Thu Dec 11, 8:15 pm ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Cuban authorities arrested more than 30 people in
the days leading up to International Human Rights Day this week, a New
York-based human rights watchdog said Thursday.
Human Rights Watch cited press reports and Cuban human rights groups as
saying many of those arrested were trying to travel to Havana for
marches on December 10, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"The Cuban government should immediately and unconditionally free the
dissidents who have been arbitrarily detained in recent days," Human
Rights Watch said in a statement.
There was no immediate comment from the Cuban government, but Havana
labels dissidents "mercenaries" in the pay of the United States, which
has maintained sanctions against the Communist-run island for more than
four decades. Washington openly works with Cuban dissidents.
The statement said some of those arrested had since been released and it
was not known how many remained in detention. Rights groups say Cuban
authorities have in the past briefly held dissidents planning protests.
Around 30 family members and supporters of dissidents jailed since 2003
marched through Havana Wednesday to mark the rights day. Another planned
protest in the capital was canceled, but it was unclear why.
Havana recently signed two U.N. accords on civil and political rights
and the European Union in June voted to lift sanctions imposed on Cuba
after the 2003 arrest of 75 dissidents. Around 50 are still in jail.
Foreign Minister Felipe Perez said Wednesday Cuba would undergo a review
by a U.N. rights council earlier next year.
The local Cuban Commission for Human Rights, which is illegal but
tolerated, estimates there are around 200 people in prison for political
reasons. The group said Wednesday around 50 people were detained this
week to prevent them attending events and meetings in Havana.
(Reporting by Claudia Parsons in New York and Patrick Markey in Havana,
Editing by Anthony Boadle)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081212/wl_nm/us_cuba_rights_arrests_1
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