Cuba releases prisoners under scrutiny of rights groups
Cuba began releasing prisoners from prisons just hours after the communist-run government announced a sweeping amnesty that coincided with the most intense U.S. repression campaign in decades.
More than 2,000 prisoners are scheduled to be released from Friday as part of the biggest amnesty in 10 years, called a “sovereign and humanitarian” gesture by Cuba’s state media.
The United States said it was closely monitoring whether people it considers political prisoners would be among those released.
The issue of political prisoners has long been a major sticking point in negotiations between Washington and Havana. The release of all or the majority of political prisoners would be seen as a major concession for Cuba’s role in ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
By Friday morning, a steady stream of men and women appeared to be leaving La Lima prison in Guanabacoa, just outside Havana. Reuters interviewed several people pardoned for crimes ranging from theft to bribery, but none were involved in anti-government political protests.
A man convicted of theft shouted “Long live freedom” while hugging his sister who was waiting for him in front of the prison gate. Others left more quietly, some in tears, holding a single white paper stating that the reason for their discharge was amnesty.
The Cuban government has consistently rejected any suggestion that it would make the decision under US pressure.
State media reports summarizing Thursday evening’s announcement made no mention of either the United States or the Vatican, which had been involved in previous pardons.
Human rights groups, some funded by the U.S. government, say Cuba is holding hundreds of political prisoners, estimates vary, and promise to scrutinize the prisoner release process.
Cuba has repeatedly denied holding political prisoners. Island officials say those imprisoned during anti-government protests have been found guilty of crimes such as disrupting public order, resisting arrest, robbery and vandalism.
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, a Madrid-based group that receives U.S. funding, said as of midday Friday that it had not yet recorded the release of any so-called “prisoners of conscience.”
Cuba does not generally publish a list of the names of prisoners released during such amnesties, further complicating verification by human rights groups.
Sources told Reuters that many prisons around Havana and elsewhere in Cuban provinces have begun releasing inmates.
In late 2015, the Cuban government pardoned 3,522 prisoners during a warming of U.S.-Cuban relations under then-President Barack Obama, coinciding with Pope Francis’ visit to the island.
Cuba released 51 prisoners in accordance with an agreement with the Vatican in March.
Human rights groups said some, but not all, of those released last month were among those they considered political prisoners.
