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Spanish Daily 'Highly Concerned' About Reporter's Arrest in Cuba

Graham'¯Keeley'¯

   MADRID - Spain called on Cuba Tuesday to release a journalistwho
   wasdetained in Havanawhile coveringthe biggest demonstrations in
   thecommunistcountry for decades.

   Camila Acosta, 28, who works forthe right-leaningSpanish dailyABC,was
   heldby policeMondaynight.

   Spanish Foreign Minister Jose ManuelAlbaresimploredCuba
   toimmediatelyrelease Acosta and respect the rights ofdemonstrators.

   "Spain defends the right to demonstrate freely and peacefully and asks
   the Cuban authorities to respect it," Albares tweeted. "We demand the
   immediate release of Camila Acosta."'¯

   Cuba's government cracked down on activists Monday night after mass
   protests drew thousands over theweekend.

   Acosta, who describes herself on Twitter as an independent Cuban
   journalist, hasreportedforABCfor six months.Shewas uploading photos of
   the unrest to social media when she was detained.

   Her arrest prompted international condemnation among politicians and
   mediaorganizations,as her newspaper said sheplayedno part in the
   protestsand was only documenting them.
   Demonstrators clash during protests against and in support of the
   government, in Havana, July 12, 2021.

   ABClearnedthatAcostahad been arrestedaround8p.m.Spanish time (2p.m.in
   Cuba) onMonday."She had gone to report on, not to join in, the
   demonstrations," Alexis Rodriguez,ABC'sforeign editor,told VOA
   onTuesday."Wewere told that she has been arrested for crimes against
   state security."

   Cuban authorities later changed the charges to contempt and
   publicdisorder,which can carryajail sentence of threetosix
   years.Rodriguez said the newspaper was "highly concerned" that one of
   its journalists had beendetained andcalled on the Spanish government to
   do all it canto helpwith Acosta'srelease.

   Acosta'sfather,Orlando Acosta,lives in Florida and wasvisiting his
   daughterin Cubawhen she was arrested.

   "We went out to do aPCR(COVID-19)test so that I could return to the
   U.S.this Fridaywhen the unrest happened,"OrlandoAcosta toldABCTuesday
   night.

   "I have been told by the [1]Cuban authorities that they are going to
   charge her with contempt and public disorder," he added. "They are
   going to leave her at the police station for another72 hoursbefore she
   comes before a prosecutor. I have not been able to see my daughter.
   They say it is because of the risk of COVID-19."

   OrlandoAcosta said about 15 policeofficersraided his daughter's rented
   flat with dogs and seized her work computers. He was told she must
   vacate the premisesimmediately.

   Camila Acosta previouslyhadbeen forced to leave other rented
   accommodationsbecause she hascriticizedthe Cuban government when she
   was abroad, her father said.

   OrlandoAcosta said he was told by the Cuban governmentthat his
   daughtershould leavethe island forever.

   "But that would stop her from doing her job as a journalist,which she
   is content with,and I am not going to interfere in that," he toldABC.

   Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, asocialist who in 2018 paid the
   first official visit by a Spanish leader to Cubainthree decades, said
   the country was"not a democracy."

   "Without interference, the country has to find its own way,"Sanchez
   told broadcasterTelecincoon Tuesday.

   The Spanish prime minister demanded Acosta's release, adding that
   Cubans should be able to protest freely and enjoy the"same rights and
   freedoms as in Spain."

   Media associations in Spain called forherswift release.

   In a statement, the Spanish Federation ofJournalistsAssociations
   demanded the removal of "all charges against Acosta"and called on the
   Spanish government to"do everything necessary so she is released
   without charges."

   Theorganizationcondemned all arrests and attacks on journalists in
   Cubaoverthe weekend, including against Ramón Espinosa, a photographer
   forTheAssociated Press.

   About 100 protesters, activists and independent journalists have been
   detained nationwide since Sunday, according to exiled rights
   group,Cubalex.

   VOAcontactedthe Cuban Embassy in Madrid for commentTuesdaybut did not
   receive a reply.

References

   1. https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-cambian-cargos-contra-corresponsal-abc-camila-acosta-desorden-publico-y-desacato-202107132230_noticia.html

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