Rights leader: More Cuban prisoners to go free
By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press Writer
HAVANA -- A Cuban human rights leader on Monday revealed the names of
nine inmates apparently offered early release by the government in
exchange for accepting exile, including some convicted of violent crimes
such as hijacking, assault and piracy.
During formal jailhouse interviews in recent days, the nine men were
told to compile a list of no more than eight family members who could go
with them into exile, said Elizardo Sanchez, head of the Cuban
Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation.
"This massive release is good news," Sanchez said in a written statement.
The communist government has not commented.
Word of the expected releases - which first came out over the weekend -
is the latest sign that Cuba's surprise decision to empty its jail of
many political prisoners will not be limited to the 52 "prisoners of
conscience" whose release had already been promised.
Those prisoners - jailed in a 2003 sweep - were all locked up for
nonviolent activism and other opposition activities.
But the government is holding about 100 other people who are not on
Amnesty's list, many because they have been convicted of murder,
hijacking and other violent crimes. Some human rights organizations
believe the convictions and lengthy sentences were politically motivated.
The list released by Sanchez on Monday includes three men - Leudis Arce
Romero, Lazaro Avila Sierra and Francisco Reyes Rodriguez - serving life
sentences for hijacking a plane from Cuba's Isla de la Juventud in 2003
and demanding it be taken to the United States.
Others on the list were convicted of violent crimes including piracy,
assault and "terrorism," and were serving sentences ranging from six to
15 years.
The only prisoner on the list not convicted of a violent crime was Pavel
Hernandez, who was sentenced to six years in jail for trying to leave
Cuba illegally.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/04/1856512/rights-leader-more-cuban-prisoners.html
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