Cuba has signaled that it will free all its political prisoners and let them stay on the island in a bold attempt to repair Havana’s ties with the international community.
Senior officials said the recent release of 15 prisoners would be followed by dozens more and the dissidents would be free to stay, should they wish, or they could emigrate.
The announcement was followed by another public appearance by former Cuban president Fidel Castro, who on Saturday attended a ceremony honoring comrades killed at the outset of his revolution more than half a century ago.
The 83-year-old wore an olive-green shirt and state media referred to him as “commander in chief,” emphasizing his continued influence despite being sidelined by a health crisis in 2006.
Castro’s return to the limelight has coincided with the recent prisoner releases, part of a Vatican-brokered deal in which the communist government promised to free 52 of 75 detainees jailed in a 2003 crackdown.
Last week Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon, went further and said it was the government’s wish “to free all the people” on condition they had not been accused of murder.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Switzerland, Alarcon said the released men would not be forced into exile.
“In Cuba there are people who have been freed from prison several years ago and who stayed in their homes. As in this case,” he said.
Western diplomats in Havana said authorities were taking brave, pragmatic steps.
“It shows the government is willing to change course,” said one. “Whether it is linked to a wider process, time will tell.”
Spain has urged the EU to reward Havana with diplomatic and economic concessions.
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