Cuba’s Recent Arrests of Journalists

The international Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that Cuba currently has arrested and jailed without charges two print journalists.

They are Manuel Guerra Pérez, director of the independent bulletin Cimarrón de Mayabeque, and its editor, Lisbey Lora, who were arrested and detained on November 28, 2016. They were in the process of investigating for articles for their publication, which is part of the network of independent, local publications supported by the Cuban Institute for Free Expression and the Press. Guerra Pérez reported on local issues, including politics, corruption, and health conditions in the Cuban province of Mayabeque.

Earlier this year, September 28, CPJ issued a special report on Cuba that concluded, “Cuba’s press, emboldened by President Raúl Castro’s call for reforms in 2010, are finding more space for critical comment, but harassment and intimidation from authorities, a legal limbo caused by outdated and restrictive press laws, and limited and expensive access to the internet is slowing the island nation’s progress toward press freedom.”

This earlier report coincided with CPJ’s annual report listing Cuba as 10th on its list of the 10 worst censored countries in the world.