By Michael Voss
BBC News, Havana
Cuban dissidents trying to hold a silent march in Havana to mark Human
Rights Day were confronted by crowds chanting pro-government slogans.
Government supporters screaming insults broke up two small groups of
dissidents marching through Havana.
They also targeted a UK diplomat, Chris Stimpson, who was monitoring
events, surrounding and banging on his car.
Plain clothes police stepped in to protect him and the British embassy
has declined further comment on the issue.
Across Havana, there as a second protest march, this time by the Ladies
in White, who are the mothers and wives of prisoners.
They too were surrounded and jostled.
The authorities call these counter-demonstrations spontaneous outbursts
by concerned citizens defending the Cuban revolution.
Critics say they are organised mobs aimed at intimidating any opposition.
There had been hopes that Raul Castro would end such tactics when he
took over the presidency from his brother, Fidel, but old habits, it
seems, die hard.
BBC News - Cuban government supporters target rights marches (11
December 2009)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8407276.stm
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