Amnesty names 5 Cuban as ‘prisoners of conscience

HAVANA – Amnesty International has designated five Cubans detained by the island’s government as “prisoners of conscience” and is calling for their immediate release.

The New York-based human rights watchdog highlighted the cases of Rafael Matos Montes de Oca, Emilio Planas Robert and brothers Alexeis, Diango and Vianco Vargas Martin.

Javier Zuniga is special adviser for Amnesty. He said in a statement that their detentions were “only the tip of the iceberg for Cuba’s repression of free speech.”

Cuban officials deny holding any political prisoners. The government and its supporters call dissidents “mercenaries” who take foreign money to try to undermine the island’s Communist system.

In recent years Cuba has cleared its prisons of internationally recognized prisoners of conscience.

Activists say authorities have turned to brief detentions instead.