Human Rights Watch released a new report on the current Castro regime in Cuba. This 123 page report, entitled “New Castro, Same Cuba” exposes Raul Castro to be just as repressive as Fidel while attempting to strengthen rather than dismantle the current system. Despite a lack of government cooperation, and citizens living in fear of telling their stories, HRW was able to gather 60 interviews from 7 of the 14 provinces in Cuba. This report shines a light on some of the biggest challenges to freedom in Cuba today.
Perhaps the most disturbing facet of this report is the more than 40 cases cited where people have been sentenced for “dangerousness” – a law that allows individuals to be arrested before they commit or plan a crime. The individuals targeted by the enforcement of this law come from a range of different professions and backgrounds. It is also considered “dangerous” to run or work for a private business that is not specifically recognized by the state, or to choose not to work for official government employment. This means that despite meager government wages, individuals do not have the opportunity to generate their own income any other way.
The report also mentions a number of cases where critics of the Castro government were threatened, beaten or imprisoned simply for verbalizing their views. One of the most notable examples of this involves blogger Yoani Sanchez, who reported that she was beaten by state officials because of the content on her alternative blog. At the time of the attack she was on her way to attend a march against violence.
According to HRW’s research, individuals in Cuba are much less likely to be able to gain employment unless they belong to the official government-run workers union, the CTC. Oftentimes, employers check with police and government agents to learn the ideological and political views before hiring potential employees. The report also cites numerous examples of employees being fired because of their political views, or their lack of “correct” political views in the eyes of the state. This means that, along with deterrence based on violence and imprisonment, individuals in Cuba have yet another reason to abandon their quest for fundamental freedoms – economic necessity.
The “New Castro, Same Cuba” report outlines the legislative foundations of repression and shows how they have become institutionalized over the years. One specific example is the law that allows the government to refuse legal status or to disband any association that could prove damaging to the “social interests” of the state. Among other things, this resulted in Human Rights Watch being “unable to document a single local civil society organization that expresses dissent—including alternative political parties, human rights groups, independent labor unions, journalist associations, and other groups—that has received approval from the state to operate.” This law ensures that those types of associations will never have a place in Cuban society as it stands today.
Published Date: November 24, 2009