Cuban opposition activist Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera reported that she intends to appeal a decision reached today by the People’s Municipal Tribunal of Placetas concerning an incident occurred on August 3, 2008. “I have no reason to pay a fine if I have committed no crime… My only crime, according to them, was to have defended Melquíades Hernández, a young man who was bleeding profusely, and on top of that, they were beating him,” stated Pérez Aguilera today by telephone to the Cuban Democratic Directorate. Pérez Aguilera is maintaining her complete innocence of the charges of “resistance” and “contempt” with which she the National Revolutionary Police (NRP) intends to punish her for having interceded to defend the rights of Melquíades Hernández, the young victim of a brutal beating by the NRP on the streets of Placetas on August 3. You can help Iris avoid unjust imprisonment under inhumane conditions by taking the following actions: * Write and send your own letter to the addresses enclosed. * Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language: • expressing concern at reports that Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera was formally convicted on Wednesday August 20, 2008 on charges of "contempt for the proper authorities", and urging the authorities to take immediate action to appeal this decision and guarantee her safety ; • asking the authorities to ensure that all political dissidents engaged in legitimate non-violent activities are permitted to carry out their activities unhindered without fear of reprisals. APPEALS TO : Head of State and Government Raul Castro Ruz Presidente La Habana, Cuba Fax : +53 7 8333085 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) +1 2127791697 (c/o Cuban Mission to UN) Email : cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN) Salutation : Su Excelencia/Your Excellency Attorney-General Dr Juan Escalona Reguera Fiscal General de la Rep˙blica, FiscalÌa General de la Rep˙blica, San Rafael 3, La Habana, Cuba Fax : +53 7 669 485 +53 7 333 164 Salutation : Señor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General Minister of Foreign Affairs Sr Felipe Perez Roque Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Calzada No. 360, Vedado, La Habana, Fax : +53 7 8333 085 E-mail : cubaminrex@minrex.gov.cu Salutation : Señor Ministro/Dear Minister Interior Secretary General Abelardo Colome Ibarra Ministro del Interior y Prisiones Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolucion, La Habana, Cuba Fax : +53 7 8301 566 Salutation : Señor Ministro/Dear Minister