DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246667
TITLE=CUBA DISSIDENTS SENTENCED (L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  CUBA'S GOVERNMENT HAS SENTENCED FOUR HIGH-PROFILE 
DISSIDENTS TO JAIL TERMS AFTER A TRIAL THAT GENERATED PROTESTS 
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS
FROM MIAMI, THE SENTENCING SERVES AS THE LATEST INDICATION OF A 
RENEWED DETERMINATION BY CUBAN AUTHORITIES TO CRUSH INTERNAL 
DISSENT. 

TEXT:  CUBA'S GOVERNMENT SENTENCED VLADIMIRO ROCA TO FIVE YEARS 
IN PRISON.  TWO CO-DEFENDANTS RECEIVED FOUR-YEAR PRISON TERMS, 
AND A THIRD WAS SENTENCED TO THREE AND A HALF YEARS BEHIND BARS.

KNOWN AS 'THE GROUP OF FOUR,' THE DISSIDENTS ANGERED CUBAN 
AUTHORITIES IN 1997, WHEN THEY PRINTED A DOCUMENT -- TITLED 'THE 
FATHERLAND BELONGS TO ALL' -- CRITICIZING ONE-PARTY RULE AND 
URGING POLITICAL REFORM.  THEIR TRIAL ON MARCH FIRST FOLLOWED 20 
MONTHS OF DETENTION.

CUBAN PROSECUTORS HAD REQUESTED STIFFER SENTENCES FOR THE 
DEFENDANTS THAN THOSE HANDED DOWN MONDAY.  RELATIVES OF THE 
DEFENDANTS HAD HOPED THE DISSIDENTS WOULD BE RELEASED OR 
SENTENCED TO HOUSE ARREST.  NOW, THEY SAY THEY WILL APPEAL THE 
SENTENCES AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, THE VATICAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE 
URGED THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO FREE THE 
DISSIDENTS.  BUT CUBAN AUTHORITIES APPEAR DETERMINED TO TAKE A 
HARD LINE AGAINST ITS CITIZENS WHO OPENLY CRITICIZE THE ISLAND'S 
COMMUNIST SYSTEM.  LAST MONTH, CUBA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
ESTABLISHED STIFF FINES AND LONG JAIL SENTENCES FOR THOSE 
CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTING TO UNDERMINE THE GOVERNMENT OR 
COLLABORATING WITH CUBA'S FOREIGN ENEMIES.  CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL
CASTRO SAYS THE PENALTIES ARE NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD THE ISLAND'S 
INDEPENDENCE.

BECAUSE THE FOUR DISSIDENTS COMMITTED THE ALLEGED ACTS OF 
SEDITION PRIOR TO THE NEW LEGISLATION'S ENACTMENT, THEY WERE 
SENTENCED ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS, MORE LENIENT, GUIDELINES.

ALREADY, FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS ARE CRITICIZING THE TRIAL'S OUTCOME.
CANADA HAS LONG PURSUED A POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH HAVANA.  BUT 
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN SAYS HE WILL REVIEW 
BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH CUBA IN LIGHT OF THE CARIBBEAN NATION'S 
TREATMENT OF THE DISSIDENTS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/WTW

15-Mar-99 8:26 PM EST (0126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.