Courthouse Square

510 King Street, Suite 340

Alexandria, Virginia
P 703.566.3037
F 703.566.3972

December 29, 2020

His Excellency Juan De Dianous

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama
2862 McGill Terrace N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

According to news stories and Cuban government social media accounts,

Panama has accepted Cuban medical workers to allegedly assist with the COVID-19
pandemic. The Panamanian government should be aware that medical workers
from Cuba – men and women committed to public service - are exploited by the
Communist Party of Cuba, and governments or entities benefitting from their
services could be complicit in the trafficking of these Cuban medical workers. It is
unlawful to traffic in and use slave labor, forced labor or otherwise exploited labor.

Cuban medical workers are tools of the Communist Party, used for
ideological and other subversive purposes; many Cuban medical workers are forced
to do this against their will. Cuban medical workers are also paid far below free-
market rates and are not allowed to negotiate labor contracts freely. Cuban medical
workers are required to spy for Cuba and have their passports confiscated. The
medical brigade members have handlers called “juridicos” who police and control
the workers, as they do in Cuba.

The United States has repeatedly condemned human trafficking, including

Cuba’s trafficking in medical workers. Recently, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs Michael Kozak recently stated:

In stark contrast to the Castro regime, governments that hire

Cuban medical workers must ensure their fair and humane
treatment, which traffics in and exploits the workers’ bravery
for its own gains. Make contracts transparent and pay workers
directly (Tweet of Dec. 21, 2020).

The Global Liberty Alliance (GLA) and other NGOs are committed to
uncovering unlawful trafficking in Cuban medical workers. Working with local
counsel in Brazil, Uruguay, Honduras, and Guatemala, GLA has found disturbing
information about Cuban labor practices in these nations during the past year. Some

A part of The Global Rule of Law & Liberty Legal Defense Fund
www.globallibertyalliance.org
results of our investigations and cases are published on the GLA website at
https://www.globallibertyalliance.org/working-groups.html.

If Panama retains the services of Cuban medical workers, at minimum, it

should do so in a manner consistent with Panamanian labor laws; however, more is
encouraged. Rather than enable the Cuban government in human trafficking,
Panama should help bring an end to this inhumane practice. As a strong U.S. ally
with a record of defending human rights and the rule of law, Panama should press
the Cuban regime to stop abusing Cuban medical workers, allow workers to contract
and travel freely, and practice their profession without violating their fundamental
rights.

We join other human rights champions in defense of Cuban medical workers

and urge Panama's government to reconsider its agreement with the Cuban
Communist Party. Until Cubans are free to choose and work freely, Panama should
be part of the solution by helping stop human trafficking by the Communist Party of
Cuba.

Respectfully,

For the Global Liberty Alliance

Jason Ian Poblete Garcia

Jason Ian Poblete Garcia (Dec 29, 2020 13:41 EST)

Jason Ian Poblete Garcia

President

Page 2 of 2
2020-12 Panama Embassy Letter
Final Audit Report 2020-12-29

Created: 2020-12-29

By: Mauricio Tamargo (mtamargo@globallibertyalliance.org)

Status: Signed

Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAApIxzEzdPxnQsy-D1I_oLAc_RQtJEIkNT

"2020-12 Panama Embassy Letter" History

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