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NEWS
Cuban dissident
writer freed, joining other jailed government opponents released this
week
By NANCY SAN MARTIN, nsanmartin@herald.com, 11/30/2004 12:15 PM EST
Prominent Cuban dissident writer Raúl Rivero was released from prison
Tuesday, joining three other government critics freed this week in an
apparent move by Havana to mend relations with the European Union.
Rivero was among 75 dissidents jailed last year by Fidel Castro's
government, which accused them of working with U.S. diplomats in Havana
to undermine Cuba's communist system. Three others were released Monday,
including Oscar Espinosa Chepe, Marcelo López and Margarito Broche.
Like other dissidents, Rivero denied the charges, which also were
dismissed by the United States. But in summary trials, most of which
lasted only a day, the dissidents weresentenced to up to 28 years in
prison.
''I don't have any plans for the future,'' Rivero, 59, told the
Associated Press after he arrived at his Havana home. ``I'm still
confused.''
Rivero, who has won numerous awards for his prose, has a history of poor
health, which worsened behind bars.
His release brings to 11 the number of dissidents from the group of 75
who have been allowed to return home since June for medical reasons. All
of the releases came with a warning by authorities that the parole could
be rescinded at any time.
Castro's government has not issued any statements on the releases. But
the move followed an announcement last week that Cuba had resumed
diplomatic contacts with Spain, whose previous conservative government
had joined the European Union in condemning the arrests. Cuba broke off
contacts with EU diplomats in Havana after they began inviting
dissidents to their embassy functions.
Spain's new Socialist government of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez
Zapatero has advocated resuming a dialogue with Castro's government and
is expected to take up the issue when EU leaders meet in Brussels next
month.
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