25 April 2008
Raul Castro became Cuba's first new president in fifty years when he
took over the reigns of power from his ailing brother, Fidel Castro, in
February. But it is clear that the slightly younger Castro is as intent
upon repressing the Cuban citizen's political rights as was his older
brother. Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of belief
and the freedom to challenge one's government peaceably remain beyond
the reach of everyday Cubans, as was so brutally demonstrated in the
recent suppression of ten women demonstrators in the country's capital.
The government of Raul Castro cracked down on a group of peaceful women
protesters known as the "Ladies in White." These women are the wives of
men arrested in a political crackdown in 2003 that landed 75 Cuban
dissidents in prison on charges of working for the U.S. government.
Fifty-five remain in jail.
The women had staged a sit-in next to Havana's Revolution Square to
demand that Raul Castro release their relatives. The women, some of whom
sustained bruises and scratches, were forcibly loaded onto buses, driven
home by police, and warned against participating in further protests.
The "Ladies in White" earned their name by marching silently every
Sunday along Havana boulevard dressed in white. One of the founders,
Miriam Leiva, told the press, "We were born out of government repression
and we have no particular political agenda. Our objective is purely
humanitarian, to free the prisoners of March 2003."
The U.S. Interests Section in Havana, in a written statement, deplored
the forceful removal of the women and the denial of their right to free
assembly. The U.S. urges Cuba to release all those jailed for peacefully
exercising their universally recognized human rights.
The United States has repeatedly called for the Cuban government to
release political prisoners and engage in a national dialogue with civil
society leading to a process of democratic change. "A new day for Cuba
will come," said President Bush. "And we will know when it's here. We
will know it's here when jailers go to the cells where Cuban prisoners
of conscience are held and set them free. . . .And we will know it is
here when the 'Ladies in White' no longer make their silent vigils, or
live in constant fear of assault or arrest."
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