Cuba's Raul Castro has kept the system his brother Fidel used to repress critics, refusing to free scores of people imprisoned years ago and jailing others for "dangerousness," Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today.
The assessment comes at a critical moment, as president Barack Obama says he wants to "recast" ties with Cuba and Congress is considering lifting a ban on US travel to the Communist-run island 90 miles from Florida.
Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul in July, 2006 and formally stepped aside as president last year because of illness.
Raul Castro has relied in particular on a Cuban law that lets the state imprison people even before they commit a crime, Human Rights Watch said.
The group documented more than 40 cases under Raul Castro in which Cuba has imprisoned individuals for "dangerousness" because they sought to do things such as stage peaceful marches or organize independent labor unions.
In addition, 53 prisoners who were sentenced in a 2003 crackdown on dissidents under Fidel Castro are still in jail, the report by the global human rights monitor said.
Systematic repression has created a climate of fear among Cuban dissidents, and prison conditions are inhumane, said Human Rights Watch, whose researchers traveled to the island in June and July for their report.
It said imprisonment is only one of many intimidation tactics used. "Dissidents who try to express their views are often beaten, arbitrarily arrested, and subjected to public acts of repudiation."
In one recent well-publicized example, Cuban dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez said she was beaten this month by men she thinks were state security agents.
The independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights estimated earlier this year that Cuba has 200 political prisoners. It says the government now favors brief detentions over long sentences because they intimidate without damaging Cuba's image abroad.
Human Rights Watch said a multilateral approach was needed to pressure the Cuban government to improve its rights record.
The United States has restricted trade and travel with Cuba since the 1960s in what started as a Cold War policy to isolate Fidel Castro. The policy was maintained, with some exceptions, even as much of the rest of the world opened up to Havana in recent years.
President Obama has taken steps to slightly ease the embargo as well as reopen dialogue with Havana. But he also called on its government to reciprocate by freeing detained dissidents and improving human rights.
Raul Castro has ruled out any unilateral political concessions or any shift toward capitalism.
Human Rights Watch said the United States should end its "failed embargo policy" which it said has enabled the Castro government to get sympathy abroad.
But before changing that policy the United States and its allies in Europe and Latin America should first agree to demand the immediate release of Cuban political prisoners, it said.
After six months, if the Castro government does not respond, countries should impose joint punitive measures on Cuba, the report said. It suggested travel bans and asset freezes on Cuban government officials, or withholding new forms of foreign investment.
Reuters