José Antonio Pompa López and Lázaro Mendoza García, two Cuban dissidents, have been imprisoned after spending months detained at Villa Marista, the headquarters of State Security in Havana. They are accused of the crime of "propaganda against the constitutional order." The Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Havana imposed provisional imprisonment on both activists, as reported by Martí Noticias based on testimonies from the detainees' families.
"My husband had been at Villa Marista for three months and a week, and he called me... saying he is now at Combinado del Este," Suarmi Hernández Vilar, Pompa's wife, told the news outlet. Hernández noted that Mendoza is also imprisoned with her husband, both charged with "propaganda against the constitutional order" due to a video showing them spreading proclamations that were never uploaded to social media, only stored on a computer.
Pompa was arrested on April 26 near his home in Old Havana, and Mendoza was detained in mid-June after responding to a summons at Villa Marista. According to Martí Noticias, neither the police nor judicial authorities have provided any documentation to the accused thus far.
The report also mentions that Daniel Alfaro is in provisional detention for the same cause, having been arrested on March 13. The three activists are under criminal investigation for "other crimes against state security," including "propaganda against the constitutional order." Under the Cuban Penal Code, approved in May 2022, this crime carries a penalty of three to ten years in prison for those who "incite against the social order, international solidarity, or the socialist state recognized in the Constitution of the Republic, through oral or written propaganda or in any other form." The charge also applies to those who "manufacture, distribute, or possess propaganda of the aforementioned character."
Family and friends of the activists told Martí Noticias that authorities are seeking evidence of their affiliation with the Cuba Primero movement based in Miami during the investigation. In January this year, Pompa hung a banner on his balcony protesting his dismissal from his job due to his political activism. As a member of the independent Cuban Self-Employed Coalition (C3), he claimed he was fired from the pizzeria where he worked by order of State Security. Pompa is the primary breadwinner for his family, which includes his wife and two children, an eight-year-old boy and a two-month-old baby at the time.
In 2020, Pompa was imprisoned and was one of the seven political prisoners whose immediate release was demanded by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Mendoza, after a first interrogation by State Security in June, told Martí Noticias: "They want to imprison me because they showed me a video of people spreading proclamations in Central Havana and said one of the voices is El Bambi (José Antonio Pompa) and the other is mine. I denied it, but they told me to return tomorrow." Later, his sister, Yusel Mendoza García, confirmed his arrest at Villa Marista on charges of "propaganda against the constitutional order."
Understanding the Charges Against Cuban Activists
In light of the recent arrests of Cuban activists, here are some frequently asked questions to provide clarity on the situation and its implications.
What is the crime of "propaganda against the constitutional order" in Cuba?
This crime involves inciting against the social order, international solidarity, or the socialist state recognized in the Cuban Constitution through oral, written, or any other form of propaganda. It carries a penalty of three to ten years in prison.
Who are José Antonio Pompa López and Lázaro Mendoza García?
José Antonio Pompa López and Lázaro Mendoza García are Cuban activists recently imprisoned for allegedly spreading propaganda against the constitutional order. They have been detained at Villa Marista, the headquarters of State Security in Havana.
What is Villa Marista?
Villa Marista is the headquarters of State Security in Havana, where many political dissidents and activists are detained and interrogated.
What is the significance of the Cuban Penal Code approved in May 2022?
The Cuban Penal Code approved in May 2022 includes severe penalties for crimes against state security, including up to ten years in prison for propaganda against the constitutional order.