169 out of 173 in the latest worldwide index
- Area: 110,860 sq. km
- Population: 11,267,000
- Language: Spanish
- Head of state: Raul Castro since February 2008
Cuba is the sole country on the American continent not to tolerate an
independent press. The country is still ranked as the world's second
biggest prison for journalists with 24 of them in jail. There have been
a few cautious changes since Raul Castro took power.
Cuba is the only country on the American continent that does not
tolerate an independent press outside the tight control of the state.
The official media (one television station, one radio, two daily
newspapers - Granma and Juventud Rebelde - and their local offices) have
the job of relaying official propaganda. Only a few Catholic magazines
are permitted. Dissident journalists therefore all work secretly and are
forced to publish with external help, in particular through websites run
by the Cuban diaspora in Miami, what they cannot publish to their fellow
citizens on the island. Cuba remains, after China, the world's second
biggest prison for journalists, since the "black spring" of March 2003.
Nineteen of the 27 journalists arrested at the time remain behind bars,
including the Reporters Without Borders' correspondent, Ricardo Gonzalez
Alfonso. Another journalist was sentenced in 2005 to seven years in
prison while four others were handed down sentences of three to four
years after the interim presidency Raul Castro from 31 July 2006, before
he officially succeeded his brother, on 24 February 2008. Harassment of
dissidents continues, even if the new government has given a few
cautious signs of openness. Four days after the inauguration of Raul
Castro on 27 February 2008, Cuba signed - without ratifying them - two
UN human rights pacts (one on financial, social and cultural rights and
the other on civil and political rights). Cubans on 24 February had a
ban lifted on using major hotels with better Internet connections and on
buying individual computer equipment. Mobile phones were also legalised.
Four dissidents arrested during "black spring", including journalist
Alejandro Gonzalez Raga, were released on 15 February 2008, after
mediation by the Spanish government which also gave them the right to
relocate to the country. Use of the Internet remains under close
control, even if connection problems are also due to the restrictions
imposed under the US embargo that has been in force since 1962.
Reporters sans frontières - Cuba - World Report 2009
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