August 22, 1997

Arrest of Journalists Protested

PARIS (AP) - An international press watchdog group is demanding that the Cuban government release three journalists still held from a wave of roundups after an international youth festival.

Cuba's Communist authorities arrested or detained about 10 Cuban journalists in an effort to maintain only official coverage of the festival held in late July and early August, Reporters Without Borders said.

In a letter Wednesday to Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the Paris-based group said it ``strongly fears that the arrests are directly linked to independent journalistic activity'' and demanded the reporters be ``immediately released.''

State security agents arrested Ramon Alberto Cruz Lima, director of the independent press agency Patria, on Monday at his home in Ciego de Avila, near the central city of Santa Clara, the press group said.

Alberto Cruz also was arrested, on July 22 in Havana. He later was released, but was told to stay in Ciego de Avila and was ordered to close his news service, the group said in a statement.

Two reporters for the independent agency Cuba Press were arrested July 28 and Aug. 13, Reporters Without Borders said. William Cortez and Efren Martinez are being held at a state security center in Pinar del Rio on the western side of the island, the group said. No reason was given for their arrest.

Last Friday, the Inter American Press Association urged Castro to order the immediate release of three other reporters working for Patria and to end harassment of other journalists.

AP-NY-08-21-97 1739EDT

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