Oscar Espinosa Chepe
Encyclopedia
Óscar Manuel Espinosa Chepe (born November 29, 1940) is a Cuban
economist
and dissident
. He was one of approximately 75 dissidents arrested, tried and convicted in 2003 as part of what has been widely described as a massive crackdown by the Cuban government
. Amnesty International declared him as a prisoner of conscience
. During his incarceration, Espinosa was convicted as a traitor.
Fidel Castro
. He graduated from the University of Havana
with a degree in economics. From 1970 until 1984, Espinosa was responsible for Cuba’s economic
, technical and scientific cooperation with Czechoslovakia
, Yugoslavia
and Hungary
. He served as economic counselor at the Cuban embassy in Belgrade
.
In the 1980s, Espinosa grew increasingly disillusioned with the Cuban government's economic policies. He then went to work at the main office of the Central Bank of Cuba
where he was in charge of domestic trade and tourism
. In 1996 he was reportedly fired. Since then, Espinosa has written many articles, analyses, and commentaries about economic and other matters, most of which have been critical of the government’s policies and have contradicted official government reports. Barred from publishing articles in Cuba, Espinosa submitted them for publication in various international journals. For over five years, he also hosted a weekly radio segment, entitled “Charlando con Chepe” (Chatting with Chepe), for Radio Martí
, a U.S.-supported station which broadcasts into Cuba. In these segments he reportedly commented on various aspects of the Cuban economy.
The trial took only a few hours and was closed to the international press and to foreign diplomats. Mr. Espinosa was convicted for violating Articles 7 and 11 of Law 88 for the Protection of the National Independence and Economy of Cuba (Ley de Protección de la Independencia Nacional y la Economía de Cuba) and for acting against “the independence or the territorial integrity of the State” (Article 19 of the Penal Code). He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Following a rejected appeal by Espinosa, the Representative of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
, Christine Chanet, issued an appeal to the President of Cuba
urging him to exercise his right of pardon on their behalf.
on November 29, 2004, after serving just over 19 months of his prison sentence. The authorities granted him medical parole because his already poor health had declined seriously during his incarceration. Espinosa reportedly suffers from a chronic kidney
infection, a thoracic hernia, persistent hypertension
, and weight loss, among other ailments. In early April 2003, after several weeks in detention, it was reported that his legs became swollen, his skin jaundiced, and he lost more than 20 kg (40 pounds). According to reports, harsh conditions of confinement at the penitentiary included unsafe drinking water and meals that are meager in quantity and consisted primarily of rice
and split peas
. Espinosa was reportedly held in a cell with 26 other inmates.
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
. He was one of approximately 75 dissidents arrested, tried and convicted in 2003 as part of what has been widely described as a massive crackdown by the Cuban government
Black Spring (Cuba)
Black Spring refers to the 2003 crackdown on Cuban dissidents. The government imprisoned 75 dissidents, that included 29 journalists, as well as librarians, human rights activists, and democracy activists, on the basis that they were acting as agents of the United States by accepting aid from...
. Amnesty International declared him as a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
. During his incarceration, Espinosa was convicted as a traitor.
Background
From 1965 until 1968 Espinosa worked in the Economic Advisory Group of Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Cuba
Prime Minister of Cuba was a position in the government of Cuba. Fidel Castro assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1959 replacing José Miró Cardona....
Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. He graduated from the University of Havana
University of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
with a degree in economics. From 1970 until 1984, Espinosa was responsible for Cuba’s economic
Economy of Cuba
The economy of Cuba is a largely centrally planned economy dominated by state-run enterprises overseen by the Cuban government, though there remains significant foreign investment and private enterprise in Cuba...
, technical and scientific cooperation with Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. He served as economic counselor at the Cuban embassy in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
In the 1980s, Espinosa grew increasingly disillusioned with the Cuban government's economic policies. He then went to work at the main office of the Central Bank of Cuba
Central Bank of Cuba
The Central Bank of Cuba is the central bank of Cuba. It was created in 1997, to take over many of the functions of the National Bank of Cuba...
where he was in charge of domestic trade and tourism
Tourism in Cuba
Tourism in Cuba attracts over 2 million people a year, and is one of the main sources of revenue for the island. With its favorable climate, beaches, colonial architecture and distinct cultural history, Cuba has long been an attractive destination for tourists...
. In 1996 he was reportedly fired. Since then, Espinosa has written many articles, analyses, and commentaries about economic and other matters, most of which have been critical of the government’s policies and have contradicted official government reports. Barred from publishing articles in Cuba, Espinosa submitted them for publication in various international journals. For over five years, he also hosted a weekly radio segment, entitled “Charlando con Chepe” (Chatting with Chepe), for Radio Martí
Radio Martí
Radio y Televisión Martí is a radio and television broadcaster based in Miami, Florida, financed by the United States government , which transmits Spanish radio broadcasts to Cuba...
, a U.S.-supported station which broadcasts into Cuba. In these segments he reportedly commented on various aspects of the Cuban economy.
Arrest and trial
On March 19, 2003, Espinosa was arrested after security agents reportedly spent 10 hours searching his apartment. At a trial on April 3, 2003, Espinosa was accused of “activities against the integrity and sovereignty of the State”. The authorities also alleged that Espinosa had been receiving money from abroad, collecting press clippings about meetings between representatives of the United States and Cuban dissidents, and other activities. The government alleged that it found US$13,600 sewn into the lining of a jacket while searching Espinosa’s home and that the money came from the U.S. government. Espinosa was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was one of approximately 75 dissidents arrested and summarily tried as part of what has been widely described as a massive crackdown by the Cuban government.The trial took only a few hours and was closed to the international press and to foreign diplomats. Mr. Espinosa was convicted for violating Articles 7 and 11 of Law 88 for the Protection of the National Independence and Economy of Cuba (Ley de Protección de la Independencia Nacional y la Economía de Cuba) and for acting against “the independence or the territorial integrity of the State” (Article 19 of the Penal Code). He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Following a rejected appeal by Espinosa, the Representative of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
, Christine Chanet, issued an appeal to the President of Cuba
President of Cuba
--209.174.31.28 18:43, 22 November 2011 The President of Cuba is the Head of state of Cuba. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, the President is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba...
urging him to exercise his right of pardon on their behalf.
Release
Espinosa was released from prison along with fellow writer Raúl RiveroRaúl Rivero
Raúl Rivero Castañeda is a Cuban poet, journalist, and dissident. Rivero was born in 1945 in Morón, Camagüey, in central Cuba.In his youth, he was an ardent follower of Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. He was among the first generation of journalists to graduate after the triumph of the...
on November 29, 2004, after serving just over 19 months of his prison sentence. The authorities granted him medical parole because his already poor health had declined seriously during his incarceration. Espinosa reportedly suffers from a chronic kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
infection, a thoracic hernia, persistent hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
, and weight loss, among other ailments. In early April 2003, after several weeks in detention, it was reported that his legs became swollen, his skin jaundiced, and he lost more than 20 kg (40 pounds). According to reports, harsh conditions of confinement at the penitentiary included unsafe drinking water and meals that are meager in quantity and consisted primarily of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
and split peas
PEAS
P.E.A.S. is an acronym in artificial intelligence that stands for Performance, Environment, Actuators, Sensors.-Performance:Performance is a function that measures the quality of the actions the agent did....
. Espinosa was reportedly held in a cell with 26 other inmates.
External links
- English PEN
- Committee on Human Rights
- Chepe Released from Prison - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Newsfeed about Oscar Espinosa Chepe