The Cuban Communist Party is accused of treating political prisoners differently based on their international recognition: those who are unknown are quietly crushed, while public figures receive better treatment to maintain a facade for the world. This argument was presented by Cuban musician, dissident, and columnist Sayde Chaling-Chong during the "Transition in Cuba" panel discussion moderated by Tania Costa on Thursday.
"Imagine the communists making class distinctions. Well, yes, the Communist Party has class distinctions with its political prisoners," said Chaling-Chong, who joined the discussion alongside Manuel Milanés and Alejandra Franganillo.
Chaling-Chong explained the mechanism plainly: "If you're a complete nobody, if no one knows who you are, if you haven't appeared in any media, you're nothing, they crush you and make you disappear. But for people like Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, they try to take a bit more care, to treat them somewhat better, so they have those arguments."
The strategy, according to Chaling-Chong, is driven by the regime's fear of international pressure. "They are very afraid of scandals. What happened with Luis Manuel Otero and, to a certain extent, with Maykel Osorbo, is that the regime is trying to present a good image to the world, especially to the few allies they might still have, who don't like images of torture and blood, not for their ideology."
Historical Context of Political Prisoner Treatment
To show that this pattern isn't new, the panelist referred to the historical case of Armando Valladares, who was imprisoned for 22 years starting in 1960. "While he wasn't known, when Valladares began publishing his books, poetry, and stories, the Communist Party started treating him differently." Valladares endured brutal prison conditions until international attention led to his release in 1982.
In the case of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Chaling-Chong shared his experiences participating in marches in Barcelona in support of the artist and described Otero's ordeals. "I think, from a distance or directly, I suffered alongside him when he was kidnapped, when he was given electroshock, when he was drugged and shown on television."
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
The panel also discussed a legal detail revealed by Cubalex: Cuban law allows for a reduction of two months per year of a sentence for good behavior, which could have allowed Otero Alcántara an early release. However, the regime denied this. "Without opening an administrative file or any further sanction within the prison, they claimed he had gone on hunger strikes, which was considered bad behavior, thus denying him those two months per year. So he served the full five years," journalist Tania Costa commented.
The Supreme People's Court refused to apply sentence reductions in the case of the San Isidro Movement founder, as confirmed by Cubalex. Otero Alcántara was removed from Guanajay prison on July 7 by State Security agents and remained in an undisclosed location for several days until he traveled to Miami on July 18 with a humanitarian parole.
Meanwhile, Maykel Osorbo—sentenced to nine years—remains incarcerated. Cubalex reported that the regime transferred him to Guanajay on July 10 under psychological pressure, with no humanitarian parole granted for him as of Thursday, confirmed by the Observatory of Cultural Rights and Cuban activist Anamely Ramos.
During the debate, Alejandra Franganillo emphasized not losing sight of the core issue. "In reality, first, we have to be glad he got out of prison. It's five years, regardless of how he was released and all the ongoing discussions. I believe being free indeed deserves great respect."
Insights into the Treatment of Political Prisoners in Cuba
How does the Cuban regime allegedly differentiate between political prisoners?
The regime reportedly treats political prisoners based on their level of international recognition. Unknown prisoners are subjected to harsh conditions, while those with public profiles receive somewhat better treatment to maintain a positive international image.
What legal provisions exist for political prisoners in Cuba?
Cuban law allows a reduction of two months per year of a sentence for good behavior. However, this has not been applied consistently, as seen in the case of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who served his entire sentence despite potential reductions.
What historical examples illustrate Cuba's treatment of political prisoners?
Armando Valladares is a historical example, enduring brutal conditions until international pressure led to his release in 1982. His case demonstrates the regime's shift in treatment based on a prisoner's international visibility.