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Castro defends crackdown 5 years ago, exhorts US to treat inmates as well as Cuba
AP ^ | 03/24/08

Posted on 03/24/2008 9:27:03 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

HAVANA (AP) - Ailing former leader Fidel Castro made a rare mention of his government's crackdown on political opponents five years ago, defending the action and exhorting the United States to treat its prisoners with the same humanity he said Cuba uses with its inmates.

"What an enormous difference between the methods of the United States and of Cuba!" Castro wrote in an essay published Monday in state media, apparently referring to how the U.S. government treats terror suspects.

"None of the mercenaries were tortured or deprived of attorney or trial," Castro said of the 75 dissidents rounded up beginning on March 18, 2003. Cuba accused them of being mercenaries working with the United States to undermine the communist government, a charge the dissidents and U.S. officials denied.

Twenty of the original 75 have seen been released, 16 on medical parole and four into forced exile in Spain.

"They have the right to visits, access to (conjugal visits) and all the other legal prerogatives of all inmates," Castro wrote.


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: castro; communism; cubandissidents; dictators; dissidents; fidel

1 posted on 03/24/2008 9:27:05 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Oh yeah, open the doors to Holguin Prison to the Red Cross Fidel. Let’s see how Cuba treats women prisoners of conscience.


2 posted on 03/24/2008 9:31:08 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Gosh - I keep forgetting what a paradise Cuba is, and how much better off the people are under totalitarian communism as opposed to liberty and democracy.

Thanks for reminding me, Fidel.
3 posted on 03/24/2008 9:34:35 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (feh)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Castro says there was no torture of American prisoners of war in Viet Nam by Cuban guards.

John McCain (and others) say Castro is a liar.


4 posted on 03/24/2008 9:35:35 AM PDT by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: Graybeard58

Yeah. They must be referring the one the POW’s called “Fidel”...(I think)


5 posted on 03/24/2008 9:47:57 AM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

I am certain that the prisoners at GITMO receive far better health care than the average Cuban ...despite what Michael Moore says.


6 posted on 03/24/2008 11:11:08 AM PDT by The Great RJ ("Mir we bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
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