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The Panamanian government confirmed this Thursday that it is engaged in diplomatic efforts with Cuban authorities to follow up on the case of ten Panamanian citizens who remain detained in Havana, who will receive a consular visit this Friday.
The chancellor, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, reported that he has already had a conversation with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, to discuss the situation of the detainees and coordinate consular assistance actions.
The chancellor announced that the ambassador and consul general of Panama in Cuba, Edwin Pitty, is scheduled to meet with the detainees this Friday, as part of efforts to verify their situation and ensure access to consular assistance.
A group of ten Panamanians is accused of propaganda against the constitutional order after allegedly making critical graffiti against the political system of the island.
During a press conference on March 5, led by President José Raúl Mulino, the minister explained that initially 20 Panamanians traveled to Cuba, but only ten were arrested because the others managed to leave the country before the arrests took place.
“They shouted slogans against the Cuban regime, there were 20; 10 managed to leave earlier. Those ten Panamanians are undergoing an investigation by the Cuban judicial authority, and we have guaranteed consular assistance,” stated Martínez-Acha.
According to Martínez-Acha, the ambassador reached out to the Cuban authorities from the very beginning to request information about what had happened.
The minister also assured that during his conversation with Rodríguez Parrilla, he received guarantees that the Panamanians are being treated appropriately and will have access to legal assistance during the judicial process on the island.
The chancellor stated that the conversation with his Cuban counterpart took place "in very friendly terms" and that the authorities of the island assured that the detainees would have access to legal defense.
Furthermore, the Panama Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assessing the possibility of hiring external legal advisors who can support the defense of young individuals during the judicial process in Cuba.
Detention for propaganda against the constitutional order
The ten Panamanian citizens were formally charged with the crime of propaganda against the constitutional order, as provided in Article 124 of the Cuban Penal Code, which stipulates penalties of up to eight years in prison.
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) previously reported that those detained had made critical graffiti against the Cuban government in Havana.
According to Cuban authorities, the messages included phrases such as "Down with tyranny," "Communism: enemy of the community," and "We trust Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Mike Hammer," referring to the President of the United States, his Secretary of State, and the American ambassador on the island.
According to the official version, those involved were reportedly recruited in Panama to carry out these actions, for which they would supposedly receive between $1,000 and $1,500 upon returning to their country.
Recluse in Villa Marista
Sources linked to the case indicated that the detainees are being held at Villa Marista, which is commonly used by Cuban authorities to investigate crimes related to state security.
The detained Panamanians are:
-Victor Manuel Pinzón Cedeño
-Evelyn Edith Castro
-Anthony Williams Jules Pérez
-Omar Gilberto Urriola Vergara
Maykol Jesús Pérez Almendra
-Adalberto Antonio Navarro Asprilla
-Abigail Sthefany Gudiño Castro
Patrochiny Jerodany Joseph Arisarena
-José Luis Aguirre Baruco
Arrangements for family members
At the same time, Panamanian authorities are processing consular paperwork to help the families of the detainees travel to Cuba to visit them, while diplomatic efforts with the Cuban government continue to follow up on the case.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama stated that it will continue to monitor the judicial process and provide consular support to the citizens involved.
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