U.N. report criticizes arrests of dissidents in Cuba

[Osolomia]

U.N. report criticizes arrests of dissidents in Cuba as 'unprecedented wave of repression'
Tuesday February 17, 2004
By NAOMI KOPPEL
Associated Press Writer

GENEVA (AP) The Cuban government's imprisonment of 75 dissidents is an ``unprecedented wave of repression'' in the country, a United Nations official said.

In a report produced for next month's annual session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Christine Chanet noted that the dissidents were tried and criticized their convictions within weeks or days of their arrests last year and the fact that the trials were closed to the public.

... ``There was an unprecedented wave of repression in March and April 2003 in Cuba, on the pretext that American interests were taking an active role among political opponents in Havana,'' Chanet said.

She noted that Cuba continues to suffer from the ``disastrous and persistent'' effects of the U.S. economic embargo that has been in place for more than 40 years.

``The extreme tension between Cuba and the United States creates a climate that is unfavorable to the development of freedom of expression and assembly,'' she said.

``U.S. laws and the financial support given to 'the building of democracy in Cuba' make political opponents on the island look like sympathizers with foreigners.''

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http://cbsnewyork.com/international/UN-Cuba-Detentions-ai/resources_news_html