Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 November 2010.

Cuba

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 10 November (WA 77), whether the Government of Cuba have released the remaining 13 political prisoners by their self-imposed deadline of November; and, if not, what further representations they will make.

Answer: Of the 52 political prisoners the Cuban Government undertook to release in their announcement in July, 40 have now been released. The most recent prisoner released, Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique, was the first to be able to remain in Cuba on parole (licencia extrapenal) without conditions. We understand that another of the group, Luis Enrique Ferrer, is due to be released in the coming days and to travel to Spain. The remaining 11 awaiting release want to stay in Cuba. In addition to these, 14 other prisoners not included in the list of 52 have been released and travelled to Spain, including the only other Cuban prisoner recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, Rolando Jimenez Posada. The UK and our EU partners continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with the Cuban Government, the Cuban Catholic Church and the families of the prisoners. We will continue to encourage Cuba to fulfil its commitment to release these individuals and to allow released prisoners to remain in Cuba if they so wish.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4241; 722 c430WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Cuba
Friday, 21 January 2011
Written questions
House of Lords; Cuba
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Political prisoners Prisoners' release Cuba
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk