Cuba (Hansard, 10 May 2004)

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and. Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the mission in Havana concerning the commencement of the trial of the human rights dissident Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva. [170268]
118W

§ Mr. Rammell
Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva was tried and found guilty, at his trial on 26 April 2004, of disrespect for authority, public disorder, disobedience and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to four years. At the time of his trial. Mr. Leiva had already spent two years in jail without trial. He was released by the court on 26 April, under terms similar to parole. The trial was originally scheduled for 27 April but was brought forward by a day at short notice, presumably to avoid attendance by international observers.
The EU regularly issues statements condemning the imprisonment of human rights activists, and most recently, on 12 March 2004, we again called upon the Cuban Government to release without delay all the imprisoned dissidents.

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government requested observer status at the trial in Cuba of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva; and if he will make a statement. [170269]

§ Mr. Rammell
Officials of the British Embassy in Havana did not request observer status at the trial, but have followed Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva's case closely and have been in regular contact with his family. Embassy officials spoke to Mr Leiva on Tuesday 27 April, a day after his trial.

§ Andrew Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the Cuban Government concerning the imprisonment of human rights activists in Cuba; and if he will make a statement. [170270]

§ Mr. Rammell
UK policy on Cuba is governed by the EU Common Position, which has human rights enshrined as its key principle. The EU regularly issues statements condemning the imprisonment of human rights activists and other political prisoners. Most recently, on 12 March 2004 we called upon the Cuban Government to reflect on the significance of the granting of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize to Raul Rivero and again called for the release of all the imprisoned dissidents. I also raised our concerns at these imprisonments with the Cuban Ambassador in London.