CUBA: Dissidents hope for more political prisoner releases as visit by Spanish Foreign Minister begins

Record ID: 1538981

  • Title: CUBA: Dissidents hope for more political prisoner releases as visit by Spanish Foreign Minister begins
  • Date: 7th July 2010
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (FILE - APRIL 2003) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF COURTHOUSE
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2010 03:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7PXDOXJ7BKYIO56LMJGK3OWLP
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Cuban dissidents said on Tuesday (July 06) they hope the visit by Spain's foreign minister will lead to the freeing of political prisoners held by the Castro administration.
    Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos arrived Monday and was meeting with Cuban officials as the Catholic Church is trying to gain the release of Cuba's 167 political prisoners through dialogue with the government.
    Laura Pollan, whose husband was among 75 prisoners arrested in a 2003 crackdown, said Moratinos may be able to lend support to the Church's efforts, which were launched in a May meeting between President Castro and Cuban Cardinal Jaime Ortega.
    "For us his arrival is important right now because we know he's coming to deal with the government and the church about the problem of the political prisoners. We know there will be prisoners released, or at least that's what we hope," said Pollan, head of the dissident group "Ladies in White".
    Maceda is among around 50 of the group of 75 who are still in jail. The church has been able to negotiate to move some of the prisoners closer to their homes and released at least one sick prisoners.
    Pollan said her group didn't need to meet with Moratinos, but needed to see results.
    "The most important thing is the release of the prisoners, especially the sickest ones. And saving Guillermo Farinas' life. It's not important that Moratinos meets with the Women in White or Farinas or other people. This is not the time for meeting. It's time for releasing prisoners," she said.
    But negotiations hang in the balance as reports that hunger striking dissident Guillermo Farinas' health is quickly declining. Farinas, a 48-year-old psychologist, is demanding the release of 25 jailed government opponents said to be in poor health.
    His case is the latest dissident protest in Cuba to capture international attention. The Feb. 23 death of another hunger striker, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, drew condemnation from the United States and Europe.
    Elizardo Sanchez, an activist for the rights of dissidents, said Moratinos' visit is a good sign.
    "It's good that under such negative conditions, a diplomatic of such high rank comes and tries to help. Something will come of this. But I don't hide my skepticism that comes from the near complete lack of willingness showed over the decades by the Castro brothers, Fidel and Raul, to better the basic rights of the Cuban people," he said.
    Despite his lack of faith in the Castro administration, he said the number of political prisoners should continue dropping.
    "It's gone down to around 167 and is without a doubt the lowest in half of century of totalitarian government. And it's probable the figure will keep going down. It wouldn't surprise me if by the end of the year it were around 100 prisoners in jail for political reasons," Sanchez added.
    Cuban leaders consider dissidents to be mercenaries working for their enemies to undermine the Cuban state.
    The death of Zapata, who pressed for improved prison conditions, stained Cuba's image and is believed by some to have led to a recent easing of government policy toward dissidents.
    The independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights reported on Monday that the 167 political prisoners now behind bars was the lowest number since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.
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