the enemy's media ... with jail sentences of three to ten years and is aimed directly at the independent agencies who send their material abroad. (Human Rights Watch 152) On April 26, 1996, nine Cuban security members ransacked the offices of the Cuban Independent journalists Bureau (BPIC) for four hours. (Conde) They seized all of the BPIC's equipment, two typewriters, a word processor, as well as its files. (Conde) Joaquin Torres, a journalist with the Havana Press independent news agency there, termed it a reminder that they are there, and they can silence us whenever they like. (Conde) Nstor Baguer, President of the Agencia de Prensa Independiente (APIC: Independent Press Agency) was seriously injured by an unknown individual who hit him several times; as a result he suffered a broken wrist and several hematomas. (US State Dept.) The events occurred in Havana, on March 2, 1995. On July 11, 1995, members of the State Security force searched his home, seized a facsimile machine, and disconnected his phone service. (US State Dept.) Days later Nstor Baguer filed a complaint before the Municipal Court of Plaza to secure the return of what had been confiscated. (US State Dept.) Nonetheless, the court clerk refused to admit the document, stating that it had no legal basis. (US State Dept.) Laws against antigovernment propaganda or graffiti, which is of disrespect towards any government official in Castro's regime, carried penalties of from 1 month to 3 year's in prison. (US State Dept.) Charges of distributing enemy propaganda (which includes merely expressing opinions at odds with those of the Government) can bring sentences of up to 14 years. (US State Dept.) Resident and foreign correspondents have dealt with an increase in governmental pressure, including official and informal complaints about articles, threatening phone calls, and lack of access to officials. (US State Dept.) In the Government's view, such materials as the Universal ...
