The abduction of Dr. Ferrer Ramírez

It’s incredible that besides looking cool and smooching with hollywood actors and Hugo Chavez, Fidel still has the time and energy for good old fashioned communist activities like harassment and intimidation.

Unless you follow the Cuban blogosphere you likely haven’t heard of the double arrest of Dr Darsi Ferrer Ramírez the other day. Global Voices has a great roundup of what went on with his arrest.

His wife stated:

Yesterday in the early hours, 2.30 am, Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramirez, was arrested arbitrarily by about 50 members of the Political Police, dressed as policemen, without shields, in 12 police cars.

With guns drawn, they loudly knocked on the door. He was immediately handcuffed and takes, without pants, shoes or a shirt, who knows where. They left our 5-year-old son alone in the house, because I was with my mother, who was feeling ill, at her house
Darsi told them that our son was alone and asked that he be allowed to take him (son) with them. They paid no attention to him. But, before leaving, they turned on the gas and closed the door. Thanks to the help of some neighbors, who quickly went to find me, we were able to break a window, enter, and rescue the child still alive.

The whereabouts of Darsi were unknown until 6:11am, when an official from the Ministry of Interior arrive to tell me where (in which unit) he was detained. At approximately 8 am he was released.

At this moment, around 1:00 pm, Dr.Darsi Ferrer Ramirez was arbitrarily arrested again on the corner of the Interests Office, which he was about to enter. Giving no explanation, he was taken away again. I am now going to look for him and hope to find him in a unit and not in another place. I’m sending this message to inform you that I, Yusnaimy Jorge Sosa, hold responsible and accuse the government, the National Security and everyone who was involved in this attempt to murder my son, Dariel Ferrer Jorge, who is only 5 years old, and my husband, Darsi Ferrer Ramirez.

He is now out again and has been able to tell his own story (in Spanish) in Llamado a la Conciencia Nacional, where he confirms what his wife said above and also explained that the reason they gave for the arrest was that he had been distributing stickers saying “CAMBIO” (Change). He also told how he was forced to walk home from the police station in underwear looking like a lunatic after the first arrest.

Our good doctor has become famous as he has started very necessary independent health clinics (which goes right against Castro’s story of the best health care in Latin America) and has helped transmit independent journalists stories out of the country.