Is Castro Getting "Soft"?

at 7:42 PM Saturday, October 10, 2009
The much-anticipated reforms of Raul Castro seem to be really intensifying now.

Just last week, Castro released human rights advocate, Angel Luis Santiesteban, from prison after serving only 5-months (of a 6-month sentence) for purchasing a wheelbarrow in the black-market.

Before you know it, it'll be free speech and multi-party elections.

Sarcasm emphasized, but unfortunately the following is tragically all-too-real:

Freed from prison for wheelbarrow purchase

HAVANA, (Doralis Álvarez, Cubanet) – Human rights advocate Ángel Luis Santiesteban has been released from prison a month before completing a six-month sentence for the alleged illegal purchase of a wheelbarrow.

"The political police wanted to jail him for his work in favor of human rights," said colleague Martha Díaz Rondón. "For that reason they took away his small tile factory and left him without source of income."

Santiesteban was tried and sentenced without legal on April 13. He was released September 28.

He's a member of the Cuban Human Rights Foundation and is an activist in democratic activities in Banes in Holguín province.