92002E1467

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1467/02

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 May 2002)

Subject: Juan Carlos Gonzalez Cuba

Juan Carlos Gonzalez is a blind human rights activist who has been in prison in Cuba since 5 March. Will the Commission call for the release of this man and impress upon the Cuban authorities that the imprisonment of human rights activists and the mistreatment of prisoners is unacceptable, particularly when the EU is attempting to broaden its relations with that country?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1458/02 and E-1467/02given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2002)

The Commission is following this matter very closely: Mr Gonzalez was detained by the Cuban security forces on 4 March 2002 on charges of public disorder and contempt. Both crimes, according to Cuban law, can carry a possible sentence of one to three years. No trial has been set so far.

The Commission is very concerned about this case. The European Union Human Rights Working Group established by the Member States embassies in Havana is monitoring the case. Experience with similar cases in the past suggests that the most effective way of addressing human rights violations in Cuba is through concerted and co-ordinated action at Union level. As a rule, the Commission and the Member States closely monitor the human rights situation in Cuba, in the context of both the six-monthly evaluation of the Union Common Position on Cuba and the annual Geneva meetings of the United Nation Commission on Human Rights. Furthermore, human rights matters form an integral part of the Union's political dialogue with Cuba, which was re-launched under the Belgian Presidency in December 2001.