Activist arrested, interrogated, threatened and fined by state agents

Activist Roberto González Pelegrín, of the Juan Pablo Segundo Movement, was arrested in the morning by the sector chief of the area, Captain Midelsi Durán Campo, and by the major and head of the opposition, Alfredo Olivero. After the arrest, the activist was taken to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) unit in Baracoa where he remained until after 4pm. While in detention he was threatened in many ways, including going to prison, if he continued to carry out "counter-revolutionary" activities. The activist was also called "unruly" and "lazy" because according to Major Olviero, he did not contribute to society in any way. According to the victim, at no time could he defend himself or say anything, and he was continually provoked to attack the officer and thus be charged with the crime of contempt. The activist was released after being officially warned by Lieutenant Colonel Lesnier Leiva, who was also in the office where the activist was being interrogated. Besides, the activist was fined $30 Cuban pesos (£1) because he had allegedly urged the population in that area to disobey. The activist's alleged disobedience was caused by the Interior Ministry's decision to send some uniformed personnel to that area to dismantle a few cayucas (rustic fishing boats used by the local inhabitants for their livelihood). According to the activist, the military appeared one morning and without telling anyone, destroyed and burned all the boats, which provoked the anger of the owners and the inhabitants of the place who also benefited from the fishing that these people did.