The Cuban government began moving political prisoners to jails closer to their homes yesterday in a modest humanitarian gesture promised in recent talks with the leader of Cuba's Catholic Church, human rights advocates and church officials said.
Family members said they hoped the transfers were a first step toward freedom for some of the island's 190 imprisoned dissidents.
The Catholic Church said in a statement that six men, who were among 75 government opponents jailed in a 2003 crackdown, were in the process of being transferred to prisons nearer their families in various Cuban cities. Another move was confirmed by the prisoner's family, bringing the known total to seven so far.
Families of the jailed dissidents had complained that it was difficult to visit them in distant prisons.
It was not known how many prisoners would be moved, but Elizardo Sanchez of the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights said as many as 17 have been in jails far from home.
President Raul Castro promised the moves in a May 19th meeting with Cardinal Jaime Ortega, in what was seen as a concession ahead of a mid-June visit by Vatican foreign minister Dominique Mamberti.
Catholic officials said Mr Castro also pledged that ailing prisoners would be moved to hospitals. At least 26 prisoners are said by human rights advocates to be in ill health.
Some reports said Mr Castro indicated an unknown number of prisoners may be released, but the government has only confirmed that he met Cardinal Ortega.
Reuters