Church: 7 jailed dissidents reject leaving Cuba

Posted on Friday, 10.01.10
Church: 7 jailed dissidents reject leaving Cuba

The Associated Press

HAVANA -- At least seven dissidents due to be freed from Cuban jails
under an agreement reached with the help of the Roman Catholic Church do
not want to leave their homeland for exile in Spain, the island's top
cardinal said Friday.

In July, Cuba's government agreed that over a four-month period it would
release 52 political prisoners jailed in a 2003 crackdown on dissent.
Thirty-nine of them have been let out so far, and all have accepted
asylum in Spain.

While neither the church nor the government has said leaving Cuba is a
prerequisite for release, it has clearly smoothed the way.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega said Friday that "there could be seven or eight"
prisoners who don't want to go. But he indicated that Cuba would
eventually let all 52 out of prison, even if it meant some would stay in
the country.

"Effectively, they will keep getting out ... we still are waiting for
all 52 to be freed," Ortega said.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/01/1852968/church-7-jailed-dissidents-reject.html