“The Torture They Inflicted on Me Was Severe,” Journalist Valle Roca Says Upon Arrival in Miami
By martinoticias.com
Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca, an independent Cuban journalist, arrived in Miami after being released from one of Cuba’s strictest prisons, Combinado del Este in Havana. Following the granting of humanitarian parole, Valle Roca was quickly transferred from the military hospital to José Martí International Airport and then to the United States. Upon his arrival, he expressed his overwhelming feelings and denounced the torture and hatred he suffered from the Cuban regime, attributing this animosity to what he represents and his family lineage, being the grandson of the founder of the Cuban Communist Party, Blas Roca Calderío.
Background and Details of His Imprisonment:
Valle Roca was arrested on June 15, 2021, for filming activists distributing leaflets with phrases by José Martí. He was sentenced to five years in prison on July 28, 2022, for the alleged crimes of resistance and continuous enemy propaganda. During his imprisonment, Valle Roca endured multiple abuses, and his health severely deteriorated, developing several medical conditions without receiving adequate treatment. Upon arrival in Miami, he mentioned needing time and medical attention to recover.
Statements and Health Condition:
The journalist described his time in prison as a “memory eraser,” indicating he had difficulty remembering things due to the stress and abuse he suffered. His wife, Eralidis Frómeta, who traveled with him, denounced the lack of medical treatment for Valle Roca’s numerous ailments, including a visual tumor, gallstone, aortic sclerosis, kidney failure, lung reinforcement, and deviated septum — all consequences of beatings received.
International Impact and Recognition:
During his imprisonment, Valle Roca became a symbol of the violations of freedom of expression in Cuba. International organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), denounced his imprisonment and called for his immediate release, highlighting that his sentence showed the Cuban government’s effort to silence journalists.
Future Plans and Ongoing Struggle:
Frómeta thanked NGOs, activists, and human rights defenders for their continuous support. She explained that Valle Roca had rejected forced exile, resulting in three years of imprisonment, and stated that if they had not accepted the humanitarian parole, her husband would have died in prison. The couple plans to continue exercising their freedom of the press in the United States and continue fighting for political prisoners in Cuba, their family members, and the Cuban people. Valle Roca, echoing his wife’s views, mentioned the need for unity and love among Cubans to achieve freedom.
Read the full article in English on martinoticias.com, assisted by Google Translate.