Letter to Fidel Castro from the Deputy of the German Bundestag, Rainer Eppelmann.
 
 Your Excellency
 Mr. President of the State Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba
 Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz
 La Habana
 
 Berlin, November 11, 2003
 
 Your Excellency Mr. President:
 
 In my capacity as member of the Commission on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag, I would like to express in the name of the entire Commission my deep concern for the catastrophic conditions prevalent in the prisons where members of the opposition, intellectuals, and independent journalists have been confined to since last April.
 
 Of special concern is the health condition of Mrs. Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, the Director of the Cuban Institute of Independent Economists “Manuel Sanchez Herrero,” the only woman arrested during the last wave of imprisonment of opposition leaders. This lady who has earned international prestige and who has received awards for human rights causes has been condemned to 27 years in prison and she has been detained in the Manto Negro prison in extremely inhuman conditions that threaten her health. Since her imprisonment last April, Mrs. Martha Beatriz Roque has been suffering from chronic rheumatism, stomach ulcers, and hypertension. She has not been given proper medical attention nor has she been administered proper medication.
 
 The Commission of Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German Bundestag urges you to immediately set all political prisoners free. We request that you also improve immediately the inhuman conditions of imprisonment of the detainees and that you provide medical assistance where necessary.
 
 Against this backdrop, we severely criticize your decision to prohibit the visit to your country of the High Representative of Human Rights of the Federal Government, Mrs. Claudia Roth, and we urge you to immediately correct this decision.
 
 Cordially,
 
 Rainer Eppelmann
 Deputy of the German Bundestag
 
 Source: German Delegate MCUD - www.cubamcud.org