IMMINENT RELEASE OF PROMINENT CUBAN POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000159 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY DELETING SECSTATE AS INFO ADDEE DEPT FOR WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017 TAGS: CU PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SUBJECT: IMMINENT RELEASE OF PROMINENT CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS Classified By: COM: M.E. Parmly : For reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: The Spanish Ambassador to CUBA has confirmed reports from reliable contacts in Cuban civil society and the media that the government of CUBA has arranged for the release of four political prisoners. Sources say an announcement of their release may happen momentarily and their transfer to Spain could take place as early as February 16. The prisoners involved are Pedro Pablo Alvarez. Omar Pernet Hernandez, Alejandro Gonzalez Raga and Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo. All of these prisoners are among the 75 leading oppositions jailed in the crackdown of ¶2003. The Spanish Ambassador states that the prisoners were granted asylum in Spain and that family members will be permitted to travel with them. The Spanish press announced that the number of prisoners to be released could be as high as seven. End summary. ¶2. (C) Noted opposition leader Martha Beatriz Roque (MBR) contacted POL off on the evening of 14 February to say that she had credible information that a deal had been worked out between the governments of Spain and CUBA to release four political prisoners and to allow them to relocate to Spain. All of the prisoners are part of the 75 prominent dissidents arrested in a crackdown on opposition leaders in 2003. Initially she had the names of three of the prisoners scheduled for release. These are: Pedro Pablo Alvarez, of the Consejo Unitario de Trabajadores and a close associate of Oswaldo Paya; Omar Pernet Hernandez of the Movimiento Nacional por los Derechos Humanos; and Alejandro Gonzalez Raga, of Paya's organization, Movimiento Cristiano Liberacion. ¶3. (C) On the morning of 15 February POL off spoke with Mauricio Vicent, Havana based reporter for the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Vicent stated that he heard "a very strong rumor" of the pending release of the same three prisoners as well as a fourth whose name was unknown. He said that some of the relatives of these prisoners were providing this information. Vicent stressed that these reports have not been verified. ¶4. (C) POL off spoke to Elizardo Sanchez, of the Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN),who said that he had reports from several sources that four to six political prisoners would be released and flown to Spain. In addition to having the same three names listed above, Sanchez said that Jose Luis Garcia Paneque and Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo could be released. Sanchez said that he had very reliable information that all of these prisoners were transferred to the same jail in Havana where they were still in custody. CCDHRN is watching these events closely and, if the release occurs, intends to release a strong statement that this is a manipulative act on the part of GOC and once again demand the release of all those unjustly imprisoned. ¶5. (C) MBR called USINT stating that the government of Spain would make a public announcement at 11:00 AM Havana time that the three prisoners she had named earlier as well as Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo would be released today. When this did not occur, MBR called back stating a First Secretary at the Spanish Embassy told her that the announcement was postponed because the Spanish Minister Moratinos wants to personally make the statement. MBR said that the First Secretary told her that the four prisoners will travel by SIPDIS plane to Spain this weekend. ¶6. (C) Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ("Antunez") told USINT that Omar Pernet's sister Marisel said that this week she was told to bring to the prison in Santa Clara a suitable set of clothes because officials were bringing Pernet for a medical check up. However, authorities told the family nothing about any pending release. Pernet is confined to a wheelchair. Pernet is the uncle of Antunez's sister. ¶7. (C) COM confirmed through the Spanish Ambassador to Cuba, Carlos Alonso Zaldivar that the four prisoners named by MBR will be traveling on 16 February to Spain. The four are described as in varying stages of poor health. The Ambassador stated that the prisoners themselves requested asylum in Spain and their request was granted. The Ambassador stated that family members will be allowed to travel to Spain with the prisoners. ¶8. (U) In the afternoon of 15 February the news service EFE reported that Cuban authorities announced the release of the same four prisoners as well as three others of the group of 75 whose names were not given. ¶9. (C) Post is following rumors that the prisoners were told that they had to go to Spain as a condition of release and that the possibility of relocating was not discussed with family members. Post will continue to monitor events. PARMLY