Cuba: Information on an anti-Castro demonstration in Havana on 5 August 1994 involving thousands of people, including where it was held and who was arrested
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB25909.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Information on an anti-Castro demonstration in Havana on 5 August 1994 involving thousands of people, including where it was held and who was arrested, 1 February 1997, CUB25909.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad2458.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached several articles that describe the demonstrations of 5 August 1994 and their aftermath. Excerpts from the annual reports of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International covering events of 1994 provide a brief overview of the riots and their aftermath.
The Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) transcript of a 10 August 1994 Radio Progreso broadcast provides a detailed description of the 5 August events, as described by the interior ministry, including the precise location and time of the gatherings. This report indicates that the unrest began when a group attempted to seize a boat with the intention of leaving Cuba illegally, days after other groups had seized boats and attempted to sail to the United States (Radio Progreso 10 Aug. 1994a). The arrest of members of the group was soon followed by a gathering of approximately 100 people that reportedly shouted "counterrevolutionary slogans" (ibid.). Although the group was dispersed, by early afternoon some 700 persons had gathered in the vicinity; they were confronted by policemen, workers of the port and nearby facilities, as well as organized groups of workers (ibid.). Reports state that workers of a "Blas Roca Calderio Contingent" were mobilized, some of them "carrying only their work tools to become the front line of battle against the antisocials" (ibid.; Radio Rebelde10 Aug. 1994).
Another 10 August 1994 Radio Progreso broadcast reports that the police, "with the support of the citizenry and militiamen primarily, has undertaken the task of arresting citizens directly or indirectly involved in the riots" (10 Aug. 1994b). At the time of the broadcast there were "several citizens under arrest waiting for hearings" (ibid.). The same source states that the police had "also taken a series of measures regarding other citizens whose level of participation and record makes arrest unnecessary," adding that "these measures range from official warnings and fines for disturbing the peace, to basic admonitions and preventive steps" (ibid.).
Detailed lists of persons arrested in connection with the 5 August 1994 events could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, the attached Amnesty International Urgent Action provides a list of 19 persons who were detained on 6 August 1994 and "were among dozens of people arrested in the wake of anti-government protests on 5 August" (17 Aug. 1994). Although there is no reference to these 19 persons having participated in the 5 August demonstrations, "Amnesty International believes that they were singled out because of their involvement in unofficial political and human rights groups who try to send reports abroad about human rights issues" (ibid.). Another Amnesty International report indicates that soon after the events "Cuban television reported that 295 people had so far been charged in connection with the disturbances" (11 Aug. 1994).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Amnesty International. 17 August 1994. Urgent Action: Further Information on UA 296/94 (AMR 25/10/94, 11 Aug. 1994)Prisoners of Conscience. (AI Index: AMR 25/11/94). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 11 August 1994. Cuba: Amnesty International Concerned for Human Rights of Peaceful Government Opponents and Human Rights Activists. (AI Index: AMR 25/WU 02/94). London: Amnesty International.
Radio Progreso Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 10 August 1994. "Interior Ministry Describes 5 Aug, Subsequent Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, pp. 7-8).
_____. 10 August 1994. "Police Official on Arrests, Procedures After 5 Aug. Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, pp. 8-9)
Radio Rebelde Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 10 August 1994. "Palmero Praises Workers for Role in 5 Aug Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, p. 9)
Attachments
Amnesty International. 1995. Amnesty International Report 1995. New York: Amnesty International USA, p. 110.
_____. 17 August 1994. Urgent Action: Further Information on UA 296/94 (AMR 25/10/94, 11 Aug. 1994)Prisoners of Conscience. (AI Index: AMR 25/11/94). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 11 August 1994. Cuba: Amnesty International Concerned for Human Rights of Peaceful Government Opponents and Human Rights Activists. (AI Index: AMR 25/WU 02/94). London: Amnesty International.
EFE [Madrid, in Spanish]. 6 August 1994. "'Tense Calm' in Havana; Unconfirmed Reports of Injuries." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, p. 31)
_____. 6 August 1994. "Downplays Disturbances in Havana." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, p. 30)
_____. 5 August 1994. "Eyewitness Reports Clashes." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, pp. 13-14)
Human Rights Watch. 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1995. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 85-87.
Prensa Latina [Havana, in Spanish]. 6 August 1994. "Workers, Residents Continue to Guard Against Vandalism." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, pp. 38-39)
_____. 6 August 1994. "Communist Youth Leader on Mass Opposition to Disturbances." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, p. 36)
_____. 6 August 1994. "Life Said 'Back to Normal' in Havana." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, pp. 31-32)
_____. 6 August 1994. "Workers Help Police Thwart 'Destabilizing' Attempt." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, p. 31)
Radio Progreso Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 10 August 1994. "Interior Ministry Describes 5 Aug, Subsequent Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, pp. 7-8).
_____. 10 August 1994. "Police Official on Arrests, Procedures After 5 Aug. Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, pp. 8-9)
Radio Rebelde Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 10 August 1994. "Palmero Praises Workers for Role in 5 Aug. Events." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, p. 9)
_____. 10 August 1994. "'Straight Talk' on Character of Rioters." (FBIS-LAT-94-156 12 Aug. 1994, pp. 23-25.
_____. 9 August 1994. "'Straight Talk' Views Malecon Incident." (FBIS-LAT-94-155 11 Aug. 1994, pp. 5-7)
Radio Reloj Network [Havana, in Spanish]. 7 August 1994. "Interior Ministry Issues Report on 6 Aug Demonstrations." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, p. 32)
Tele Rebelde and Cuba Vision Networks [Havana, in Spanish]. 11 August 1994. "Interior Minister Praises Policeman, Worker's Attitude." (FBIS-LAT-94-156 12 Aug. 1994, p. 25)
_____. 8 August 1994. "Alleged Demonstrators Deny Involvement in Riots." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, pp. 39-40)
_____. 7 August 1994. "Injured Policeman Reports 'Down With Fidel' Chants." (FBIS-LAT-94-154 10 Aug. 1994, p. 5)
_____. 7 August 1994. "Situation 'Returning to Normal' on Havana's Malecon." (FBIS-LAT-94-154 10 Aug. 1994, pp. 4-5)
_____. 6 August 1994. "[Fidel Castro] Tours Malecon, Comments." (FBIS-LAT-94-152 8 Aug. 1994, pp. 14-15)
