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Cuba: Biblioteca de Pensamiento Independiente (Library of Independent Thought); treatment of its members and by the authorities

While no reference to a Biblioteca de Pensamiento Independiente (Library of Independent Thought) could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, the independent library movement in Cuba is well-documented and reported (IFLA/FAIFE August 2001; ibid., Sept. 1999; CNN.com 12 Nov. 2000). There are several reports of the treatment – including evictions (Country Reports 1999 2000; AI 2000; Chicago Tribune 10 Feb. 2002), confiscation of materials (IFLA/FAIFE Aug. 2001), temporary detention (AI 2000) and jail sentences (HRW 2002; AI 2000) – of those who operate Cuba's independent libraries.

According to an International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE) report on the independent libraries in Cuba, the "Independent Libraries in Cuba Project" was founded in February 1998 after Fidel Castro stated publicly that "there are no prohibited books [in Cuba], only those we do not have the money to buy" (Sept. 1999). Berta del Carmen Mexidor Vazquez saw this statement as "an opportunity to create independent libraries ... which would grant the possibility of having access to books, magazines, documents and other publications to which there is no access in states institutions ... " (ibid.). An August 2001 IFLA/FAIFE report on Cuban libraries – both public and independent – estimated that there were 82 independent libraries throughout the country in April 2001.

In 22 April 2002 correspondence, the co-chair of the Friends of Cuban Libraries, a New York-based non-governmental organization that supports the independent library movement in Cuba and advocates on its behalf, stated that he was not aware of an independent library called Biblioteca de Pensamiento Independiente (Library of Independent Thought). According to the co-chair, however, it would not be unusual to be unfamiliar with a particular independent library,

... given the rapid growth of Cuba's independent library movement and a lack of frequent contact with the independent librarians due to the uncertainty and expense of communications in Cuba. New institutions are being established on a monthly basis, and we in the Friends of Cuban Libraries are unaware of the existence of some of the libraries. Although the generic term "independent libraries" is often used, the independent librarians belong to several distinct organizations. The largest number of the librarians are affiliated with the Independent Libraries Project, founded in 1998 by Ramon Colas and Berta Mexidor. Other libraries have been established by groups of teachers, farmers, religious organizations and human rights activists, who may or may not have formal times to the organization founded by Colas and Mexidor (ibid.).

In his correspondence, the co-chair also referred to the treatment of "many of the Cuban citizens associated with the independent library movement," including "harassment, intimidation, threats, police raids, confiscations of library materials, short-term arrests of up to one year and several acts of violence" (ibid.).

Amnesty International, in its Annual Report 2000, reported that in August 1999, the founders of the "Independent Libraries in Cuba Project," Ramon Humberto Colas Castillo and Berta Mexidor Vazquez, were evicted from their home, in which they had lived for 13 years, with their children because they were "illegal occupants" (AI 2000). Amnesty International also refers to other "independent librarians who were subjected to threats, short-term detentions and the confiscation of their books" (ibid.).

In May 2001, delegates from IFLA/FAIFE visited Cuba to investigate the status of independent libraries and substantiate claims of harassment of the independent librarians (July 2001). During this visit, delegates visited five independent libraries in the Havana region and asked the library directors about their interactions with authorities (ibid.). IFLA/FAIFE reported:

The people we met defined themselves as "dissidents" and were very open about their political views. Since the state is the employer, all the owners had lost their jobs, not on ground of their library activities, but because of their political work. Most of them received financial support from their families while others had managed to find temporary jobs outside their professional fields. Generally, the authorities do not hinder the owners in building and keeping collections but incidents of permanent or temporarily (sic) confiscations of parts of the collections were reported and libraries are from time to time kept from bringing books into the country we were told. In several cases the state police had visited the premises. Many had been arrested more than once – in all cases, except for one, on grounds of political activities not because of the book collection. All reported that their telephones were tapped and that phone calls could not be made outside the country (ibid.).

In an 10 February 2002 article, The Chicago Tribune noted that:

Because most library directors are also active members of Cuba's political opposition analysts say it is difficult to determine how much of the persecution is based on the libraries and how much is on the dissidents' other activities.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 2000. Annual Report 2000. <http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/ar2000web.nsf/countries/d9e7ad0023a0bef1802568f200552918?OpenDocument> [Accessed 16 Apr. 2002]

The Chicago Tribune. 10 February 2002. Private Libraries Turn Page in Cuba. <http://www.canfnet.org/News/020211newsa.htm> [Accessed 23 Apr. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/wha/8333.htm> [Accessed 4 Apr. 21002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/382.htm> [Accessed 4 Apr. 2002]

CNN.com. 12 November 2000. "Independent Libraries Crop Up in Communist Cuba." <http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/11/12/reading.freedom.ap/> [Accessed 22 Apr. 2002]

Friends of Cuban Libraries (FCL), New York, N.Y. 23 April 2002. Correspondence with co-chair.

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. World Report 2002. <http://hrw.org/wr2k2/americas5.html> [Accessed 23 Apr. 2002]

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE). August 2001. "Libraries in Cuba: An IFLA/FAIFE Report on Free Access to Information in Cuba." <http://www.faife.dk/faife/cubareport2001.htm> [Accessed 22 Apr. 2002]

_____. September 1999. "An IFLA/FAIFE Report on Cuba: Annex I: Independent Libraries in Cuba Project." <http://www.faife.dk/faife/cubarep1.htm> [Accessed 22 Apr. 2002] (According to its Website, IFLA/FAIFE is a core activity within IFLA, the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions to defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Office furthers free access to information and

freedom of expression in all aspects, directly or indirectly, related to libraries and

librarianship. IFLA/FAIFE monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and cooperation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports 1999, 2000, 2001

Cuba Facts

Cubanet

Cuban Libraries Support Group

CubaSource, Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL)

Derechos - Human Rights

Friends of Cuban Libraries [New York, NY]

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Organization of American States (OAS)

World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), The Observatory