Cuban political prisoners taste freedom

Two Cuban political prisoners embrace upon their arrival into Canada Tuesday

'I am a free man'

April 6, 1998
Web posted at: 4:23 a.m. EDT (0923 GMT)

TORONTO (CNN) -- Twelve Cuban political prisoners whose release was sought by Pope John Paul II tasted freedom for the first time Tuesday after they were flown to exile in Canada.

The tired and drawn prisoners, accepted by the Canadian government after weeks of security and background checks, were joined by more than a dozen of their family members.

Most had been serving sentences ranging from four to 15 years for offenses such as "enemy propaganda" and "rebellion."

"It is nice that I am a free man," said Armando Alonso Romerow, 43, who arrived alone but said his wife and children were living in Miami.

Pope John Paul II appealed for clemency for the prisoners during his visit to Cuba in January

Many of the exiles expressed their gratitude to the pope who had called for clemency of the prisoners during his historic trip to Cuba in January.

Cuba agreed to release them on the condition they leave the Communist-ruled Caribbean island.

"It was a good decision for Canada and the pope," said Dr. Omar del Pozo Marrero, a well-known political dissident who had been serving a 15-year jail term. "This is a condition for liberty."

The Canadian government originally announced it would accept 19 Cuban "prisoners of conscience." But Elizardo Sanchez, head of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, said the Canadian authorities have since rejected five of the 19 because of the violent nature of their offenses, including hijacking and unspecified terrorism charges.

Rosalina Gonzales Lafita, who spent 10 years in prison after she and her son stole a plane to win their freedom, said she was almost not accepted.

"I don't know anywhere else to go but Toronto," she said.

Del Toro is greeted by his family in Havana

Cuba urged to release more

Among those at the Toronto airport to greet the exiles was Ismael Sambra, who came to Canada 10 months ago and wanted to come to the airport to show his support.

"Cuba is a big prison. Everybody is in prison. It is a slow death," he said.

Sanchez, the human rights activist, applauded the release of the prisoners, saying, "I think it's a humanitarian gesture on the part of the Canadian government and we now hope our government will continue the process of prisoner releases.

But he also said he opposed the exiling of Cuban prisoners. "Our position is to seek the unconditional freedom of all political prisoners," he said.

Added Edelberto del Toro Argota, one of the exiles who will spend the rest of his life away from his homeland: "I am leaving because I cannot live in peace here. I am going so I can work and support my family."

Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman and Reuters contributed to this report.

Related story:

• Cuban political prisoners leaving for exile in Canada - April 5, 1998

Special Sections:

• The Papal visit to Cuba

Related sites:

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• Government of Canada Primary Internet Site
• Cuba News - Noticias by CubaNet News.

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