CANF ADVOCATES TO SECURE WELFARE OF CUBAN DETAINEES IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Today, December 10^th, International Human Rights Day, the Cuban American National Foundation advocates for the respect of international human rights and norms across the world, and in particular, Cuba where the regime continues to systematically abuse the most basic freedoms of its citizens.  Due to their complete disregard for the rights and privileges of the Cuban people, many Cubans find their situation so desperate, they feel their only solution is to attempt to escape their island-prison.    

The Cuban detainees in Nassau, Bahamas are among those who have fled Cuba in search of freedom; yet, they now find themselves detained under inhumane conditions and in immigration limbo.  The Cuban American National Foundation has been in contact with Bahamamian authorities attempting to secure the welfare of scores of Cubans detained by immigration authorities in Nassau, Bahamas.  The Cubans, who had for days been engaged in a hunger strike, were yesterday involved in a confrontation with immigration officers that resulted in the injury of five detainees.

“Our foremost concern is with the well-being of the two children being held by authorities, as well as with the reports of mistreatment of the detainees in the Carmichael facility,” said Jorge Mas Santos, Chairman of the CANF.  “We are working with the Bahamamian authorities to attempt to secure an immediate solution to this problem without further extending the suffering of those Cubans whose only desire was to escape Castro’s repressive regime and reach freedom,” added Mas. 

The Cuban American National Foundation has also been in contact with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) as well as with Amnesty International, whose report on the immigration detention in the Bahamas last year stated that there was a deep concern: “that refugees who have a well-founded fear of persecution remain at risk of forcible return.” And further:  “In Amnesty International’s view, prolonged, arbitrary detention, the poor conditions observed at the Center and reports of ill-treatment, amount in many cases to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”