CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS: NOT A NUMBERS GAME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HAVANA 000657

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2017
TAGS: PHUM CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS: NOT A NUMBERS GAME


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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Buddy Williams; Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (SBU) Summary: The dissident "Cuban Commission on Human
Rights," run by Elizardo Sanchez, published a periodic
listing of political prisoners July 6, which all
international media headlined as "Number of Political
Prisoners in Cuba Decreases." The number cited was 246, down
from 283 when the report was last issued, roughly a year ago.
Elizardo Sanchez's report adds that Cuba still has the
highest number of political prisoners per capita in the
world, and that human rights conditions in the country are
still abysmal. We would add that part of the reduction in
numbers is attributable to one former prisoner (Miguel Valdes
Tamayo) dying soon after he was released, and another who
died in captivity last month. Recently released prisoner
Jorge Luis Perez Antunez was evicted from his home this past
week. Dissident leader Martha Beatriz Roque has been
outspoken regarding Antunez and on the plight of political
prisoners in general. We agree with her main point, that the
overall reduction in numbers is not a sign of any softening
of Castro totalitarian rule. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The report by Elizardo Sanchez says that there are
currently 246 political prisoners in Cuba. This number
reflects a downward trend from two years ago, when it was at
330, and last year when it was 283. Sanchez's record-keeping
on political prisoners is a respected point of reference.
The new report indicates that prison conditions are still
deplorable and that 246 political prisoners is still higher
than any country in the world, measured on a per capita
basis. Sanchez also indicates that the overall number of
prisoners in Cuba is on a downward trend as well--from
roughly 100,000 to 80,000, with a 15-20 percent margin of
error.


3. (SBU) Among the individuals accounting for the decrease is
Manuel Acosta, a 47-year-old former boxer and member of a
dissident group known as Democracy Movement. He was arrested
June 21 in the town of Aguada de Pasajeros on vague political
charges and found dead three days later, according to letter
distributed to international media by a dissident human
rights group. Authorities told Acosta's relatives that he
hanged himself in his cell, and that an autopsy confirmed
suicide. But Acosta's cousin became suspicious after
officials refused to turn over Acosta's remains, saying they
needed at least 60 days to process them. The cousin said a
cleaning lady working at the jail told family members that
while in custody, Acosta yelled anti-government slogans and
insults at police, provoking a fight with an officer. During
the altercation, the witnesses said, the officer's watch was
broken, prompting a group of police to swarm in from their
nearby living quarters and beat Acosta. This testimony made
its way to independent and international media last week,
prompting dissidents to call for a thorough investigation.
Independent journalist Guillermo Farinas told us Acosta never
had any suicidal tendencies, and believed that he was beaten
to death while in captivity.


4. (SBU) Jorge Luis Perez Antunez, who was released in April
after serving 17 years in prison, found himself evicted from
his home during the week ending July 6. He reacted by going
on a hunger strike, which was reported in the independent
media. Martha Beatriz Roque (MBR) visited Antunez on Sunday,
July 8 and prevailed upon authorities in Placetas, Villa
Clara Province, to find another place for him to live, which
she told us was obtained, even if the structure they found
was in deplorable condition. She also said she talked him
out of continuing his hunger strike, which she described as
"counterproductive." MBR drafted a public letter July 2 to
respond to an initiative by National Assembly member and
musician Silvio Rodriguez who urged bringing music and
culture into prisons. MBR's response, signed by 50 leading
dissidents, said that the initiative was ridiculous; what was
needed was to improve conditions in prison and release
political prisoners, since they didn't belong there in the
first place.


5. (C) Comment: Elizardo Sanchez, who in 2004 accepted an
award from the GOC, is not entirely trusted by the rest of
the dissident movement, or by ourselves for that matter. But
we repeat: His record-keeping on political prisoners is
better than anyone else's, so is accepted as a respected
point of reference. What Sanchez, MBR, Oswaldo Paya and
other dissidents all agree on is that the reduction in
numbers does not reflect any improvement in the overall human

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rights situation in Cuba. This is not a set of statistics or
events that leads us to conclude that: (1) Raul Castro's rule
is more benign than Fidel Castro's; or (2) Engagement with
the regime will get prisoners freed. All of the ones
released were at the end of their sentences in any case; and
laws are still in place to arrest anyone for peaceful
political speech or for "dangerousness," a catch-all category
that allows police to take someone off the streets
arbitrarily.
PARMLY