Oscar Elías Biscet

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Oscar Elías Biscet-Gonzalez (born July 20, 1961) in Havana, Cuba he is a prominent Christian anti-abortion activist currently living in Cuba. He is the founder of the Lawton Foundation, an illegal group in Cuba whose stated objective is to promote human rights.

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[edit] Beginnings

Biscet received a degree in internal medicine in 1985, the following year in 1986 he protested long hours without wage which led to his immediate suspension. Starting in 1988, Biscet revealed his political tension with the communist regime through speech. The Cuban government in 1994 officially opened a case file on Biscet, labeling him a counter-revolutionary and "dangerous". In 1997, Biscet founded the Lawton Foundation.

[edit] Political and philosophical background

Thoreau, Mahndas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, are three major influences in Biscet's writing and motivation[citation needed], others mentioned by Biscet include Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Jose Marti, and Frederick Douglass. He is a strong believer in a democratic government[citation needed] and has advocated pro-life politics.

[edit] 1998

Dr. Biscet was expelled from the Cuban National Health System in February 1998 because of his activism. Biscet's wife, Elsa Morejón was also expelled from nursing (her profession) because of her husband's activities; she now depends on charity and her family for survival.

[edit] 1999 arrest

In August 1999, Biscet, along with two dozen other dissidents, was detained by Cuban police for organizing meetings in Havana and Matanzas. Police seized him in Pedro Betancourt and took him to Jovellanos for questioning. He claimed that while in custody, the police tortured him by beating, kicking, stripping, and burning him. The government then threatened to detain him longer if he continued promoting his version of pro-democratic activities in Cuba. He was released on August 17, 1999.

[edit] 2003 arrest

Biscet was arrested in a private house with 16 other dissidents while discussing a petition drive and human rights. Dr. Biscet's wife later said, the activists "were beaten and violently arrested", they were removed from the house shouting "Long live human rights" and "Freedom for political prisoners".

Biscet was one of the 75 dissidents imprisoned in 2003 by the Cuban authorities for his association with the head of the US Interests Section in Havana, James Cason. He was given a 25 year sentence for "disorderly conduct" and "counter-revolutionary activities", he is currently being held at Combinado del Este Prison in Havana, Cuba.

A Replica of the prison cell of Dr. Elias Biscet
A Replica of the prison cell of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet

[edit] Campaign to release

Nat Hentoff has been one of the chief advocates for Dr. Biscet in the United States, penning numerous pleas in his syndicated and Village Voice column calling for his release, and highlighting his plight within the Cuban criminal justice system.

U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart visited Ukraine, meeting President Yushchenko said "This Cuban physician was not able to give me his message personally because he is a political prisoner who at this moment suffers in solitary confinement in a cold, damp underground dungeon simply for believing in democracy and human rights. I received his message from his wife, Ms. Elsa Morejón. Dr. Biscet sends you and all of your colleagues of the Orange Revolution, for freedom and democracy in Ukraine, a message of friendship and solidarity. He also expresses his deep gratitude, on behalf of all the political prisoners in Cuba, for your vote and your support at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva for human rights in Cuba."

When Diaz-Balart turned over this message to Yushchenko a Cuban American human rights group "mothers and woman against repression", gave the president of Ukraine a photograph of Biscet and three other political prisoners. Yuschenko thanked them and replied "I will never forget this message, this gesture of friendship. I will never forget the Cuban political prisoners."

A webpage exists that is dedicated to securing the release of Dr. Biscet from jail and promulgating his ideas. It includes news and columns about Dr Biscet as well as writings released from Dr. Biscet himself while in Jail.


[edit] Images

[edit] See also

Portal:Cuba
 Cuba Portal

[edit] External links

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