Cuban political prisoners ponder offer of release from jail
Twelve dissidents say they will accept freedom only on the basis of
their age and health status, but they are unwilling to be forced to move
to Spain as a condition of the deal.
BY JUAN CARLOS CHAVEZ
jcchavez@elnuevoherald.com
At least five of the 12 political prisoners eligible for release from
Cuban prisons -- but who refuse to leave the island -- say they'll
accept freedom if it's offered because of their poor health and age,
according to a founder of the Ladies in White group.
Release under the so-called ``extrapenal license'' would hopefully
prevent Cuban officials from kicking out of the country the freed
prisoners -- as has been done in recent months.
``I suppose there will be some who will accept the license because they
are really sick,'' said Laura Pollán on Friday in a telephone interview
from Havana.
Cuba agreed to release 52 prisoners from the opposition who are part of
the 75 convicted in 2003 during what is known as the Black Spring, a
crack down to silence dissidents.
The release is attributed to the mediation of the Cuban Catholic Church
and Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino, Archbishop of Havana, who supported
the dialogue in favor of better conditions for conscience prisoners.
The program has released 36 dissidents who were flown to Spain with
their families and close relatives.
Yet segments of the internal opposition have accused Cuba of
manipulating the situation and deceiving the prisoners by allowing them
to leave prison only if they travel directly to Spain, said Pollán,
whose husband, Héctor Maseda, who is serving a full 20 years, has said
that he will remain in the island.
``The government is applying psychological pressure to those remaining
in prison because they want to see them out of the country,'' Berta
Soler, spokeswoman of the women's group. Her husband, Angel Moya, is
serving a 20-year sentence.
The group of five prisoners who plan to turn down the ``extrapenal
licenses'' include Pedro Argüelles Morán, Librado Linares García and
Guido Sigler Amaya, all sentenced to 20 years, and Eduardo Díaz Fleitas
and the economist Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique, sentenced to 21 and 18
years, respectively.
Proper care of those who have health problems is a priority that cannot
wait, according to the Ladies in White, formed by mothers, wives and
relatives of political prisoners.
Among the cases considered critical is the case of Argüelles, jailed in
the Canaleta prison in Ciego de Avila, who suffers from advanced
cataracts, arthrosis and circulatory problems. There is also Linares,
jailed in Guajamal jail in Villaclara, who has eyesight problems,
anemia, ulcers and digestive complications.
The advanced age of some of the prisoners is another sensitive issue.
Ramos, 68, is the oldest of the entire group of the 52 being released.
``He is anxiously waiting to be released,'' said his wife, Ester Lidia.
``He wants to get out of that hell, but he doesn't want to travel to
Spain because we are too old. I agree with any document, any license
that will allow him to be freed,'' she said.
The rest of the prisoners have consistently said that they do not want
to be released and be sent abroad, and that they want to be released
without any conditions. This group includes Maseda and Dr. Oscar Elías
Biscet, the best known among all jailed dissidents. Biscet, who in
November 2007 received in absentia the Medal of Freedom from President
George W. Bush, is serving a 25-year sentence.
In a telephone conversation from her house in Havana, Elsa Morejón,
Biscet's wife, said that all releases must be carried out effectively
and with transparency.
``My husband has suffered many pains and health complications, but he is
holding his ground. He is a man of his word,'' Morejón said.
Biscet started his role in the opposition shortly after graduating as a
medical doctor in the '80s, when he courageously denounced the working
conditions and the long hours doctors were forced to work without
compensation.
``My husband's release must be unconditional because he doesn't want to
leave Cuba,'' Morejón said. ``Those who traveled to Spain were nor
properly documented and aware of what was awaiting them.''
To many analysts inside Cuba the government's decision to not release
those who wish to remain in Cuba has made their families restless.
Elizardo Sánchez, activist and president of the Human Rights and
National Reconciliation Commission, said the government is keeping those
12 in prison until the end of the process with the hope that they will
change their minds and leave Cuba in a matter of days.
``In the end, they will be released and this is supposed to happen in
the first weeks of October,'' Sánchez said. He added that there are
indications that the Cuban government will initiate a new round of
releases beyond those incarcerated under the Case of 75.
``We have received clear indications that a release of a larger group of
prisoners is in the works under the condition that they leave the
country,'' Sánchez said. ``But it is not clear whether the issue of
these releases will be part of the agenda of the European Union Council.''
The EU policy links its relationship with Cuba to the issue of human
rights and individual freedoms. This position, known as common position,
does not contemplate any specific sanctions though the Cuban government
has denounced it as interference in its internal affairs and an
impediment for improving relations with the European bloc.
The extensive debate on the Cuban situation should be held this month
when the EU analyzes the issue in an integral manner, though there is no
full guarantee that it will happen, said Joaquín Roy, director of the
European Union Center at the University of Miami.
``The Council is indispensable on these issues, especially because there
are priorities,'' Roy said. ``And if it becomes part of EU's global
scope this issue could become insignificant.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/03/v-fullstory/1855868/cuban-political-prisoners-ponder.html
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