HAVANA: One of Cuba’s most prominent dissident groups said yesterday that 36 opposition activists, including a popular hip-hop artist, have been freed in the last two days as part of a deal to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
The dissident Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) said 29 of its members were among those released, and that most had been warned by the communist government they would be sent back to prison if they continued their opposition activities.
“Our freed prisoners are committed to continue fighting for the democratic Cuba which we all want,” UNPACU’s leader Jose Daniel Ferrer said in a statement.
“The UNPACU activists have left prison with more energy, force and motivation than they had when they were jailed.”
Cuba’s commitment to free a list of 53 prisoners was a key part of the historic deal announced on December 17 under which the Cuban and US governments agreed to renew diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of hostilities.
Most of those released over the last two days were accused of such offenses as resisting arrest and threatening police officers, and had been given short sentences of two to five years.
The hip-hop artist, Angel Yunier Remon, known as “The Critic”, was serving the longest prison term, eight years.
Remon was arrested in 2013 after painting a giant slogan, “Down With The Dictatorship!”, on the street outside his home in the eastern city of Bayamo. He staged several hunger strikes while behind bars, and said he contracted cholera due to the unsanitary prison conditions.
Reuters
