According to some independent sources, there are approximately 230 political prisoners in Cuba. In general, they are human rights activists, independent journalists, owners of independent libraries and other person that openly criticized Castro’s regime.
As a reaction to the massive arrests of dissidents and human rights activists in the spring 2003 (so called Black spring), we in cooperation with People in Peril initiated a public collection. Collected funds are used for direct support for 35 families of political prisoners, either in the form of cash of basic medical supplies that are difficult to obtain in Cuba. They are delivered to the families by our volunteers that travel to Cuba several times per year.
During 4 years we collected the total sum of approximately 31 400 USD donated mostly by individuals. The financial aid distributed to the families is used for covering basic living expenses and also occasional visits to the prison.
A part of the collection is also a symbolic adoption of Cuban political prisoners by politicians – e.g. Ján Figeľ, member of the European Commission, Slovak members of the European Parliament from EPP/ED and PSE, and other Slovak politicians including Róbert Kaliňák, current minister of interior or Pavol Hrušovský, former chairman of the Slovak Parliament. The Pontis Foundation has also adopted a political prisoner, Francisco Chaviano Gonzales.
This public collection also has an awareness raising role towards Slovak public. It is an expression of solidarity that people in Slovakia feel toward dissidents and political prisoners in totalitarian countries that fight for the universal ideals of freedom and democracy. This sympathy is largely based on personal experience: before 1989 also people in former Czechoslovakia suffered under a similar regime, and this fact is still a living memory.
You can contribute by:
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Bank transfer to our accounts n. 40 200 36 463/3100 (Slovak crows) or 100 230 07 22/3100 (Euros), Volksbank a.s., Bratislava
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In cash – in the office of the Pontis Foundation, where you can also receive further information
Summary of current inhuman conditions in Cuban prisons, July 2008
Information on March of Solidarity, March 17, 2008
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