Cuban dissident artists go on trial, face years in prison

Prosecutors search 10-year sentence for rapper Maykel Castillo, seven years for artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara.

Diplomats from a number of nations waited outdoors the courtroom the place the trial was happening, in Havana, Cuba, March 30, 2022 [Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo]

Two dissident artists have confronted their first day of trial in Cuba after being detained practically a yr in the past, in an ongoing judicial course of that human rights teams have labelled a “farce” and a “circus”.

Police and safety forces surrounded the courtroom in Havana on Monday, whereas a small group of relations was allowed entry to the courthouse, an official from Cuba’s Worldwide Press Heart advised the Reuters information company.

The activists, Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara and Maykel Castillo, are distinguished members of the Havana-based San Isidro Motion, an artists collective that led a number of protests earlier than lots of the group left Cuba, alleging repression.

Otero Alcantara, 34, is accused of defaming the nationwide flag, contempt and public dysfunction, and faces seven years in jail, in keeping with a March 8 courtroom submitting considered by Reuters.

Castillo, 39, a rapper often known as Osorbo, has additionally been charged with assault and faces 10 years in jail, the courtroom doc reveals.

The circumstances of the 2 males have turn out to be a lightning rod for activists and human rights teams [File: Mayela Lopez/Reuters]

Representatives from the Havana embassies of a number of European nations, together with the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden, stood huddled a block from the courtroom awaiting entry for practically two hours after asking to enter and observe the proceedings.

“We weren't authorised to enter the courthouse,” stated a consultant of the German embassy earlier than departing. The consultant requested to not be named and declined to say why the group had been denied entry to the courthouse.

“We would like human rights to be revered all over the place and nations,” the diplomat stated.

Each Otero Alcantara and Castillo appeared within the music video for “Patria y Vida”, a defiant hip-hop track that grew to become the unofficial “anthem” for widespread anti-government protests that broke out in Cuba final July.

The Cuban authorities didn't instantly reply to a request by Reuters for touch upon the trials, or say why entry to the courthouse was restricted.

Cuban state media, together with the ruling Communist Social gathering newspaper Granma, have accused Castillo and Otero Alcantara’s San Isidro Motion of being a part of a US-directed “smooth coup” try – a cost the group denies.

The circumstances of the 2 males have turn out to be a lightning rod for activists and human rights teams, who allege Cuba has ramped up repression within the wake of final yr’s protests.

Human Rights Watch final week known as the trials a “farce”, whereas Amnesty Worldwide known as them a “circus”.

Cuba has stated these detained earlier than and after the July protests have acquired truthful trials in accordance with Cuban legislation.

In response to an audio recording launched final week on social media by fellow activists, authorities supplied to launch Otero Alcantara if he left the nation, however he refused.

Cuban artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo are set to face trial on Monday.

Involved governments, particularly from Latin America & Europe, ought to monitor the trial and name for the artists’ launch.

Joint @HRW@amnesty press launch:https://t.co/IjFnnkT3Zl

— Juan Pappier (@JuanPappierHRW) Could 26, 2022

Otero Alcantara additionally was the main target of protests by different artists following his arrest final yr. He launched a starvation strike and was hospitalised to demand the return of works that authorities had confiscated when he was detained.

In a present of help, about 20 different distinguished artists demanded that their works be faraway from exhibition on the Nationwide Museum of High quality Arts, which rejected the decision.

The streets outdoors the courthouse on Monday have been in any other case quiet all through the day. A number of activists and associates of the boys alleged on social media that they have been below watch by state safety and had been prohibited from leaving their properties.

Maritza Herrera, 66, stated she got here to indicate her help for her associates Otero Alcantara and Castillo. She stated others had been prevented from doing so, or didn't dare.

“They know that in the event that they arrive right here, they are going to be put in a patrol automotive and brought away to a [police] station. That’s why they’re not right here,” she stated.