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March 7, 2008

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Sandy Acosta Cox: 305-592-7768

  WAITING FOR UNLIKELY CHANGE
BEATINGS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
CONTINUE UNDER RAUL CASTRO

As one of the European Union’s highest officials sits in Havana, human rights defenders across the island receive beatings from Cuban authorities, and the repression of human rights continues.  In addition, the signing of two human rights treaties last week have done little to effect the dictatorial disposition of any Castro administration.

The European Union’s Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, arrived yesterday in hopes of meeting with Raul Castro.  His hopes are to begin a “constructive dialogue” with the newly appointed Cuban administration.  The first high-level official from the EU to visit the island since 2005 is a significant indicator of the EU’s hope that a change has finally come to Cuba.   However, little has changed since Mr. Michel’s last visit in Havana, which followed shortly after the EU lifted diplomatic sanctions on Havana which had been a reaction to the massive crackdown on opposition in March of 2003. 

Mr. Michel’s hopes for change perhaps come at the Cuban Foreign Minister’s recent signing of the Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights last week at the UN.  However, while the ink was still wet, activists reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Havana were beaten in a violent attack by Cuban state security agents.

Marta Beatriz Roque states that it was “one of the most brutal attacks on a peaceful act of opposition that she had witnessed.”  She was sent to the hospital with torn arm ligaments and muscles.  Nine other activists were also present and attacked on March 1^st. 

The Cuban American National Foundation’s President, Francisco “Pepe” Hernandez, stated that “the world cannot remain in silence in hopes that Raul Castro will bring a change to the island.  These beatings are an example of the repressive society any Castro regime will impose on its citizenry.   The European Union has to respond to these abuses while Louis Michel is in Havana and ensure that human rights are not bartered at the negotiation table with Raul Castro.”

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