7 Cuban dissidents find freedom in Spain
By JORGE SAINZ
Associated Press
MADRID -- Seven former political prisoners from Cuba smiled and gave
victory signs Tuesday after they and their families were flown to
freedom in Madrid, the first of 52 dissidents the Cuban government has
promised to free in a historic policy shift.
In an action once deemed unthinkable, Cuba agreed last week to liberate
all those still imprisoned from a 2003 crackdown in which 75 activists
were once jailed. Spain, which along with the Roman Catholic Church
negotiated the deal, agreed to accept the first group of exiles. Other
dissidents had been freed in Cuba earlier.
Those arriving in Madrid included Lester Gonzalez, Omar Ruiz, Antonio
Villarreal, Julio Cesar Galvez, Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, Pablo Pacheco
and Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso, according to Spain's Foreign Ministry.
They came on two flights that left Havana on Monday night along with
family members who brought the group to around 35 people
Galvez read a statement in the name of those released.
"We hope that those that continue in Cuba will be able to enjoy the same
liberties as we have at this moment," he said. "Our arrival signals the
start of a new period in the future of Cuba"
Another dissident denied that group was being used for propaganda
purposes by the Cuban government and said he hoped for freedom for
everyone in Cuba.
"We don't consider ourselves manipulated," Gonzalez Alfonso said. "We
are part of a path."
"One of the words that is going around Cuba is the word 'change,'" he
added. "For me, for us, the word change begins with freedom, not just
the freedom of our companions but the freedom of all Cuban citizens."
Spain's Secretary of Iberoamerican Affairs, Juan Pablo de Laiglesia,
greeted the seven and noted their release was the result of dialogue
between Cuba, the church and Spain. "Spain hopes this dialogue will
arrive reach its port safely and produce all its fruits," he said.
The U.S. government also welcomed the release.
"We applaud the efforts of the Cuban Catholic Church, Spain and others
who have worked towards the release of prisoners of conscience from jail
in Cuba," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J.
Crowley said in a statement.
"While the United States continues to call for the immediate and
unconditional release of all political prisoners, this is a positive
development that we hope will represent a step towards increased respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba," he added.
The Cubans were going to an undisclosed hotel in Madrid. It was unclear
how long they would stay there. The Foreign Ministry, however, said the
Cubans would have legal immigrant status with residency and work permits
that allowed them to live in Spain and travel freely.
The ministry said they would not be treated as refugees or citizens in
exile.
Cuba's Catholic church says another 13 opposition activists and
dissidents behind bars will be freed soon. It was not known if the rest
of the 52 dissidents will be allowed to stay in Cuba or will be forced
into exile, but the U.S., Chile and Spain have all offered to grant them
asylum.
Ruiz, who had been serving a 12-year sentence for treason, told The
Associated Press in Cuba that he and the six others were driven Monday
to Havana's Jose Marti International airport, where they were reunited
with relatives in a special waiting room. He said Cuban officials were
watching them even as they were escorted to the flights.
"That's why I won't consider myself free until I arrive in Spain," he said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/13/1727946/spain-releases-names-of-cuban.html
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