Cuba News and Information

Received by email from CubaStudyGroup.org:

Please join the Council for a discussion on prospects for Cuba with Cuban dissident and former political prisoner Hector Palacios. Please note that the presentation will be in Spanish without interpretation.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 from 2:00 to 3:30pm at Council of the Americas

Suite 250
1615 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

REGISTRATION BY EMAIL: – Program# 1410393

INFORMATION: Stephanie Akers – (202) 659-8989; Website – http://www.counciloftheamericas.org

From a recent news article about Mr. Palacios:

In a press conference given by Felipe Pérez Roque, Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations, on the trials and convictions of 75 Cuban dissidents, Mr. Palacios was condemned for allegedly having “official status” at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and distributing to other dissidents money that illegally entered Cuba. He has received a 25 year sentence based on these charges as well as for housing an independent library the regime has labeled subversive and counterrevolutionary. Mr. Palacios was imprisoned for 3 years in the Kilo 5 ½ prison in the Pinar del Rio province in Western Cuba. He was released for health reason in December 2006 and was sent Spain where he underwent medical treatment. Mr. Palacios and his wife Gisela plan to return to Cuba to continue their fight in June of this year.

In a letter to his wife, Gisela Delgado Sablón, in May 2003, Mr. Palacios wrote, “… fighting for what is just is the only way to experience happiness.” Ms. Delgado has joined with wives of other political prisoners to publicly protest the unjust imprisonment of their husbands.