Raúl Castro - Cuba
President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers
Fidel Castro passed the reins of power to his younger brother Raúl, the
defence minister, five days after falling ill on 26 July 2006 and
undergoing a major operation. Formally confirmed as President of the
Council of State on 24 February 2008, Raúl has behaved little better
than his brother as regards human rights, despite a few cautious hints
of a possible opening. The so-called transition period saw continued
harassment of independent journalists including police brutality,
summonses and searches by State Security (the political police) and
detention for short periods. Nineteen of the journalists arrested during
the March 2003 "Black Spring" continue to serve jail terms ranging from
14 to 27 years in appalling conditions. A 20th journalist has been held
without trial since 2005. Five others have been imprisoned since Raúl
took over. With a total of 25 journalists detained, Cuba is one of the
world's biggest prisons for the media, just behind China and Iran.
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