Distributed by The Cuba Free Press Project.

Havana, August 27, 1997, Cuba Press

Sexual favors in exchange for your family's freedom. By Marvin Hernandez Monzon, Cuba Press.

Sexual favors in exchange for your family's freedom is the price exacted by Lt. Ramon Chavez of the National Police in Aguada de Pasajeros, Province of Cienfuegos, reported the Director of the independent agency, Linea Sur Press, Mr. Bernardo Arevalo Padron.

Maria Fuentes was sexually accosted by officer Chavez, a/k/a El Titi, during the last arrest suffered by her husband, Francisco Suarez Landa, a collaborator of Linea Sur Press. Two months later he attempted to force Maria and Francisco's daughter, Janette Suarez Fuentes, when he found her in the highway on her way home, at which time she refused to mount the police motorcycle available to El Titi.

Ramon Chavez also arrested Roberto Fernandez Vega. During the time this was taking place, he saw 16-year old Dunia, the detainee's daughter. He maneuvered to be left alone with the girl and tried to embrace her and kiss her. Dunia managed to exit to the street where she called for help. The next day, he stopped his wife Elsa Blanche and propositioned her to have sex in exchange for the freedom without charging her husband who was imprisoned at the time in the municipal unit.

Our colleague Arevalo Padron comments in his report, that these are only some of the cases where the women refused to give in to blackmail and had the courage to divulge it. He asks himself, how many must have succumbed to the pressure of Lt. Chavez' base instincts, who he refers to in his report as a pervert and sexual maniac even though he represents the law in Aguada de Pasajeros.