Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Watchdog: Raúl Just as Bad as Fidel

He shares his brother's disregard for human rights

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2009 2:45 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – The perception that Cuba is less repressive under Raúl Castro than Fidel is false, Human Rights Watch says. Dissidents are still harassed by the state, subject to arbitrary detention—532 such cases in the first half of 2009 alone—fired. or denied work. The government also continues to pressure friends and family into cutting contact with suspected dissidents.

"Castro inherited a system of abusive laws and institutions," says the report. "Rather than dismantle this repressive machinery, Raúl Castro has kept it firmly in place and fully active.'' HRW urges the Obama administration to lift the US embargo but lead a multinational effort to improve conditions, reports the Miami Herald.

Cuba President Raul Castro.
Cuba President Raul Castro.   (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
Cuba President Raul Castro, right.
Cuba President Raul Castro, right.   (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
Cuba President Raul Castro attends the 50th anniversary of creation of the Ciudad Escolar Libertad school complex, or Liberty School City, in Havana, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.
Cuba President Raul Castro attends the 50th anniversary of creation of the Ciudad Escolar Libertad school complex, or Liberty School City, in Havana, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Vladimir Molina, Prensa Latina)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
waloki
Nov 19, 2009 12:58 PM CST
Cuba will be the 51st state by 2020.
Jes
Nov 19, 2009 2:37 AM CST
I'm not saying it's a good or bad thing, FTM, I'm professing ignorance.here. Cuba/US relations aren't a huge deal here in the midwest and I have a somewhat limited historical perspective of it because of my age. I don't think the embarge is helping things, but the tone of the article implied that if only they traded with us conditions would improve, and I'm not sure how that would work. I don't think there is really anything we could do to effect their political system other than waiting out the Castro-douches.
emptycalm
Nov 19, 2009 2:28 AM CST
"Castro inherited a system of abusive laws and institutions," says the report. "Rather than dismantle this repressive machinery, Raúl Castro has kept it firmly in place and fully active.'' I hate to side with the idiots here but this sounds exactly like Obama with Bush!

 
human rights • Fidel Castro • Cuba • economic sanctions • Raul Castro • human rights abuse

More Newser Stories

Europe Votes to Lift Cuba Sanctions

Bush Unloads on Burmese Junta

Cuban Reforms May Endanger Classic US Cars

Jimmy Carter Lands in Cuba

Castro: I Actually Quit in 2006
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne