MEDIA REACTION - CUBA AND HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000574 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/CCA STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PHUM CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - CUBA AND HUMAN RIGHTS ¶1. On March 19, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 310,000) ran an editorial entitled, "Repression in Cuba." Quote: ¶2. "Three years into the biggest wave of repression against dissidents, the situation has worsened for the opponents of the Cuban Communist regime.... There are currently 333 political prisoners in Cuba, an increase of 39 since 2004, and no human rights organization can protect their rights. It is worth noting that even though violations are multiplying, there is no death toll, which would be counterproductive to the regime in that it would arouse international wrath. Fidel Castro does not respond positively or negatively to these facts. He simply remains silent. It is surprising that most democratic countries do the same." KELLY