Oscar Espinosa Chepe
62 years old
Journalist, Economist (University of Havana, 1967)
See also statement from his 95-year old mother Clara Chepe Núñez
Was arrested during a massive crackdown by the Cuban Government, during which at least 75 dissidents were detained. He was tried on 3 April in case number 351/03, and was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, during a one day summary trial, according to articles 7 and 11 of Law 88. He was accused of "activities against the integrity and sovereignty of the State"
Suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, he was initially transferred from the State Security Headquarters in Havana to the Marianao Military Hospital in April 2003. After a few days, on April 24th, he was sent to the Provincial Prison of Guantánamo, 9l0 kms from Havana, where he and his family lived. By mid May he was taken to the Guantánamo Provincial Hospital because he was reporting dark blood in his stool for more than three days.
On May 31 he was in Ambrosio Grillo Hospital, de Santiago de Cuba, a place with “deplorable” sanitary conditions., In Ambrosio Grillo, Espinosa Chepe was told that if he did not consent to undergo the tests that they prescribed he would be sent to Boniatico Prison. He accepted one colon test and then refused any others and indeed was sent to Boniatico, a place known as the
“entrance hall to death.”
On 7 August, Oscar Espinosa Chepe was transferred to the Carlos J. Finlay military hospital in the capital Havana after his health deteriorated. His wife Miriam Leiva was allowed to visit him two days later. She said he was pale, thinner and his legs were swollen but his morale was high. She was able to give him food and drink. He will be sent back to Santiago de Cuba as soon as his health improves, she was told.
In a subsequent visit the journalist said that on Monday, the 11th of August a psychiatrist had come to see him, even though he never requested it and that he did not need it. Since then, Espinosa Chepe is reported as morose and with difficulty to express himself coherently. He also has difficulty concentrating. .
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