Rights groups urge EU to toughen policy toward Cuba

Rights groups urge EU to toughen policy toward Cuba

AP
Friday, November 25, 2005

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Human rights organisations from three European
countries yesterday called on the European Union (EU) to increase support
for Cuba's pro-democracy movement and toughen its approach to President
Fidel Castro's communist regime.
"Effective political sanctions, rather than a policy of appeasement toward a
dictator in office for 46 years, are essential to ensuring basic human
rights," the Czech Republic's People In Need, Slovakia's Pontis Foundation
and The International Society for Human Rights based in Frankfurt, Germany,
said in a statement released yesterday.
The three groups proposed that the EU strengthen its role of "a promoter of
human rights and democracy in Cuba" and "establish a relationship with the
Cuban government based on a responsible and reliable human rights policy",
the statement said.
In doing so, the EU "should demand a report of the Cuban government's
adherence to human rights in Cuban prisons and labour camps" and "free
elections and freedom of opinion for the Cuban population", it said.
The EU, the groups said, should also make sure that Cuba cannot become a
member of UN Human Rights Commission or UN Human Rights Council.
There was no immediate reaction from Cuban diplomats in Prague.
Cuba-EU ties have been strained for several years, primarily over the issue
of human rights and political freedoms.
EU foreign ministers in January lifted punitive sanctions against Cuba after
authorities there released 14 of 75 political prisoners for medical reasons
last year.
Sanctions, which included shunning high-level talks with top Cuban
officials, were imposed in 2003 after Cuban authorities detained the 75
dissidents on grounds that they were engaged in treasonous activities. The
activists received prison terms averaging 20 years.
Cuba-EU ties have been strained for several years, primarily over the issue
of human rights and political freedoms.
EU foreign ministers in January lifted punitive sanctions against Cuba after
authorities there released 14 of 75 political prisoners for medical reasons
last year.
Sanctions, which included shunning high-level talks with top Cuban
officials, were imposed in 2003 after Cuban authorities detained the 75
dissidents on grounds that they were engaged in treasonous activities. The
activists received prison terms averaging 20 years.

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