From Ziva at Babalu:
2:20 PM - I was able to get through and spoke with Yusnaimi's brother.
He said that she left for the march around 10:30 AM EST with another 3 persons.
Before she was able to reach the Parque Villalon, where the demonstration was going to take place, she was detained by State Security agents, beaten and pushed into a Lada automobile, like the ones normally used by Castro's Gestapo.
The other 3 people who were with her were not detained.
As of now, almost 4 hours later, the family doesn't know where she is being held.
Yusmaini's brother also told me that he spoke with Laura Pollán, member of The Ladies in White, and she said that several of the women were beaten this morning when they tried to reach Parque Villalon.
2 PM - I have not been able to reestablish connection with Yusmaini.
Dissident sources in Cuba are reporting that several dissidents that tried to demonstrate at Parque Villalón were arrested and many of them were beaten by police.
The Ladies in White also joined those who were demonstrating this morning to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
Dec. 10 - I spoke early this morning with Yusnaimi Jorge Soca, the wife of Cuban dissident Dr. Darsi Ferrer who is currently in jail for planning a peaceful march in Havana last July.
Each December 10, Dr. Ferrer, his wife and several Cuban dissidents have marched at a park in Havana to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
Last year, Dr. Ferrer and his wife were attacked by a mob organized by Cuba's State Security. You can see the photographs of last year march here: Castro's Gulag
Yusnaimi told me that two dissidents who were planning to participate in today's march, Rafael Ernesto Avila and Litvio Fernandez, have already been arrested this morning by Cuban police.
The march is supposed to start at 11 AM Cuba time, 10 AM EST.
Yusnaimi said that she can see several Cuban agents posted outside her home and she doesn't know if they'll arrest her when she steps outside.
Today was a scheduled prison visit for Darsi, but she'll not be able to go since she wants to participate in the march.
Other friends will go visit him and we'll have news on how he is doing.
I'll try to keep in touch with her during the day and let you know what happened.
Babalu has the statement from Darsi Ferrer about today's march
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