Political prisoners not exiled from Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Political prisoners not exiled from Cuba
Published: June 23, 2011 at 6:18 PM

HAVANA, June 23 (UPI) -- Cuban President Raul Castro made no deal to free 115 political prisoners if the Catholic Church got them to be exiled to Spain, a church spokesman said.

The exile was totally voluntary, Orlando Marquez said in a statement.

Representatives of the Ladies in White opposition movement, consisting of wives and other female relatives of jailed dissidents, said some family members thought it would be best if "their dear ones could leave Cuba, even if unaccompanied, because that was preferable to keeping them in prison," Marquez's statement said.

Spain agreed to accept any prisoner wishing to leave Cuba, but going there was not a requirement for freedom, said Marquez's statement posted on the Web site of the church magazine Palabra Nueva.

More:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/06/23/Political-prisoners-not-exiled-from-Cuba/UPI-47011308867480/

[dipsydoodle]

1. And as we've dicussed before

Spain didn't exactly turn out to be the land of milk and honey.

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

3. They got really snotty about it, too. They should have looked before they lept.

Bitched about their quarters, their food, on and on and on. What do they expect for nothing, anyhoo?

Perhaps a mighty town turnout, a parade, a key to the city, the mayor's eldest daughter, a Rolls Royce and the finest home in town? Not good enough? Maybe more to sweeten the pot, just for the honor of their presence.

Apparently the Spanish weren't prepared to receive someone of their highness.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_RYWOYAyhuhE/TQmXxyUflII/AAAAAAAAACY/m7Bz6Fkf5WU/s320/snooty.jpg

[joshcryer]

2. If you were a political dissident and you had a choice between regular propaganda brigades...

...and the news media splayed your face on it on a regular basis, would you want to stay?

There are political dissidents who chose to stay despite that however (see: Rolando Rodriguez Lobaina), and they will be heroes when the reforms come to Cuba.

From your article: The 115 who agreed to leave went directly from prison to the airport in Havana and flew to Madrid. The 12 who refused to go were later freed too, he said.

The last of those freed was Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez and Pedro Argüelles Morán. In all cases their freedom is contingent upon not having political presence.

[naaman fletcher]

4. There are no political prisoners in Cuba. Nt