.Journalism watchdog calls for Cuba blogger freedom
HAVANA (AP) - A U.S.-based journalist watchdog group called Thursday for an end to what it described as "systemic harassment" of bloggers and independent journalists in Cuba, and urged the international community to step up its lobbying on the bloggers' behalf.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said a surprisingly vibrant blogging community has sprung up on the communist-run island, despite government intimidation, official barriers and the high cost of going online. Cuba has the lowest rate of Internet use in the Americas.
"The bloggers, mainly young adults from a variety of professions, have opened a new space for free expression in Cuba, while offering a fresh glimmer of hope for the rebirth of independent ideas in Cuba's closed system," the group said in a report.
The New York-based CPJ also called on Cuba to unconditionally free imprisoned independent journalists and to honor international commitments that the country has signed that should in theory allow all journalists to report freely without fear of reprisal.
The Cuban government had no immediate reaction to the report, but it routinely dismisses international watchdog groups including the CPJ as agents of the U.S. government.
A few Cuban bloggers have gained fame in recent years for irreverent reports that have openly criticized the government and reported on hot button issues like food shortages, low wages, crumbling housing and inept bureaucracy.
According to the report, 22 online journalists are currently imprisoned in Cuba. Many others are tolerated by the government, though their Web sites are sometimes hacked and several have been called in for questioning by the authorities. Even those allowed to post have their pages routinely blocked in Cuba.
The CPJ said it had identified 25 journalistic blogs produced by Cuban writers, and 75 others that are focused on personal and family interests.
Many of the blogs steer clear of openly criticizing the Cuban government, but even highlighting some of the hardships on the island can be dangerous. A Cuban man whose rant about hunger became a hit on YouTube earlier this year was sentenced to two years in prison for "dangerousness." He was appealing the case Thursday.
The report said government response to the emergence of blogs - most of which have sprung up since last year - has been muted compared to a fierce crackdown on independent journalists and political activists in 2003, when the government arrested 75 dissidents and sentenced them to long prison terms for allegedly conspiring with the U.S. to topple the government.
It said the relatively slow response could be due to the fact that most Cuban leaders - including Raul and Fidel Castro - are too old to fully grasp the significance of the Internet and the power of bloggers. The government might also not see the blogs as a threat since most of the readers are overseas. Very few Cubans have consistent access to the Internet, and those that do use their limited time online to send e-mails.
The report warned, however, that the relative tolerance might be short-lived.
"That there hasn't been a large-scale crackdown on bloggers, analysts say, does not preclude the possibility of a future assault by Cuban authorities," it said.
MyWay
The Committee to Protect Journalists said a surprisingly vibrant blogging community has sprung up on the communist-run island, despite government intimidation, official barriers and the high cost of going online. Cuba has the lowest rate of Internet use in the Americas.
"The bloggers, mainly young adults from a variety of professions, have opened a new space for free expression in Cuba, while offering a fresh glimmer of hope for the rebirth of independent ideas in Cuba's closed system," the group said in a report.
The New York-based CPJ also called on Cuba to unconditionally free imprisoned independent journalists and to honor international commitments that the country has signed that should in theory allow all journalists to report freely without fear of reprisal.
The Cuban government had no immediate reaction to the report, but it routinely dismisses international watchdog groups including the CPJ as agents of the U.S. government.
A few Cuban bloggers have gained fame in recent years for irreverent reports that have openly criticized the government and reported on hot button issues like food shortages, low wages, crumbling housing and inept bureaucracy.
According to the report, 22 online journalists are currently imprisoned in Cuba. Many others are tolerated by the government, though their Web sites are sometimes hacked and several have been called in for questioning by the authorities. Even those allowed to post have their pages routinely blocked in Cuba.
The CPJ said it had identified 25 journalistic blogs produced by Cuban writers, and 75 others that are focused on personal and family interests.
Many of the blogs steer clear of openly criticizing the Cuban government, but even highlighting some of the hardships on the island can be dangerous. A Cuban man whose rant about hunger became a hit on YouTube earlier this year was sentenced to two years in prison for "dangerousness." He was appealing the case Thursday.
The report said government response to the emergence of blogs - most of which have sprung up since last year - has been muted compared to a fierce crackdown on independent journalists and political activists in 2003, when the government arrested 75 dissidents and sentenced them to long prison terms for allegedly conspiring with the U.S. to topple the government.
It said the relatively slow response could be due to the fact that most Cuban leaders - including Raul and Fidel Castro - are too old to fully grasp the significance of the Internet and the power of bloggers. The government might also not see the blogs as a threat since most of the readers are overseas. Very few Cubans have consistent access to the Internet, and those that do use their limited time online to send e-mails.
The report warned, however, that the relative tolerance might be short-lived.
"That there hasn't been a large-scale crackdown on bloggers, analysts say, does not preclude the possibility of a future assault by Cuban authorities," it said.
MyWay
posted by madtom at 7:04 PM
1 Comments:
Great post as for me. I'd like to read something more concerning that matter. The only thing your blog misses is a few pics of any gadgets.
John Flouee
Cell phone jammer
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