Radio Transcript
Host
Taking place live at 2 p.m. in the Municipal Court of Guantanamo in the street Calixto Garcia, between the road and Emilio Giró, the trial against two Guantanamo pastors accused of not wanting to take their children to school.
[0:15] The offense: Acts contrary to the normal development of the minor.
Pastor Ramón Rigal had already completed serving the penalty, without the deprivation of freedom, and since Tuesday, he has been arrested, along with his wife, there in the Guantanamo prison—Adya Expósito—and Pastor Ramón Rigal and his wife are being tried starting at 2 p.m. in the Calixto Municipal Court of Guantánamo. We will have all of this information, shortly, here in our space.
[0:45] We will also have information—as we had said—and update all the reactions in the length and breadth of the national territory, on all the perspectives of the situation.
[0:59] How Cubans view the implementation of Title 3 and 4. And also talk of the manipulation of the Cuban government, the Castro government that, using the media, has been saying that they will confiscate their properties, the houses, from the Cubans, when we all know that they are not included.
[1:16] Let’s go now to Guantanamo, in contact with a young girl, 12 years of age—their daughter, one of those involved in this case, Ruth Rigal Expósito. Her parents, at this time, are being tried starting at 2 p.m. in the Municipal Court of Guantanamo.
Ruth, thank you, good afternoon.
Ruth
[1:31] Good afternoon.
Host
[1:32] Well, Ruth, tell us what has happened. You and your brother do not go to the Cuban school system. We know that your father was previously punished because of that and was serving the penalty that, we understand, had already finished, without internment, both he and your mother. Nevertheless, last Tuesday, they were once again arrested and, summarily, are now being tried. Tell us, what happened?
Ruth
[1:56] Well, Tuesday morning, around 8, they came to arrest my father, dressed in civilian clothing. And around 10 a.m., they came to arrest my mother. But first, they searched the house and took away our computer and all the material of the school with which we were doing classes. And they took her, saying that they would not keep her. But they have left her there until today, when they will now try both of them.
Host
[2:23] The charges, what are they for?
Ruth
[2:25] For—they are other acts contrary to the normal development of the minor.
Host
[2:30] You—you are twelve years of age, correct?
Ruth
[2:34] Thirteen.
Host
Thirteen. And your brother?
Ruth
[2:36] He is nine.
Host
He is nine.
And in what school are you studying? Tell us.
Ruth
[2:40] In Colegio Hebrón that is in Guatemala.
Host
[2:43] In Guatemala. And they don’t want—the authorities don’t want, though it is completely legal—
Ruth
No
Host
—for you to do that study.
If your parents are convicted and taken to prison—because I understand that he has been told that, because he is a resident, he could be taken to prison, tell me about that.
Ruth
[2:59] Yes, they threatened us also with taking us to the Casa Patria. That if they did not place me in the school, they would imprison them and would take us to the Casa Patria.
Host
To the Casa—?
Ruth
Patria
Host
What is the Casa Patria?
Ruth
Where they take the children who do not have parents or who are in prison.
Host
[3:17] Imagine that. To the Casa Patria Potestad is what you mean, there in Guantanamo. To that effect, Ruth, if your parents are convicted, you live with them. You don’t have other relatives, correct?
Ruth
[3:28] Yes, we do have grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
Host
[3:32] And how—and how—and are you and your brother concerned about what your parents are going through?
Ruth
Yes, because we do not want to go to the school.
Host
[3:39] You don’t want to go to the sch—you want to continue studying in that Christian school, correct?
Ruth
Yes, exactly.
Host
[3:44] Well, Ruth, anyway, the trial is already taking place now. Who are—? Do you know if your parents have any attorney?
Ruth
[3:52] No, they did not—they notified us of the trial at 1:30, when the trial was going to take place at 2, and there was not enough time to hire any attorney.
Host
[4:00] At 1:30 p.m. That is what—
Ruth
Yes, exactly.
Host
what the attorney—That is what the attorney Alberto Mendez Castello has told us, that, following instructions, they notify when the hearing is about to take place. So they are going without an attorney to the hearing. And is any relative there in the municipal court?
Ruth
[4:13] Yes.
Host
Well then—
Ruth
[4:18] My grandmother is there, both grandmothers, both of my grandmothers, and also brethren from the church of the faith.
Host
[4:25] What is the church that you—the church at which you attend? Can you tell me what the church is?
Ruth
[4:32] No. We don’t have a name. We don’t [—] we are meeting, but they told us that we could not meet if we did not become affiliated with a denomination.
Host
[4:42] Well, let me tell you, Ruth, that Christian Solidarity Worldwide, that is a very prestigious organization that protects the rights of those persecuted for religious reasons worldwide, with its headquarters in London, has echoed this lawsuit that is going through international pages. It says, “Arrested, Cuban Religious Couple That Refuses to Take Their Children to the State School.”
[5:02] And it has called attention, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, from London, England. We thank you, Ruth, and when the program concludes, we will call you off the air again to see if you know if it was concluded. Do you hear?
Ruth
Yes, okay, thank you.
Host
[5:16] Thanks to Ruth Rigal Expósito. This is a tremendous situation. Thirteen years of age in Guantanamo—