CUBAN BASED
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
[REF: binder part 20 ]
CUBAN-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS 1993
Organization Name:
ASOCIACION DE DEFENSA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
(Human Rights Defense Association)
Leader: Lazaro Loretto Perez Alonzo
Synopsis:
Group leadership opposes Torricelli Bill
Organization Name:
ASOCIACION DE PERIODISTAS INDEPENDIENTES DE CUBA
(Independent Association of Cuban Media)
Leader: Nestor Baguer
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator.
Organization Name:
ASOCIACION MADRES POR LA DIGNIDAD
Leader: Paula Valiente
Prominent members: Angela Herrera
Synopsis:
A Cuban American National Foundation backed organization. Provides
taped information of human rights abuses through local radio stations.
Organization Name:
ASSOCIATION IN DEFENSE OF POLITICAL RIGHTS
(ADEPO)
Leader: Luis Alberto Pita Santos
Prominent members: Parada Antunez, Mercedes
Loreto, Lazaro
Reyes, Julian Jorge
Betancourt, Reynaldo
Rodriguez, Ramon
Cobas, Raul
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator. Opposes Torricelli Bill and
seeks dialogue with Cuba's government. Pita Santos is presently incarcerated
and serving a five year prison sentence. Parada Antunez presently under
arrest.
Organization Name:
ASSOCIATION FOR CONTINENTAL PEACE
(ASOPAZCO)
Leader: Mari Paz Martinez Nieto (Madrid)
Prominent members: Luis Zuniga (Miami)
Synopsis:
As active human rights organization. ASOPAZCO is recognized by many
international human rights organizations. Presently seeking the release
of several political prisoners with the assistance of Amnesty International.
Organization Name:
ASSOCIATION FOR FREE ART (APAL)
Leader: Garcia Alderete, Vladimir
Hornedo, David
Cuartas, Eduardo
Leyva Pena, Manuel J.
Fernandez Valdez, Juan G.
Lopez Montenegro, Omar
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator. Seeks to dialogue with Cuban
officials.
Organization Name:
CIVIC CUBAN FORUM
Leader: Felix Bonne Carcases
Prominent members: Rolando Roque Malherbe
Synopsis:
Backed by Cuban American National Foundation. Supports Torrecelli Bill.
Bonne-Carcases is presently serving a prison sentence.
Organization Name:
COMISION CUBANA PRO-DERECHOS HUMANOS
(Cuban Human Rights Commission)
Leader: Elizardo Sanchez Santa Cruz
Prominent Members:
Betancourt Morejon, Juan ... Yanes Pelletier, Jesus
Valdes Santana, Aida ... Bofill, Ricardo (Miami)
Pacheco, Barbara ... Gonzalez, Rodolfo
Mayola, Rafael ... Moya Alfonso, David
Pena, Oscar ... Martinez Lara, Samuel
de Cespedes, Maria Esther (Miami)
Synopsis:
Group leadership opposes Torricelli Bill. Backed by the Social Democratic
Coordinator group, Sanchez Santa Cruz recently travelled abroad in hope of
gaining support for his movement, however, most of South Florida's Cuban
exiles have chastised Sanchez Santa Cruz and have branded him as a Castro
conspirator.
Organization Name:
COMITE AMIGOS DE LA PERESTROIKA
(Perestroika's Friends Committee)
Leader: Felix Fleitas Posada
Prominent members: Perez de Armas, Francisco
Synopsis:
Fleitas Posada and Perez de Armas were original members of the Popular Socialist
Party in the 1960's. The new group seeks a political opening and its
backed by the Social democratic Coordinator.
Organization Name:
COMITE CUBANO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
Leader: Sebastian Arcos Cabazon
Prominent members:
Arcos Bergnes, Gustavo Arcos Cazabon, Gustavo
Arcos Cazabon, Maria Bofill, Ricardo
Gonzalez, Rodolfo Hidalgo, Ariel (Miami)
Machado, Tete (Miami)
Synopsis:
Possibly the most respected of all human rights movements within Cuba.
This group has been recognized by most international human rights organizations.
The group seeks a peaceful transition of government, however, refuses to
dialogue Cuba's future with representatives of the present government.
The group's leader is presently incarcerated in Cuba, and many worldwide
public figures have proceeded to nominate him as Nobel Prize candidate.
Gustavo Arcos Cazabon, son of Gustavo Arcos Bergnes, recently travelled to
Miami and is presently involved in local human rights issues.
Organization Name:
COMITE DEMOCRATICO CUBANO
Leader: Angela Herrera
Synopsis:
Member group of the Cuban Democratic Coalition
Organization Name:
CUBAN DEMOCRATIC CONVERGENCE
Leader: Umbrella group
Synopsis:
This convergence, unlike the Cuban Democratic Coalition, seeks to remedy
Cuba's governmental problems by conducting a dialogue with representatives
from Castro's government. The listed groups receive most of their international
backing from Ramon Cernuda and his Social Democratic Coordinator group.
The coalition is formed by the following:
1. Comision Cubana Pro-Derechos Humanos
2. Harmony Movement
3. Criterio Alternativo
4. Liberty and Faith
5. Association in Defense of Political Rights
6. Opening of the Island Project
7. Followers of Mella
8. Free Art Movement
Organization Name:
CUBAN DEMOCRATIC COALITION
Leader: Zuniga, Luis ( Miami)
Herrera Carrillo, Angela
Aspillaga Lombard, Tomas
Rubio Balbin, Pedro
Reyes, Pablo
Synopsis:
The Coalition was brought together by the Cuban American National Foundation
in an effort to inspire political changes within the island of Cuba.
Coalition goals differ sharply from those of other Cuban-based dissident
organizations. Unlike pro-dialogue forces within the island, the Coalition
seeks to oust Castro's government and the removal of all communist presence
from future government participation. Luis Zuniga, a Cuban exile, also
leads the local group known as ASOCIACION POR LA PAZ CONTINENTAL (ASOPAZCO).
The bellow listed groups form the Coalition:
1. Cuban Pacifist Movement for Solidarity and Peace
2. Civic Forum
3. National Unity Committee
4. Jose Marti Human Rights Commission
5. Women's Youth Committee for Solidarity and Democracy
6. Movimiento Integracionista Cubano
76. Comite Democratico Camagueyano
8. Workers General Union
Organization Name:
CUBAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (30TH OF NOVEMBER)
Leader: Jesus Canouga (Canoura)
Synopsis:
Believed to be the first political party to come into existence in Cuba since
the island's government adopted a communist ideology.
The Cuban Democratic Party is inspired by former revolutionaries Frank Pais
and Jose Antonio Echevarria. The group maintains the same democratic
principles which were originally established by the 30th of November Movement
in 1960. The aforementioned movement was originally founded by workers
and leaders that participated on the July 26th attack at the Moncada Barracks
and later became disillusioned with Castro's communist agenda.
The Cuban government has not recognized the newly founded party and has adopted
a hard line stand against all groups that are not considered mainstream.
The Cuban Democratic Party is an extension of the subversive group 30th of
November.
The group opposes Fidel Castro's one party system and seeks to bring about
a government that will respect all basic human rights.
Organization Name:
CUBAN WORKERS DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION
Leader: Juan Guarino Martinez Guillen
Synopsis:
Martinez Guillen recently imprisoned and charged with counter revolutionary
propaganda.
Organization Name:
CUBAN NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS COUNCIL
Leader: Francisco Chaviano
Synopsis:
Group leadership opposes Torricelli Bill
Organization Name:
CUBAN PACIFIST MOVEMENT FOR SOLIDARITY/PEACE
Leader: Daniel Azpillaga Lombard
Synopsis:
This organization is one of six Cuban-based human rights groups which are
backed by the Cuban American National Foundation. The organization
has conducted demonstrations in front of Cuba's notorious Villa Marista Police
Station and its leaders have professed their desire for a complete reconstruction
of Cuba's ruling government.
Organization Name:
CRITERIO ALTERNATIVO
(Alternative Criterion)
Leader: Maria Elena Cruz Varela
Prominent members:
Aracelio Pomar, Jose ... Aguado Chavez, Gabriel
Herrera, Pastor ... Baro, Elvira
Aguirre, Eliezer ... Matos, Huber Luis
Velazquez Medina, Fernando ... Pomar Montalvo, Jorge
Luque Escalona, Roberto (Miami) ... Serpa, Victor
Synopsis:
Cruz Varela a poet and past recipient of many literature awards, defied the
philosophies of totalitarians and embarked in efforts to create a new political
opening within Cuba. As a result, Cruz Varela was branded an enemy
of the state and later imprisoned by Castro's government. Recently,
as a result of international pressures, Castro's government has decided to
release her from prison.
Organization Name:
FOLLOWERS OF MELLA
Leader: Jorge Quintana
Synopsis:
Backed by the Social Democratic Coordinator. Opposes Torricelli Bill.
Seeks dialogue with Cuba's government.
Organization Name:
GENERAL WORKERS UNION OF CUBA
Leader: Rafael Gutierres Santos
Prominent members: Corp Lerras, Lazaro
Manrique Zulueta, Manuel
Cuesta Collazo, Lazaro
Manuel Gomez, Carlos
Martinez Martinez, Maria
Synopsis:
The General Workers Union of Cuba is composed of dissidents who recent Cuba's
single workers union (CTC). Group members have denounced government
conditions which they view as stringent, and have called for an opening that
will provide improved benefits to all Cuban workers. As with all groups
which profess a difference of opinion than that of the state, the General
Workers Union has not been recognized by the Cuban government.
Organization Name:
GRUPO CUBANO SOCIALISTA DEMOCRATA
(Cuban Socialist Democratic Group)
Leader: Rolando Prats Paes
Prominent members: Roca Antunez, Vladimiro
Romero Rivero Violeta
Rodrigo, Gladys
Baguez, Nestor E.
Marquez Ravelo Bernardo
Synopsis:
Group leadership oppose Torricelli Bill
Organization Name:
HARMONY MOVEMENT
Leader: Yndamiro Restano
Prominent members: Narciso Michelena, Romulo
Synopsis:
Seeks to promote a dialogue with Cuba's government officials. Backed
by Social Democratic Coordinator.
Organization Name:
JOSE MARTI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Leader: Hubert Jerez Garcia
Prominent members: Rey Rodriguez, Sergio
Synopsis:
Jerez Garcia founded the Jose Marti Human Rights Commission along with the
Association of Free Press group in 1988. In 1989, Jerez Garcia was
imprisoned by Cuban authorities for a period of 18 months. Upon serving
his sentence, Jerez Garcia was allowed to travel to the U.S.
This organization is backed by the Cuban American National Foundation and
it supports Torrecelli Bill.
Organization Name:
LIBERTY AND FAITH
Leader: Maria Celina Rodriguez
Prominent members: Dorta, Pedro Jorge
Celina Rodriguez, Mara
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator. Seeks dialogue with Cuba's
government representatives.
Organization Name:
MOVIMIENTO CRISTIANO DE LIBERACION
(Christian Liberation Movement)
Leader: Paya Sardinas, Osvaldo
Rodriguez Munoz, Enrique
Valdes Rosado, Maria
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator. Seeks dialogue with Cuba's
Government representatives.
Organization Name:
MOVIMIENTO INTEGRACIONISTA CUBANO
Leader: Luis Octavio Ibarra
Synopsis:
Member group of Cuban Democratic Coalition.
Organization Name:
MOVIMIENTO MACEISTA POR LA DIGNIDAD
Leader: Guillermina Acuna Herrera
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator.
Organization Name:
NATIONAL UNITY COMMITTEE
Leader: Omar del Pozo
Prominent members: Marti, Fausto
Reyes, Pablo
Castaneda, Hector
Synopsis:
Backed by the Cuban American National Foundation. Maintains close contact
with Montreal human rights activist Antonio Tang.
Organization Name:
OPENING OF THE ISLAND PROJECT
Leader: Jose Luis Pujol
Prominent members: Jorge Quintana
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator. Opposes Torricelli Bill and
seeks to dialogue with Castro's government.
Organization Name:
ORGANIZACION JUVENIL MARTIANA
Leader: Luis Felipe Lorens Nodal
Synopsis:
Associated to local exile human rights leader Ariel Hidalgo Lorens Nodal
presently under arrest.
Organization Name:
PARTIDO CIVICO DEMOCRATICO
(Civic Democratic Party)
Leader: Rosa Jimenez
Prominent members: Perez Matos, Rolando
Synopsis:
Backed by Social Democratic Coordinator.
Organization Name:
RECONCILIACION NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
(National Reconciliation of Human Rights)
Leader: Rene del Poso
Synopsis:
Group leadership opposes Torricelli Bill
Organization Name:
SEGUIDORES DE OCHOA
(Ochoa's Followers)
Synopsis:
Group of dissidents from Holguin Providence. A total of 20 group members
were recently sentenced to prison sentences oscillating between seven months
and 13 years as a result of counter- revolutionary activities.
Organization Name:
WOMEN'S YOUTH COMMITTEE FOR SOLIDARITY AND DEMOCRACY
Leader: Yamilet Hernandez Hernandez
Synopsis:
Backed by Cuban American National Foundation. Supports Torrecelli Bill.
End of Page
Copyright 1998-2006
Cuban Information Archives. All Rights Reserved.
