Christian Solidarity Worldwide - European Union (CSW-EU)
You can read a full profile and receive campaign information on http://www.csw.org.uk/biscet.asp

UNRESTRICTED - Can be used in general mailing lists, press, church
newsletters, open meetings. For general letter writing campaigns, please do
not quote CSW as the source of information.

April 9 2003

Dear Friends,

We would like to ask you to please pray for Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and his
wife Elsa in Cuba, particularly through the next 24 hours.  Dr. Biscet's
trial began on Monday (April 7th) with little advance warning.  The Cuban
government is asking for a 25-year sentence to be imposed on Dr. Biscet for
his peaceful activity on behalf of human rights.  He was only released last
October 31st, after serving a 3-year sentence for hanging the Cuban flag
upside down in protest at the lack of freedom in the country.  (You can read
a full profile and receive campaign information on http://www.csw.org.uk/biscet.asp).

In addition, we have learned that last week Cuban authorities raided the
home where Elsa is staying and confiscated personal photos, a fax machine,
and a personal computer among other items.  This will severely restrict her
ability to communicate with the outside world.

Elsa has sent out an appeal to Christians around the world to pray and act
on behalf of her husband. (Full text below)

The trial of Dr. Biscet is part of the largest crackdown on human rights and
democracy activists in over a decade.  Upwards of 80 people were arrested in
the last two weeks of March and their trials began this week.  Some men and
women have already been sentenced to between 20 and 27 years in prison.
Many of them are active Christians.

As you pray for the trial of Dr. Biscet and the other men and women who face
long prison terms - you might also consider taking part in the following
actions on his behalf.  Please consider the following:
* Write to your MEP - the European Parliament will vote on a resolution
condemning Cuba's human rights record on Thursday afternoon - please e-mail,
fax or phone your MEP in Strasbourg and ask them to give their support to
this resolution.  Please call 020 7227 4300 for your MEP's details (make
sure you receive their contact details in STRASBOURG as they are not in
Brussels for the next two weeks).  You can also find them on the EP website
at www.europarl.eu.int
E-mail addresses are usually [first initial.last name@europarl.eu.int] - so,
for example, John Smith would be jsmith@europarl.eu.int
* Send a letter or fax to Commissioners Chris Patten (External Relations)
and Poul Nielson (Development and Cooperation) and ask them to personally
contact the Cuban government to protest this abuse of human rights as a
matter of urgency.
o Contact details for Nielson:
* Rue de Genève, 12
1140 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: (32.2)298.10.99
o Contact details for Patten:
* Rue de la Loi 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: 0032 2 298 1299
* Send a letter to Javier Solana and ask him to personally contact the Cuban
government to protest this abuse of human rights.
o Contact details for Solana
* Rue de la Loi 175
B-1048 Brussels
Belgium

* Send a letter or fax to Jack Straw and ask him to personally raise this
with the Cuban authorities as a matter of urgency.
The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Foreign Secretary
Foreign Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH or fax him at his Blackburn constituency on 01254 682213

* Contact your MP and ask them to personally phone the Cuban embassy to
express their concern to the Cuban ambassador. Please call 020 7219 4272 for
your MP's details.