Cuban reporter for Spanish newspaper ABC released: arrested for covering protests against dictatorship

Cuban freelance journalist Camila Acosta, contributor to the Spanish newspaper ABC in Havana, She was released after spending four days in prison and will be placed under house arrest. The newspaper reported on Friday.

Acosta Cuban agents arrested her last Monday when she was leaving her home, taking from him work equipment such as her computer, for alleged crimes against state security., an accusation often used in the country against opponents, according to ABC.

The day before, he was covering protests on Sunday, July 11th in Havana.It is the largest in more than six decades in the Caribbean nation.

The authorities accused the journalist of “contempt” and “disturbing public order”., according to relatives said the ABC.

The newspaper confirms that Camila Acosta is its correspondent in Havana, while The Cuban regime rejects this, because it does not have the official certification of a foreign press worker.

Acosta is a well-known Cuban freelance journalist With critical attitudes towards the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel. He has also worked in the portal Cubanet, one of the main opposition media, and was arrested on previous occasions.

His arrest had a strong impact on Spain, The Spanish Federation of Journalists’ Unions (FAPE) and Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Alparís, demanded his “immediate release”.

During Sunday’s protests, clashes broke out and hundreds were arrested. Among them are activists, opponents and independent journalists, according to international organizations.

Some detainees were released, while others remained in police stations and prisons in the country, while the government did not provide details of the arrests.

Freelance Cuban Journalists Last year, they denounced the increased harassment by the authorities, from house arrest to police citations, confiscation of tools or internet access restrictions.

400 arrested/missing

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced: Five days after the social outbreak that occurred in Cuba, exist “About 400 people” were arrested/disappeared on the island.

“The whereabouts of many of them are unknown. In many cases, the regime has detained recognized activists and journalists for the clear purpose of Prevent them from participating in or reporting on demonstrations, confirmed Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the America division of that NGO.

In a series of posts on his Twitter account, Vivanco also confirmed that “Many of them were arrested as they left their homes or while walking in the street“.

(With information from EFE)

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