Desde Dentro de Cuba.

Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. - http://www.cubafreepress.org

May 20, 1999

OSS THREATENS INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST By Ricardo González Alfonso, Cuba Free Press.

HAVANA - Officials from the Office of State Security (OSS) tried to intimidate independent journalist Berta Mexidor Vázquez, 36, in her Las Tunas home May 19, accusing her of having committed independent professional journalistic activities.

Mexidor Vázquez is the director of the news agency Freedom and founder of the Independent Library Project.

An anonymous captain and a lieutenant of the political police disrupted the reporter's home from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The officials threatened to apply "Law 88" to her information and cultural activities in a tone that Mexidor Vázquez described as "respectful."

Law 88, officially called Protection of National Independence and the Cuban Economy (and popularly known as a gag order) imposes sanctions of up to 20 years imprisonment. It has been condemned widely by sectors of national and foreign public opinion.

Ricardo González Alfonso, Cuba Free Press