Distributed by The Cuba Free Press Project.

Havana, August 21, 1997, Cuba Press

THE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNAL DISSIDENT TASKFORCE HAVE BEEN UNDER ARREST FOR ONE MONTH. By Tania Quintero, CubaPress.

The members of the Internal Dissident Taskforce have been under arrest for one month on August 16th. The Taskforce group is made up of: Vladimiro Roca, Marta Beatriz Roca, Rene Gomez Manzano, and Felix Gomez Carcaces.

The prisoners have been allowed family visits on a weekly basis and their respective defense attorneys have been granted access to their files for the past several days. State Security officials have informed their families that the investigative stage can extend to up to six months and, according to the initial information, the will be charged with enemy propaganda - a crime which carries penalties of from 1 to 15 years inprisonment.

The four peaceful opposition members are in good health and spirits, in spite of being subjected to constant interrogation sessions and being held in very hot cells.

In a conversation with Vladimiro Roca's family, we learned that his attorney, Dr. Amelia Rodriguez, had had a long conversation with him on August 5th, and she stated that Roca is prepared to receive a sentence of up to 20 years inprisonment.

Among the last activities undertaken by the Taskforce (before their arrest) was to hold two press conferences in which foreign press correspondents, accredited in Havana, were present. The first conference, held on May 5th, they presented the first issue of the bulletin which they sought to publish, which included analyses on the socio-economic and political situation of the country.

During the second press conference, held on June 27th, the dissidents presented the document The Motherland Belongs to All. This was their response to the project which will be discussed at the Fifth Communist Party Congress, to be held in Cuba next October.

By Tania Quintero, Cuba Press.