Cuban opposition group says political arrests declined in March

Cuban opposition group says political arrests declined in March
Published April 01, 2014 - EFE

The opposition Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National
Reconciliation reported Tuesday a decline in the number of political
arrests in March compared with earlier months, a situation it attributed
to the Communist government's interest in showing "a better image" with
an eye toward its talks with the European Union.

In its monthly report, the commission reported slightly more than 800
"arbitrary arrests for political motives" during March, a lower figure
than the more than 1,000 per month in December, January and February.

"The (commission) attributes this decline to the possible interest of
the Cuban government in showing a better image with an eye toward the
recently-initiated talks with the European Union, which we are hoping
play a relevant role in everything concerning civil, political,
economic, social, cultural, union and labor rights," said the group in a
communique released on Tuesday.

The EU and Cuba are currently working on preparing for the start of the
talks aimed at forging an agreement on political dialogue and cooperation.

Up to now, bilateral relations have been based on the "common position,"
a document adopted by the EU in 1996 that conditions relations with
Havana on the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights on the
island.

The start of negotiations on an agreement with Cuba was approved on Feb.
10 by EU foreign ministers and accepted by Cuba on March 6.

"The (commission) wishes European diplomacy the best success possible,
but we cannot hide our profound skepticism due to the almost absolute
lack of political will by the ruling regime in Cuba," the commission said.

The Cuban government considers dissidents on the island to be
counterrevolutionaries and mercenaries in the service of the United States.

EFE

Source: Cuban opposition group says political arrests declined in March
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