Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / AMERICAS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Friday, 23 July, 2004, 01:51 GMT 02:51 UK

Cuban dissident economist freed

Martha Beatriz Roque Cuba has freed Martha Beatriz Roque, a prominent opponent of Fidel Castro, on health grounds.

The 58-year-old economist was the only woman in a group of 75 people arrested in a crackdown on dissent last year.

Ms Roque is the seventh of the group to be freed in recent weeks. She had been serving a 20-year sentence.

After her release, she pledged to work for the freedom of all political prisoners in Cuba, saying: "I will fight for them".

She was arrested in March 2003 and later convicted of conspiring with the US against Cuba.

She was found guilty - among other things - of creating a website that reported on Cuba's worsening economic situation.

Image problem

A year ago Ms Roque was moved to a military hospital, and was reportedly suffering from high blood pressure and chest pains.

Six other dissidents - all of whom have health problems - have been released since early June.

She says she had no idea she was going to be released. Guards at the military hospital simply told her to pack her bags. Minutes later she was driven home, to be greeted by her surprised family.

She says she believes her release was entirely due to her failing health.

Ms Roque said that she had not accepted any conditions for her release, and paid tribute to international campaigning on her behalf.

"I thank the exile community and the international community because I am convinced pressure on the Cuban regime has achieved this," she said.

Diplomats in Havana have said Cuba is keen to avoid the international criticism that would follow should any opponents of the regime die in jail.

Fidel Castro's communist government launched a crackdown on dissidents said to be "counter-revolutionaries" in March 2003.

The campaign prompted international condemnation.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Two more Cuban dissidents freed (25 Jun 04  |  Americas )
Cuban dissidents freed from jail (10 Jun 04  |  Americas )
Cuba urged to release dissidents (04 May 04  |  Americas )
Cuba jails blind dissident lawyer (27 Apr 04  |  Americas )
Timeline: Cuba (15 May 04  |  Country profiles )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Cuban government
UNHCR
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©