The Cubans refused. despite the fact that Americas Watch has a clear record of opposing human rights violations by rightwing regimes throughout Latin America. Americas Watch went ahead and investigated anyway. based on the best available information. This is the way its report summarized the state of human rights in Cuba today: "At least 250 longterm political prisoners are confined in Cuban prisons under brutal conditions. many after their original sentences had been completed. "1500 to 2000 former political prisoners languish as pariahs in Cuban society. denied decent work and respect. longing to leave. "Freedom of expression does not exist. "Civil liberties do not exist. "Deviations from socially accepted norms. such as homosexuality. are extremely circumscribed and in some cases are not tolerated. "No human rights monitoring group is able to operate in Cuba. and international human rights groupssuch as Americas Watchare not permitted to visit to conduct inquiries." (The report also strongly criticized the Reagan administrations hardline posture in refusing to process immigration visas for the 1500 to 2000 former political prisonerswhom the Cubans have agreed to allow to leave the countryuntil Cuba also takes back some of the hardened criminals sent to the U.S. during the Mariel boatlift.) This is not a right wing group. This is a legitimate group looking at human rights in Cuba. I go on to quote from the article by Sol Stern: The writer of the report was Gregory Wallance. a New York attorney. human rights activist. and exVillage Voice contributor.
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immigration visas