[hr-media] Un fears press freedom violations following arrests, trial of Cuban journalists

UN FEARS PRESS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS FOLLOWING ARRESTS, TRIAL OF CUBAN JOURNALISTS
New York, Apr  7 2003  3:00PM

As troubling details continue to emerge surrounding the arrest and trial of 
nearly 100 Cuban journalists and human rights activists, the head of the 
United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today 
urged authorities in Havana to respect and uphold fundamental civil liberties.

"I am very concerned about the situation of freedom of expression and press 
freedom in Cuba," Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said from UNESCO's 
Paris-based headquarters today, adding that reports regarding the wave of 
recent arrests, in which at least 24 journalists and as many as 78 human 
rights activists have been jailed, were worrying.

"Promoting the free flow of ideas by word and image is part of UNESCO's 
constitution," he said, adding his concern that the arrests - which began 
last month - and subsequent trials represented a serious infringement of 
the right to freedom of expression and other basic rights recognized by the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and which the UN and UNESCO were 
created to uphold.

Commenting on the trials, which opened last Thursday, Mr. Matsuura said 
UNESCO has received reports that defendants have not had access to proper 
legal counsel and that international observers and media have been barred 
from the hearings. "I urge the Cuban authorities to respect fundamental 
rights of journalists and other individuals arrested for speaking their 
mind," he declared.