In line with the rejection by the Cuban government of the
recommendation to “halt the prosecution of citizens who are exercising the
rights guaranteed under articles 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 of the UDHR,” Cubans
who dare to criticize the government risk criminal charges – which is in clear
contradiction with Cuba’s international human rights obligations – and will not
enjoy due process guarantees, such as the right to fair and public hearings by
a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal. In practice, courts are
“subordinated” to the executive and legislative branches, thus denying
meaningful judicial protection. Political prisoners’ are routinely denied parole
after completing the minimum required sentence as punishment for refusing to
participate in ideological activities such as “reeducation” classes.
Dozens of political prisoners remain in Cuban prisons,
according to respected human rights groups on the island. These groups estimate
there are many more political prisoners whose cases they cannot document
because the government does not allow independent national or international
human rights groups to access its prisons.
Brothers Marcos Maikel and Antonio Michel Lima Cruz—members
of a human rights group in Holguín called Pedro Luis Boitel—were arrested in
December 2010 and sentenced in a closed, summary trial in May 2011 to three and
two years in prison, respectively. Accused of insulting national symbols and
causing public disorder, their family said the charges were fabricated to
punish the brothers for their human rights work. Antonio Michel has developed a
serious kidney infection and prostate condition during his imprisonment,
ailments that his family attributes to unhygienic prison conditions. They said
his suffering has been exacerbated by inadequate medical treatment. Both men
are still in prison.
Rogelio Tavío López—a member of a dissident group called the
Unión Patriótica de Cuba—was detained on March 2, 2012, in Guantanamo province
after organizing a gathering to protest the detention of a fellow dissident and
to call for greater political freedoms. His wife said he was arrested without
judicial orders and has since been held in a prison in Guantanamo province
without being brought to trial.
source : www.hrw.org
source : www.hrw.org