February 15, 2008

Report: Prisoner release may be imminent

Three Cuban political prisoners arrested during the "black spring" of 2003, may soon be released, according to a Spanish Web site.">according to a Spanish Web site.

Encuentro En la Red speculated that the release — if it happens — might be the result of human rights talks earlier this week between Cuban and Spanish officials.

Members of the Damas De Blanco and other Cuban dissidents told EER that the prisoners who may soon have their freedom are:

Pedro Pablo Álvarez Ramos, 60, an independent librarian and union activist, serving a 25-year prison sentence.

Alejandro González Raga, an independent journalist serving a 14-year prison sentence. He is about 50 years old.

Omar Pernet Hernández, 62, a human rights activist and independent librarian, serving a 25-year prison sentence.

The sources did not rule out the possibility of more prisoners being released, according to EER.


It is right to worry about what the Socialist government in Madrid might have promised Havana. But if the release comes off, there would be no denying that the Spanish policy of engaging the Cuban dictatorship would have paid off in a concrete, and welcome fashion.

If the report is true, hopefully Spain, and the rest of the world would keep the pressure to empty all of Cuba's jails of of its prisoners of conscience.

(H/T to Penultimos Dias.)

(Cross-posted at Uncommon Sense.)

Posted by Marc at February 15, 2008 07:33 AM



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Comments

I would chalk it up less to anything Spain did and more to Cuba's manipulative nature. If they make Spain look good by releasing 1% of Cuba's political prisoners then Spain can go back and tell the EU parliament that engagement works and so the "common position" on Cuba can be eliminated along with the suspended sanctions. It's all part of appearing to be reasonable without really having to be. Unconditional release of ALL the political prisoners is the sign we are looking for. Then we know Cuba is no longer a place that arbitrarily imprisons its people for disagreeing with the government.

Posted by: Henry "Conductor" Gomez [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 15, 2008 08:44 AM

All that jazz and just las week they sentenced to more people in a summary trial for "dangerousness". I don't recall that being international news.

Posted by: Lori [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 15, 2008 09:55 AM

Human beings used as trading pieces, as bargaining chips, as objects for barter, like livestock or sacks of rice. Same old, same old. But hey, let's be sure to be REALLY grateful, just like the remaining political prisoners should be VERY grateful to the Castro regime that they're only unjustly imprisoned under hellish condition, and not actually dead. Give me a fucking break.

Posted by: asombra [TypeKey Profile Page] at February 15, 2008 01:40 PM

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