Six protesters were detained by Cuba's government Friday and released
hours after the EU lifted sanctions imposed over a 2003 crackdown.
Posted on Sun, Jun. 22, 2008
Miami Herald Staff and Wire Reports
HAVANA --
Cuban authorities have released six dissidents who were briefly detained
just hours after the European Union had totally lifted its sanctions on
the island, saying there had been signs of improvements in Cuba's human
rights.
The dissidents were detained Friday morning as they staged a protest
near an office of the Ministry of Interior, in charge of domestic
security, in the city of Matanzas.
All had been released by early Saturday.
News reports from Havana identified the six as Jorge Luis ''Antúnez''
García Pérez; his wife, Iraida Pérez; Idania Yanes; Yesmielena Surbano;
Benito Ortega; and Blas Fortún.
Ortega said that security agents had told the group that they were under
investigation for disobedience, resisting and causing damage.
Cuban authorities often detain dissidents briefly, usually to prevent
planned gatherings or warn the government critics to stop their
activities or face tougher sanctions.
The group's detentions came a day after the European Union officially
lifted sanctions put on Cuba after a harsh 2003 crackdown that sentenced
75 dissidents to up to 28 years in prison after quick, usually one-day
trials.
The EU sanctions, which included a ban on meetings between high-ranking
EU and Cuban officials, were suspended several years ago but remained on
the books until Thursday.
EU officials said they have seen improvements in Cuba's human rights
situation, but along with lifting the sanctions the European body was
expected to issue a statement next week urging Havana to release all
political prisoners and take other steps.
''Antúnez'' was released last year after serving a 17-year sentence for
''enemy propaganda'' and sabotage. Of the 75 convicted in 2003, 20 have
been released on parole for health reasons.
He said the protest Friday in Matanzas was designed to spotlight the
earlier detention of his wife's brother, Mario Alberto Pérez, for
investigation on unspecified charges.
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