More trouble for the Cuban independent library movement...

You probably don't picture librarians as dissidents, but the truth is librarians often consider themselves defenders of freedom--for good reasons. The press release below illustrates that point well; check out their website for more information.

(WWW.FRIENDSOFCUBANLIBRARIES.ORG)
May 1, 2003

Worldwide indignation is growing over the wave of repression being unleashed against Cuba's dissident movement. The Friends of Cuban Libraries have learned that the ten independent librarians tried in Cuba on vague charges of "undermining Cuba's national sovereignty" have been sentenced, after one-day trials, to a total of 196 YEARS in prison. Details are being posted on our website: (www.friendsofcubanlibraries.org).

In other news, Encuento en la Red (www.cubaencuentro.com) announced today that American intellectuals are now joining in the worldwide protests against the current crackdown in Cuba. Today's edition of Encuentro reports that Noam Chomsky, Cornel West and Ariel Dorfman (who has long been a supporter of Cuba's independent librarians) have signed an open letter protesting the mass arrests of Cuban dissidents. Earlier signers of similar petitions include Charles Faulhaber, the director of the Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley and Jon Juaristi, the former director of the National Library of Spain.

In a turnaround, numerous European and Latin American intellectuals who until now have staunchly supported the Castro government have now repudiated the regime. Among these prominent persons are Jose Saramago, Eduardo Galeano and Carlos Fuentes.

For additional details, please refer to our website.

(Latebreaking News: On April 25, for the first time, President Fidel Castro denounced the independent libraries in a speech responding to the growing worldwide outcry against Cuba's repression of dissidents.)

In Solidarity,

The Friends of Cuban Libraries
(WWW.FRIENDSOFCUBANLIBRARIES.ORG)