By VANESSA ARRINGTON, Associated Press Writer
Monday, January 8, 2007
(01-08) 11:00 PST HAVANA, Cuba (AP) --
Wives and mothers of Cuban political prisoners urged U.S. peace activist
Cindy Sheehan on Monday to visit the island's state-run jails during her
weeklong trip to Cuba to call for the closure of the U.S.-operated
Guantanamo prison.
The Ladies in White, a group of women demanding the release of their
loved ones, described what they called "inhumane" conditions at Cuba's
prisons in a letter for Sheehan that was sent to international
reporters. The group said it was trying to get a copy to Sheehan as well.
"At the same time you and your noble followers fight for the closure of
the U.S. prison at the Guantanamo naval base ... just a few miles away
at the provincial Guantanamo prison in Cuban territory, peaceful and
defenseless political prisoners suffer inhumane conditions, (living)
without potable water and with poor nutrition, deficient medical
assistance, insects and rodents, limited visits and precarious
communication," the letter said.
"We exhort you to visit the prisons of Cuba, chosen randomly, and not
those prepared" by authorities, it added.
Sheehan arrived in Havana on Saturday with a dozen other peace activists
and plans to attend a human rights conference in the eastern Cuban city
of Guantanamo on Wednesday. On Thursday, the group is to hold a protest
outside the U.S. Navy's Guantanamo base, where nearly 400 men are being
held on suspicion of links to al-Qaida or the Taliban.
In the letter, the Ladies in White said they are a peaceful group that
faces constant harassment from Cuban officials. They also asked Sheehan
to meet with them so she "could know this other reality of Cuban society."
Their jailed husbands and sons are among 75 activists rounded up in the
spring of 2003 and sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 28
years. Sixteen of those prisoners have since been released for health
reasons, but more than 300 human rights activists, independent
journalists and members of outlawed political parties remain behind
bars, according to rights groups.
Thursday's protest outside the U.S. military base will coincide with
demonstrations around the world to mark the fifth anniversary of the
first prisoners' arrival and demand that Washington close the prison.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/01/08/state/n110040S23.DTL
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