E. European leaders appeal to IFLA re: Cuba and Library Repression

Walter Skold writes “In a powerful and important letter released today by the Czech-based human rights group, People In Need (http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/english/kdo_jsme/kdo_j sme.htm) several major dissidents from the former Soviet Union have called on IFLA to complete its investigation of the destruction of independent libraries in Cuba, and the jailing of more than a dozen leaders in the growing movement.

The text of the letter to Paul Sturges, the Chair of FAIFE, has been posted at(http://www.shush.ws/faife.htm)”

Walter Skold writes “In a powerful and important letter released today by the Czech-based human rights group, People In Need (http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/english/kdo_jsme/kdo_j sme.htm) several major dissidents from the former Soviet Union have called on IFLA to complete its investigation of the destruction of independent libraries in Cuba, and the jailing of more than a dozen leaders in the growing movement.

The text of the letter to Paul Sturges, the Chair of FAIFE, has been posted at(http://www.shush.ws/faife.htm)”In the lenghty letter the prominent statesmen, journalists, and former residents of the GULAG draw from their experience under communist dictatorships to destroy the arguments used by supporters of Castro to justify the imprisonment of the librarians and, in some cases, the burning of their books.



“As for the Cuban government’s efforts to portray the independent librarians as traitors and foreign agents because they receive support from abroad,â€? the letter says, in response to such arguments, “We speak from our own experience in rejecting such claims. It can never be a crime to oppose censorship or to open a library.â€?

“Despite the Cuban government’s lengthy and skillful campaign to deny, cover up and mislead the international community with regard to systematic censorship and repression on the island,â€? they say, “The regime must be held accountable for its own actions.â€?

The letter, released on the eve of IFLA’s convention in Argentina, is partly based on IFLA policy statements, as well as the documented repression of the independent library movement and other activists currently in Cuban jails.