Statement by the SI Executive on Cuba

The Executive of the Socialist International denounces as inadmissible and unjustifiable the severe judgements passed this week by the courts in Cuba against nearly eighty non-governmental, civic and social leaders as well as intellectuals and human rights activists whose crime was to hold opinions different from the government’s.

The Executive condemns these repressive measures which sentence the accused to fifteen, twenty and twenty seven years in prison to silence people who, in a peaceful and non-violent way, were expressing their dissent and legitimate opposition to the Cuban regime.

The SI Executive calls on the Cuban authorities to end this wave of repression which takes place at a time when worldwide attention is focused on the war in Iraq, and appeals for the release without delay of all those detained.