PINAR DEL RIO, August 20 (Víctor Rolando Arroyo, UPECI) - Leonel Rodríguez
Márquez openly criticized a delegate of the Popular Power (local
government) at a public meeting in the town of López Peña, Pinar
del Río province, August 4.
On his way home, Rodríguez was approached by a stranger who asked him
for details of what had happened at the meeting, and then assaulted him along
with three other men. After the beating, Rodríguez was taken to the local
police station, where he was charged with disrespect for authority and with
resisting arrest, since his assailant turned out to be a police officer.
The officer, Yoel Roque Olivera, stated he had been advised that Rodríguez
was sabotaging a people's repudiation act, a spontaneous popular protest against
the presence of anti-government signs in the town, and that as he attempted to
detain the subject Rodríguez, he had fallen and suffered contusions on
the face, abdomen and one arm.
Rodríguez was taken to the police station in neighboring San Cristóbal,
where he was locked up until August 7, at which time he was presented to the
court. At the time, the file stated he had been free on bail. Rodríguez
was not allowed legal representation.
The municipal court sent the case up to the provincial court, changing the
charges to "attempt against a public official," which could net Rodríguez
three or more years in jail.
The officers taking Rodríguez to court told him he could not express
any criticism of the police. "That will be taken up later, in the chief's
office," said one of them.
Rodríguez is a well-known sports instructor. He told UPECI, "I
will be condemned at the upcoming trial. I am being tried for my public
opposition to the government."
Versión
original en español
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