Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Cuban dissidents want UN to monitor march on Human Rights Day
12-07-2006

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban dissident groups have written to UN chief Kofi Annan asking that he monitor a march in Havana on Human Rights Day, Sunday, to see how police and authorities react.

"We don't know what actions state security forces will take to disrupt the demonstration," Dr. Darsi Ferrer, of the National Patriotic Front, told the UN Secretary General in the letter that was also distributed to reporters.

He asked Annan "to monitor any reaction the political police might take (during the march), with the knowledge of governing authorities."

Ferrer also invited UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Caribbean regional director Hermann van Hoff to join in the march, which he said would be silent and start outside the UNESCO office.

"We hope Cuban authorities will guarantee order during the march and prevent ... state security forces from carrying out random acts to sabotage it," Ferrer said in the letter.

Since Cuban leader Fidel Castro underwent surgery, and then transferred power to his brother and defense minister Raul Castro on July 31, speculation has grown of a possible period of change in Cuban politics after more than 40 years of communism.

Dissidents, however, argue that so far, it is business as usual in Cuba.

Hector Palacios, a prominent Cuban dissident released for health reasons Wednesday after three years in jail, told reporters "nothing's happened in Cuba.

"I would even say the contrary, from the news I've heard repression is on the rise. I don't see any changes," said the member of the illegal Todos Unidos (All United) opposition group.