LONDON – The global human rights watchdog group, Amnesty International, has urged the Cuban government to reform what it has described as an “arbitrary” exit permit scheme that Havana uses to punish free speech, after a prominent Cuban blogger was again barred from travelling abroad.
On Friday, Cuba’s immigration authorities denied blogger and activist Yoani Sánchez an exit permit, known as a tarjeta blanca or white card or tarjeta blanca, for the 19th time in four years. As on previous occasions, no reason was given for the decision.
The prize-winning author of the “Generación Y” blog was invited to speak at the premiere screening in Brazil’s Bahía state on Friday of a documentary on freedom of expression in Cuba and Honduras. Brazil had already issued her a visa to enter the country.
“The Cuban government’s repeated denial of exit permits to critics like Yoani Sánchez can only be seen as retaliation for the expression of their legitimate political views and activism,” said Javier Zúñiga, a special advisor to Amnesty International.
“Those fighting for freedom of expression, association, and movement must be authorized to leave and re-enter the country without arbitrary restrictions, and the Cuban authorities must end other tactics used to clamp down on peaceful dissent,” he added.
Zúñiga said Cuban President Raúl Castro has yet to follow through on changes to immigration policies promised as part of a series of reforms announced in 2011.
Sánchez’s on daily life on the communist-run island often reports many restrictions placed on Cuban political and civil rights, Zúñiga said.
Her political activism is highlighted in Brazilian filmmaker Dado Galvão’s new documentary “Connection Cuba-Honduras”.
After the Cuban authorities’ most recent decision to prevent her from travelling, Yoani Sánchez expressed her frustration via the microblogging site, Twitter.
“I feel like a hostage kidnapped by someone who won’t listen or give explanations,” she wrote. “If all this effort helps to shine a light on the migratory absurdity we Cubans are trapped in, then it was worth it.”
The blogger’s work has earned her numerous prizes overseas, but the Cuban authorities have repeatedly blocked her from attending the award ceremonies.
On January 20, the London-based human rights charity said it wrote to Brazil’s foreign minister, urging him to intervene to ensure Sánchez would be allowed to leave Cuba.
On a state visit to Havana last week, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff mentioned that the blogger had been granted a visa to enter Brazil, but Amnesty International said she fell short of pressing the Cuban government to allow her to leave. (CMC)
