International campaign to Free Gorki

Gorki Águila, outspoken lead singer of the Cuban punk band Porno para Ricardo was arrested by the Cuban government on Monday facing charges of dangerousness.

Cuban law defines “social dangerousness” as behavior contrary to “communist morality,” and the police use it to detain offenders before they have a chance to commit a crime.

He faces four years in prison.

His trial is set for Friday at 9am at the Playa Municipal Tribunal, and an international campaign has been launched to secure his freedom.

An open letter to Pablo Milanes and other Cuban musicians has been sent by Penultimos Dias.

Spanish musicians Miguel Bosé y Alejandro Sanz have also added their signatures to the open letter and support for Gorki.

Further updates are available on the band’s web site, Cuba Underground and Penultimos Dias.

Update: A concert was held tonight in Anti-Imperialist Plaza in the Malecon featuring Pablo Milanes in which supporters of Gorki Águila voiced loudly their support for the singer’s freedom. Among the supporters were Porno para Ricardo band members Ciro (guitarist) and Hebert (bassist) as well as the band’s friends along with well-known Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez. They held up signs demanding the release of Gorki, according to Renay Kayrus, the band’s drummer who witnessed the event. Kayrus further added the concert rained chaos at first, then a battle ensued. Cuban state security, comprised of police and paramilitary units, descended on protesters and beat them without compassion causing a massive stampede amongst protesters and concert goers.

Yoani Sánchez had a telephone coversation with Penultimos Dias over her experience of the event.  According to Yoani’s calculation, for every five concert goer, three were part of the repressive force. Upon lifting a sign with Gorki’s name by supporters, instantly a circle of extreme violence was created in which civil police and those dressed in green beat women and men around the sign.

Update 2: Gorki’s trial has been moved to the afternoon, according to Black Sheep of Exile. He is in the detainee area of the tribunal and his defense attorney hasn’t received the case file. Furthermore, Amnesty International has taken up Gorki’s case.

Gorki Aguila is escorted by police officers upon arrival for his trial. Photo: AP

Update 3: The trial began at 5:30pm Havana time.

Update 4: Per Penultimos Dias, Gorki was freed and fined 600 Cuban pesos. He was accused of “disobedience” instead of “dangerousness”.

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Tags: Alejandro Sanz, Cuba, cuban musicians, extreme violence, international campaign, Miguel Bosé, Pablo Milanes, state security

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