HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNED OVER SENTENCING

OF RECENT DETAINEES IN CUBA

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 9 April (UN Information Service) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello has expressed concern over the arrests and ongoing trials of approximately 80 persons charged with working for a foreign Power to undermine the Cuban Government.

Mr. Vieira de Mello voiced disquiet regarding the severe sentences defendants had reportedly already received after less than a week on trial.  He recalled that he had raised the issue of the arrests during a 20 March meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque and in subsequent discussions with Cuban authorities. 

Mr. Vieira de Mello said he was requesting Cuba to provide urgently detailed information on the trials.

"There are questions about the fairness of such expedited proceedings, which have been closed to the public and observers, and I am calling for transparency", the High Commissioner said. 

In a related development, the Cuban Government has informed the High Commissioner that it was about to respond to an earlier appeal addressed to it by Louis Joinet, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights' Working Group on arbitrary detention.

"Cuba must ensure that the accused benefit from due process, including the right to an adequate defence", the High Commissioner said. 

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