Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.10.9908281218210.27068-100000@library.wustl.edu> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 12:21:51 -0500 From: Jeff Huestis <mailto:Jeff-Huestis@library.wustl.edu> Subject: ANOTHER LIBRARIAN ARRESTED (fwd) To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
The attached message may seem a little off-topic. But it's my opinion that technology transfer can't happen in a vacuum. Technology is not a "thing" but an approach to solving problems. It's an aspect of a society's culture, and interacts heavily with, among other things, the availability of information. We can't talk about technology transfer without talking about freedom of information.Jeff Huestis
_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_
Jeffrey C. Huestis mailto:huestis@library.wustl.edu Head of Library Systems http://library.wustl.edu/~huestis
Washington University Libraries Voice: 314-935-5951 Campus Box 1061 Fax: 314-935-4045 St. Louis, MO 63130
^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^~=,_,=~^
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 08:37:12 PDT From: robert kent <mailto:rkent45@hotmail.com> Reply-To: mailto:alaworld@ala1.ala.org To: ALA International Relations Round Table <mailto:alaworld@ala1.ala.org> Subject: ANOTHER LIBRARIAN ARRESTED
Attached below is an update on the persecution of Cuba's independent librarians. Please write to Cuban officials and your Members of Congress. It is not a crime to be a librarian or to oppose censorship! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AN APPEAL FROM THE FRIENDS OF CUBAN LIBRARIES
An article in the August 25, 1999, issue of the "Diario Las Americas" newspaper reports that the home of Ramon Colas and Berta Mexidor, the founders of Cuba's independent library movement, has been raided by the State Security police. According to the newspaper reporter, Ariel Remos, on August 23 the two independent librarians, who are a married couple, were evicted from their home, which doubles as the location of the independent Felix Varela Library. Although Colas and Mexidor were permitted to remove personal belongings from their home, it is not known if their library collection was seized by the State Security police, as has happened with other independent libraries in Cuba. In the course of the eviction Ramon Colas was reportedly arrested on unknown grounds and is now being held at at unknown location. Full details (in Spanish only) may be found on the newspaper's website (www.diariolasamericas.com) for August 25.
The Friends of Cuban Libraries has issued an international appeal to protest this latest act of repression by the Cuban government. We urge librarians, library associations and human rights organizations around the world to express concern to Cuban officials. Letters may be sent to: Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, Presidente de los Consejos de Estado y de Ministros, La Habana, Cuba.
BACKGROUND: Since April 1998, 17 independent libraries have been established in Cuba. These independent institutions make a point of collecting materials which reflect all points of view, not just the officially-approved ideology. The independent librarians refuse to submit to the censorship to which government-funded libraries are subjected. The Cuban government has responded harshly to the creation of independent libraries. The librarians of these institutions have been subjected to harassment, threats, short-term arrests, and the confiscation of their collections. The Friends of Cuban Libraries is an independent, non non-partisan organization which opposes censorship and all other violations of intellectual freedom in Cuba. Further information can be obtained by e-mailing: mailto:rkent45@hotmail.com.
Robert Kent (Friends of Cuban Libraries)
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com