Activist arrested when protesting against confiscation of his fishing gear

Armando Abascal Serrano, a member of the National Executive of the Democratic Party Pedro Luis Boitel Abraham, was arrested on Wednesday morning, 8 July. Armando chained himself to a monument of José Martí located in the park in Carlos Rojas where he lives. This was meant as a protest against a confiscation of his fishing gear by the police on 3 July. Before carrying out the protest, Armando had tried to appeal against the decision in the Department of Fisheries in the city of Matanzas, however, his request had been denied. He was then driven to the Operations Unit in Matanzas. When they arrived, the officials did not issue for him any detention record and put him in a room without windows. One or two hours later, he was taken to another cold room where he was examined by a doctor. Then he was interrogated and threatened with imprisonment and fine. Moreover, Lieutenant Colonel Ramón Richard David wanted Armando to sign a statement of commitment which he repeatedly refused to sign. Meanwhile, his family was under impression that he was being detained in the police station in Jovellanos. At 7:50 pm, Armando was released in Carlos Rojas.