News Bulletin of the Friends of Cuban Libraries
                                                 Date: January 29, 2000
   
                                       POLICE  CONFISCATE  LIBRARY  TOYS

     On December 13, 1999, members of the Cuban State Security police 
confiscated a number of toys intended as prizes for a children's art contest 
dedicated to the theme of "The Environment and Contamination."   The contest 
was co-sponsored by the NaturPaz ("NaturePeace") environmental organization 
and the unofficial Board of Cuban Teachers (Colegio de Pedagogos de Cuba), 
which has established the independent Felix Varela Library for children in 
Havana.   According to Roberto de Miranda, a leader of the teacher's group, 
one of the State Security police who seized the toys said he was acting under 
the direct orders of President Fidel Castro.  This information is contained 
in an article written by Carmelo Diaz of the ASPIC news agency and published 
in the January 7 issue of the CubaNet website.   The police raid is part of a 
government campaign intended to suppress Cuba's independent library movement, 
which in less than two years has established at least 30 libraries throughout 
the country dedicated to the goal of offering the Cuban people access to 
uncensored information.  The persecution of the independent librarians has 
been condemned in a detailed report issued by the International Federation of 
Library Associations.   For the full text of this report, which includes 
documentation of harassment, death threats, police raids, evictions, 
confiscations, and the arrest of independent librarians,  refer to the 
website of IFLA's intellectual freedom committee (http://www.faife.dk), in 
the "news and events" section.
      Despite the confiscation of the prizes, the art contest reached a 
successful conclusion on January 11, when 58 children were named as winners.  
 Among the children present at the closing ceremony of the contest was Andres 
Estrada Dominguez, age 11, who was awarded for his painting of a deer fleeing 
environmental pollution in the countryside.  The prizewinning artworks will 
remain on display at the Felix Varela Library, located at 354 Campanario 
Street in Central Havana.
      Comments on this situation may be sent to: President Fidel Castro, 
Consejos de Ministros y del Estado, Havana, Cuba.

BACKGROUND:  The Friends of Cuban Libraries, founded in June, 1999, is an 
independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit support group for the independent 
librarians of Cuba.  In November, 1999, the co-founder of the library 
movement, Ramon Colas, was declared a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty 
International.  The Friends of Cuban Libraries oppose censorship and all 
other violations of intellectual freedom, as defined by the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights, regardless of whatever administration may be in 
office in Cuba.  We are funded entirely by our members and do not seek or 
accept contributions from other sources.  For further information, contact 
Robert Kent (e-mail [log in to unmask]), telephone 718-340-8494, or by mail: 
474 48th Avenue, Apt. 3-C, Long Island City, NY 11109, USA.
         


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