Report examines Cuban human rights

There’s been a recent decrease in Cuban political prisoners but state repression continues according to a report from a human rights group based on the island.

The Cuban Commission for Human Rights study on 2007 said that there were 82 fewer political prisoners since Raul Castro took over in July 2006. Nevertheless, the group claimed that there has been no improvement in Cuba’s human rights record during Raul’s rule:

"This sort of provisional government has done nothing to change the very bad situation of civil, political and economic rights that has exited in Cuba for more than four decades," the commission said, adding that authorities still deny freedom of expression, assembly and travel…

"Through its enormous repressive apparatus, the Cuban government continues to silence dissident voices and employs all forms of intimidation against militant opponents or ordinary citizen who speak out," the group said.

On a related note, journalism watchdog group Reporters Without Borders demanded the prompt release of 24 journalists jailed in Cuba.

Sources- Reuters, Reporters Without Borders, pr-inside.com, The Latin Americanist

Image- BBC News (“Cuban government supporters (R) chant pro-revolutionary slogans as a group of political prisoners' wives known as Ladies in White (L) march in Havana.”)