Cuba: Three more journalists released
Published: August 26, 2010
English PEN is delighted at the news of the release of three more Cuban journalists imprisoned since 2003. English PEN's Honorary Member Fabio Prieto Llorente and fellow journalist Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta touched down in Madrid on 19 August 2010 while another Honorary Member Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz arrived the next day, all three with their families. With their release, a total of 15 Cuban writers have now been freed and exiled since 12 July under a deal brokered by the Catholic Church and the Spanish government. We warmly welcome this news, but remain concerned that the prisoners are apparently obliged to leave Cuba as a precondition of their release. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of the 10 other Cuban writers, journalists and librarians still in prison for their writings.
Details of the three released journalists:
Juan Adolfo FERNÁNDEZ SAÍNZ: journalist (correspondent for independent news agency Patria). Date of birth: 30 November 1948. Sentence: 15 years. Honorary Member: Catalán PEN, English PEN.
Juan Carlos HERRERA ACOSTA: journalist (Eastern Free Press Agency - Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental or APLO). Sentence: 20 years. Charge: Law 88. Honorary Member: German PEN.
Fabio PRIETO LLORENTE: freelance journalist and member of the Asamblea para la Sociedad Civil (Civil Society Assembly). Year of birth: 11 March 1963. Sentence: 20 years. Honorary Member: English PEN.
For background information on the release and a suggested action, please click here.
Useful links
• Report on the release of Fabio Prieto Llorente and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) (19 August 2010)(English) (Spanish)
• Report on the release of Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz by CPJ (20 August 2010)(English)(Spanish)
• Opinion piece by Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz paying tribute to the Damas de Blanco (Women in White) (22 August 2010) (Spanish only)
• Report by the BBC on the new lives in Spain of some of the journalists released in July, including José Luis García Paneque, Julio César Galvez, Ricardo González, Normando González Hernández, Mijail Bárzaga and Léster González (13 August 2010) (Spanish only)
Details of the three released journalists:
Juan Adolfo FERNÁNDEZ SAÍNZ: journalist (correspondent for independent news agency Patria). Date of birth: 30 November 1948. Sentence: 15 years. Honorary Member: Catalán PEN, English PEN.
Juan Carlos HERRERA ACOSTA: journalist (Eastern Free Press Agency - Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental or APLO). Sentence: 20 years. Charge: Law 88. Honorary Member: German PEN.
Fabio PRIETO LLORENTE: freelance journalist and member of the Asamblea para la Sociedad Civil (Civil Society Assembly). Year of birth: 11 March 1963. Sentence: 20 years. Honorary Member: English PEN.
For background information on the release and a suggested action, please click here.
Useful links
• Report on the release of Fabio Prieto Llorente and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) (19 August 2010)(English) (Spanish)
• Report on the release of Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz by CPJ (20 August 2010)(English)(Spanish)
• Opinion piece by Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz paying tribute to the Damas de Blanco (Women in White) (22 August 2010) (Spanish only)
• Report by the BBC on the new lives in Spain of some of the journalists released in July, including José Luis García Paneque, Julio César Galvez, Ricardo González, Normando González Hernández, Mijail Bárzaga and Léster González (13 August 2010) (Spanish only)