairs (sic). Pertaining to the meetings with US Diplomats, our father has always acted in public and, as he is a well known Cuban writer, has met hundreds of diplomats and foreign personalities visiting Havana, among them President Carter, the King of Spain and his Holiness John Paul II.

Let us also point out that since Mr. Rivero’s arrest until his trial, there was a gap time of only 72 hours. Mr. Rivero’s court appointed lawyer was not able to offer evidence in defense of his client. There was only one week between his arrest and the sentencing that will keep Mr. Rivero in jail during the next 20 years. Mr. Rivero was tried behind close doors and there has been a complete lack of due process.

We would appreciate if you could approach the Cuban authorities and obtain leniency for our father. If you need more information about this case, you could contact us at:

Thank you for your attention.

Truly yours,

Cristina Rivero, daughter of Raúl Rivero
Miguel A Sánchez, son of Blanca Reyes, wife of Raúl Rivero