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The spring of 2003 is known as '''The Black Spring of Cuba''', when in a wave of repression unprecedented, the [[Castro]] regime put in jail 75 peaceful opponents. Many of them are still prisoners.  
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In what has been called the '''Black Spring of Cuba''', the [[Fidel Castro]] regime put in jail 75 political opponents between 18 and 20 March 2003. Many of them are still prisoners. Some have been released in return for political concessions. Spain, for example, has gained the release of some dissidents and journalists.<ref name=CPJ>{{citation
| url = http://cpj.org/reports/2008/03/cuba-press-crackdown.php
| publisher = [[Committee to Protect Journalists]]
| title = Cuba's Long Black Spring: Five years after the Castro government cracked down on the independent press, more than 20 journalists remain behind bars for the crime of free expression
| author = Carlos Lauria, Monica Campbell, and María Salazar
| date = 18 March  2008}}</ref> Using the image of their name,  a group called [[Ladies in White]] advocates for the freedom of all Cuban political prisoners.


These prisoners worked and expressed themselves peacefully to defend freedom, [[human rights]] and [[democracy]] in their country. Doctors, teachers or journalists were arrested and subjected in few days to summary trials, where they were condemned to long sentences from 15 to 28 years in prison.
According to the Castro government, these people were "threatening national security" by disseminating ideas against the [[Communist]] system. The main legal argument was: "The Cuban authorities attempted to justify the crackdown as a necessary response to United States aggression towards the island. Dissidents were convicted either under Article 88 or 91 of the Penal Code or Law 88. Article 88, the ''Ley de Protección de la Independencia Nacional y la Economía de Cuba'', Law for the Protection of National Independence and Economy of Cuba, provides stiff prison terms for those deemed guilty of supporting United States policy against Cuba. Article 91 provides for sentences of ten to 20 years or death against anyone 'who in the interest of a foreign state, commits an act with the objective of damaging the independence or territorial integrity of the Cuban state'."<ref name=AI>{{citation
   
  | url = http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/005/2004/en/117d7170-d634-11dd-ab95-a13b602c0642/amr250052004en.html
According to the Castro [[dictatorship]] these people were "threatening national security" because of disseminating ideas against the [[Communist]] system.
| publisher = [[Amnesty International]]
| title = CUBA: One year too many: prisoners of conscience from the March 2003 crackdown}}</ref>


The international public opinion claimed after this repressive action. The [[European Union]], the [[Pope]], organizations which defend human rights, as [[Human Rights Watch]], [[Reporters without Borders]] and [[Amnesty International]] - which declared these people [[prisoners of conscience]] -, intellectuals and artists condemned these arrests.
Ambassadors from the [[European Union]] (EU) were denied access to the trials. The EU  stated: <blockquote>The conduct of the trials has raised serious concerns about access to justice and the right to a free and fair trial by an impartial tribunal. The trials fell well short of international standards particularly with regard to: adequate time and facilities for the preparation of a defense and communication with the counsel of
   
defendant's choosing; fair public hearing by independent and impartial tribunal;
Everything indicates that the Cuban regime did that as an answer to the growth of the opposition groups in Cuba. Independent journalists were heard inside and outside the island; one example was the independent magazine De Cuba, launched by [[Raul Rivero]] and [[Ricardo Gonzalez]]. Also, in that time the [[Sakharov Prize]], [[Oswaldo Paya]], carried out the [[Varela Project]], the most successful initiative of the opposition that get more than 10,000 signatures on May 2002, in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba.
summary group trials each lasted on average one day; defendants were tried in
groups of approximately six, each on different charges; no independent
Five years later, still 55 prisoners from The Black Spring of Cuba remain in prison, in subhuman conditions and with serious health problems as a result of their stay in prison. Their relatives, the [[Ladies in White]], go on asking for their freedom and for the freedom of all the Cuban political prisoners.
international observers were allowed in the courtrooms; State Security filled the
courtrooms and some family members/supporters were turned away.<ref name=EU>{{citation
| title =The European Union Perception of Cuba: From Frustration to Irritation
| author = [[Joaquín Roy]]
| id = Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 3 No.2
| date = August 2003
| publisher = [[European Union]]
| url = http://www6.miami.edu/EUCenter/roy_EUCuba.pdf
}}, pp. 17-21</ref></blockquote>
 
A large number are journalists. [[Reporters without Borders]] noted that Cuba has the second largest population of imprisoned journalists, behind China.<ref name=RWB>{{citation
| title=Cuba second from last, just ahead of North Korea
  | date = 20 October 2003
| url = http://www.rsf.org/Cuba-second-from-last-just-ahead.html
| publisher = [[Reporters without Borders]]}}</ref> Independent reporting had become more available at this time, inside and outside the island. One example was the independent magazine ''De Cuba'', launched by [[Raul Rivero]] and [[Ricardo Gonzalez]]. Also at that time the [[Sakharov Prize|Sakharov Prizewinner]], [[Oswaldo Payá]], carried out the [[Varela Project]], the most successful opposition initiative, that in May 2002 collected more than 10,000 signatures in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba.
 
Human rights organizations such as [[Human Rights Watch]],<ref name=HRW>{{citation
| title = Cuba: Human Rights and US Policy
| author = Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director
| publisher = [[Human Rights Watch]]
| date = 3 September 2003
| url = http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2003/09/03/cuba-human-rights-and-us-policy}}</ref> [[Freedom House]],<ref name=FH>{{citation
| url = http://www.cubademocraciayvida.org/web/article.asp?artID=8579
| publisher = [[Freedom House]]
| date = 22 March 2009
| title = Freedom House Urges Cuba to Free Political Prisoners on Black Spring Anniversary.
| author = Laura Ingalls}}</ref> and [[Amnesty International]]<ref name=AI /> declared they were exercising reasonable democratic rights. They were arrested and subjected to summary trials, where they were condemned to long prison sentences, from 15 to 28 years.  
 
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

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In what has been called the Black Spring of Cuba, the Fidel Castro regime put in jail 75 political opponents between 18 and 20 March 2003. Many of them are still prisoners. Some have been released in return for political concessions. Spain, for example, has gained the release of some dissidents and journalists.[1] Using the image of their name, a group called Ladies in White advocates for the freedom of all Cuban political prisoners.

According to the Castro government, these people were "threatening national security" by disseminating ideas against the Communist system. The main legal argument was: "The Cuban authorities attempted to justify the crackdown as a necessary response to United States aggression towards the island. Dissidents were convicted either under Article 88 or 91 of the Penal Code or Law 88. Article 88, the Ley de Protección de la Independencia Nacional y la Economía de Cuba, Law for the Protection of National Independence and Economy of Cuba, provides stiff prison terms for those deemed guilty of supporting United States policy against Cuba. Article 91 provides for sentences of ten to 20 years or death against anyone 'who in the interest of a foreign state, commits an act with the objective of damaging the independence or territorial integrity of the Cuban state'."[2]

Ambassadors from the European Union (EU) were denied access to the trials. The EU stated:

The conduct of the trials has raised serious concerns about access to justice and the right to a free and fair trial by an impartial tribunal. The trials fell well short of international standards particularly with regard to: adequate time and facilities for the preparation of a defense and communication with the counsel of

defendant's choosing; fair public hearing by independent and impartial tribunal; summary group trials each lasted on average one day; defendants were tried in groups of approximately six, each on different charges; no independent international observers were allowed in the courtrooms; State Security filled the

courtrooms and some family members/supporters were turned away.[3]

A large number are journalists. Reporters without Borders noted that Cuba has the second largest population of imprisoned journalists, behind China.[4] Independent reporting had become more available at this time, inside and outside the island. One example was the independent magazine De Cuba, launched by Raul Rivero and Ricardo Gonzalez. Also at that time the Sakharov Prizewinner, Oswaldo Payá, carried out the Varela Project, the most successful opposition initiative, that in May 2002 collected more than 10,000 signatures in support of a referendum for democratic reforms in Cuba.

Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch,[5] Freedom House,[6] and Amnesty International[2] declared they were exercising reasonable democratic rights. They were arrested and subjected to summary trials, where they were condemned to long prison sentences, from 15 to 28 years.

References

  1. ↑ Carlos Lauria, Monica Campbell, and María Salazar (18 March 2008), Cuba's Long Black Spring: Five years after the Castro government cracked down on the independent press, more than 20 journalists remain behind bars for the crime of free expression, Committee to Protect Journalists
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 CUBA: One year too many: prisoners of conscience from the March 2003 crackdown, Amnesty International
  3. ↑ Joaquín Roy (August 2003), The European Union Perception of Cuba: From Frustration to Irritation, European Union, Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 3 No.2, pp. 17-21
  4. ↑ Cuba second from last, just ahead of North Korea, Reporters without Borders, 20 October 2003
  5. ↑ Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director (3 September 2003), Cuba: Human Rights and US Policy, Human Rights Watch
  6. ↑ Laura Ingalls (22 March 2009), Freedom House Urges Cuba to Free Political Prisoners on Black Spring Anniversary., Freedom House
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