Cuba, the regime will release 2,900 detainees Castro: “We will reform migration law”

SANTIAGO DI CUBA – Thousands of inmates will be released by the Cuban regime before the Pope’s visit, scheduled for early 2012. The government of Raul Castro has announced that 2,900 prisoners will be released, including some convicted of crimes against the “state security “. A formula that gives hope that these are also political prisoners. 86 foreigners from 25 countries were also detained.

In the official note that makes the decision known, there is no direct reference to the visit of Benedict XVI, but it speaks more generically of “numerous requests from family members and religious institutions”. The regime had released 100 detainees, after an agreement with the Catholic Church, already in 2010.

Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba has been talked about for years, but official confirmation came only at the beginning of December.

That of Benedict XVI will be the second papal visit to the island since Fidel Castro was in power. In 1998 the historic journey of John Paul II, in which the pontiff criticized the US trade embargo against the island. After that visit, 300 detainees were released, of which 101 for political reasons.

And Cuban President Raul Castro reiterated today his desire to reform (“slowly”) the migration law that places restrictions on the travel opportunities of Cuban citizens. “I confirm my desire to introduce changes in this complex problem”, said Castro during the work of the national assembly.

(December 24, 2011)