By Caribbean News Global
WASHINGTON, USA – On July 30, the United States announced additional sanctions in connection with the Cuban regime’s repression of the peaceful protests that started on July 11, said: “ We take this action pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Through the Global Magnitsky sanctions program, the United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences to discourage malign actors and promote accountability in connection with serious human rights abuse.”
According to a press release from US Department of State: “We are designating the Cuban Revolutionary National Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR) and its leaders, director Oscar Callejas Valcárcel and deputy director Eddy Sierra Arias, in connection with the PNR’s participation in the Cuban government’s suppression of the protests. The PNR, under the leadership of Callejas Valcárcel and Sierra Arias, has attacked and beaten peaceful protesters.”
The release added: “We recognize the bravery of the Cuban people and the protesters who stood up to the Cuban government’s police-state and sent a message to the world. Cubans deserve to have pride in their homeland and the basic necessities of life that the Cuban Communist Party’s failed system has been unable to deliver.”
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba, and today’s designations result in an additional layer of restrictions on the PNR and its leaders. We are making it clear that anyone who supplies Cuba’s brutal police force, the Special National Brigade, the Interior Ministry, or any other Cuban individuals or entities designated under the Global Magnitsky program may face sanctions risk of their own. We will continue to take action to promote accountability for the Cuban government’s human rights abuses,” said the US Department of State.
On July 22, the United States imposed sanctions on the leader of Cuba’s military and on the Cuban ministry of the interior’s special national brigade in response to Cuban security forces’ violent suppression of peaceful protesters.
Meanwhile, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the same Cuban personals one Cuban entity.
“The Treasury Department will continue to designate and call out by name those who facilitate the Cuban regime’s involvement in serious human rights abuse,” said director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Andrea M. Gacki. “[Today’s] action serves to further hold accountable those responsible for suppressing the Cuban people’s calls for freedom and respect for human rights,” said a press release.
The implication of the said sanctions mandates: “All property and interests in property of these persons that are blocked pursuant to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515 (CACR), continue to be blocked. The CACR prohibits persons subject to US jurisdiction from dealing in property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest, unless authorized or exempt. Additionally, pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 583, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked, and all transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt.
“These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”