Cuban Authorities Detain At least 20 Dissidents

[Vogon_Glory]

Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published July 24, 2005
HAVANA, CUBA -- Cuban authorities on Friday detained at least 20 opposition activists, including three prominent dissident leaders, who had organized a demonstration for the freedom of political prisoners, relatives and rights monitors in Havana said.

<snip>

Among those detained by state security agents were Martha Beatriz Roque, Felix Bonne, and Rene Gomez, said veteran rights activist Elizardo Sanchez.

Roque, Bonne and Gomez are all former political prisoners and close collaborators who head a dissident coalition known as the Assembly to Promote Civil Society.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0507240332jul24,1,605876.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Minstrel Boy]

1. As Jose Padilla might say,

"Thank God I live in America."



More than three years in military custody. Never charged with a crime. No access to a lawyer.

[Vogon_Glory]

4. I'd Like To See Democratic Rule Throughout The Americas

As naive as some folks (particularly among rightwing trolls and lurkers) might find it, I'd like to see genuine democratic rule throughtout the Americas--in the US as well as in Cuba. We may be naive to think that we can change Cuba's repressive tendencies from the sidelines, but I hope to stop the US's slide towards Banana Republicanism.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Business as usual...

Though I wonder how many of these dissidents have ties to the rightwing Cuban community here in America.
Much like the Israeli/Palestinian debate, I am saddened when I consider that Cuba may have reached a point where neither sidecan claim the moral high ground.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Maybe they should send them to Club Gitmo for a nice vacation.

All those nice fratboy pranks to amuse them.