The International Institute on Race,
Equality and Human Rights demands the Cuban government produce information about
Silverio Portal Contreras, a political prisoner in the 1580 Prison in San
Miguel del Padron, Havana. Lucinda Gonzalez Gomez, Mr. Portal Contreras’ spouse,
has not heard from Mr. Portal Contreras since April 23 and fears for his life.
Mr. Portal Contreras is an independent activist who has supported various
movements in Cuba, including the Ladies in White and the Opposition Movement
for a New Republic (MONR).
Mr. Portal Contreras has been deprived
of his liberty since July 2018, serving a four-year prison sentence for public
disorder and contempt. He was arrested after participating in a protest the
Cuban government’s failure to address the collapsing of buildings in disrepair,
where he shouted, “down with Fidel Castro, down with Raúl,” contributing
to the “contempt” charge, which criminalizes insults of public
officials. Mr. Portal Contreras has been declared a prisoner of conscience by
Amnesty International.
While in prison, Mr. Portal Contreras’
health has suffered greatly. He is 56 years old. Early in his prison sentence,
he collapsed from a seizure after not receiving medical attention despite
asking for it for four hours. It was later discovered that he had a blood clot.
Since then, he has had many ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks
(TIA), resulting in partial paralysis of the left side of his body.
Mr. Portal Contreras requested medical
parole, which is permitted under the Cuban Penal Code under certain
circumstances. Despite recognizing that Mr. Portal Contreras suffers from several
serious health conditions, including ischemic cerebrovascular disease, the
Provincial Tribunal of Havana found that his “current state of health is compatible
with the penitentiary regime,” noting that he requires “specialized
follow-up to maintain his illnesses.” Ms. Gonzalez Gomez has also filed an
appeal of Mr. Portal Contreras’ conviction with the Supreme Tribunal but has
yet to receive a response. Requests to transfer him to a labor camp and to
release him on conditional liberty have also been denied, according to Ms.
Gonzalez Gomez.
On April 23, 2020, Mr. Portal Contreras
suffered another TIA. Ms. Gonzalez Gomez was able to speak on the telephone with
him that day and noted that he had extreme difficulty speaking. She believes
that he needs urgent medical attention, however, she has not been able to talk
to him since that day and fears for his life. She received a telephone call
from another prisoner on May 12, 2020, who informed her that Mr. Portal
Contreras was alive, but has no further information about his condition.
Considering his delicate state of health, he faces extreme risk if he were to
contract COVID-19 while in prison.
On May 13, 2020, a State Security
Official came to Ms. Gonzalez Gomez’ home to pick up food and medicine that she
normally would deliver herself to Mr. Portal Contreras, but cannot do so now
because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The official told her Mr. Portal Contreras would
call her the following day. However, the expected telephone call never came,
causing Ms. Gonzalez Gomez to fear that he has suffered another health crisis
or is being denied access to telephone calls.
According to the United Nations
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules),
“the provision of health care for prisoners is a State responsibility.
Prisoners should enjoy the same standards of health care that are available in
the community and should have access to necessary health-care services free of
charge without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status.
Furthermore, “prisoners shall be allowed…to communicate with their family
and friends at regular intervals.”
Race and Equality is extremely
concerned for the health and well-being of Silverio Portal Contreras and calls
on the Cuban State to release information about his current state, as well as
provide him with medical care and allow him to resume communication with his
spouse as required by the Nelson Mandela Rules. Mr. Portal Contreras is a
political prisoner who is being deprived of liberty in violation of Cuba’s
international human rights obligations. Race and Equality asks the
international community to monitor the situation of Mr. Portal Contreras and to
urge respect and protection for the human rights of all political prisoners.
Source: Race&Equality.
