Black Spring of Cuba: Difference between revisions
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In what has been called '''Black Spring of Cuba''', when the [[Fidel Castro]] regime put in jail 75 political opponents between 18 and 20 March 2003. Many of them are still prisoners. some have been released in return for political concessions. Spain, for example, has gained the release of some dissidents and journalists. <ref name=CPJ>{{citation | |||
| url = http://cpj.org/reports/2008/03/cuba-press-crackdown.php | |||
| publisher = [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] | |||
| title = Cuba's Long Black Spring: Five years after the Castro government cracked down on the independent press, more than 20 journalists remain behind bars for the crime of free expression | |||
| author = Carlos Lauria, Monica Campbell, and María Salazar | |||
| date = 18 March 2008}}</ref> | |||
According to the Castro government, these people were "threatening national security" by disseminating ideas against the [[Communist]] system. Others, such as the [[European Union]], the [[Holy See]], human rights organizations such as [[Human Rights Watch]],<ref name=HRW>{{citation | |||
| title = Cuba: Human Rights and US Policy | |||
| author = Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director | |||
| publisher = [[Human Rights Watch]] | |||
| date = 3 September 2003 | |||
| url = http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2003/09/03/cuba-human-rights-and-us-policy}}</ref> [[Reporters without Borders]] and [[Amnesty International]] declared they were exercising reasonable democratic rights. They were arrested and subjected in few days to summary trials, where they were condemned to long sentences from 15 to 28 years in prison. | |||
Independent reporting had become more available at this time, inside and outside the island. One example was the independent magazine ''De Cuba'', launched by [[Raul Rivero]] and [[Ricardo Gonzalez]]. Also, in that time the [[Sakharov Prize]], [[Oswaldo Paya]], carried out the [[Varela Project]], the most successful initiative of the opposition that get more than 10,000 signatures on May 2002, in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba. | Independent reporting had become more available at this time, inside and outside the island. One example was the independent magazine ''De Cuba'', launched by [[Raul Rivero]] and [[Ricardo Gonzalez]]. Also, in that time the [[Sakharov Prize]], [[Oswaldo Paya]], carried out the [[Varela Project]], the most successful initiative of the opposition that get more than 10,000 signatures on May 2002, in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba. | ||
Five years later, still 55 prisoners from the Black Spring of Cuba remain in prison. A group called [[Ladies in White]], advocate for the freedom of all the Cuban political prisoners. | Five years later, still 55 prisoners from the Black Spring of Cuba remain in prison. A group called [[Ladies in White]], advocate for the freedom of all the Cuban political prisoners. | ||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
Revision as of 20:54, 27 August 2009
In what has been called Black Spring of Cuba, when the Fidel Castro regime put in jail 75 political opponents between 18 and 20 March 2003. Many of them are still prisoners. some have been released in return for political concessions. Spain, for example, has gained the release of some dissidents and journalists. [1]
According to the Castro government, these people were "threatening national security" by disseminating ideas against the Communist system. Others, such as the European Union, the Holy See, human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch,[2] Reporters without Borders and Amnesty International declared they were exercising reasonable democratic rights. They were arrested and subjected in few days to summary trials, where they were condemned to long sentences from 15 to 28 years in prison.
Independent reporting had become more available at this time, inside and outside the island. One example was the independent magazine De Cuba, launched by Raul Rivero and Ricardo Gonzalez. Also, in that time the Sakharov Prize, Oswaldo Paya, carried out the Varela Project, the most successful initiative of the opposition that get more than 10,000 signatures on May 2002, in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba.
Five years later, still 55 prisoners from the Black Spring of Cuba remain in prison. A group called Ladies in White, advocate for the freedom of all the Cuban political prisoners.
References
- ↑ Carlos Lauria, Monica Campbell, and María Salazar (18 March 2008), Cuba's Long Black Spring: Five years after the Castro government cracked down on the independent press, more than 20 journalists remain behind bars for the crime of free expression, Committee to Protect Journalists
- ↑ Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director (3 September 2003), Cuba: Human Rights and US Policy, Human Rights Watch