Cuba arrests Ladies in White

The 'Damas de Blanco,' a group of Cuban women seeking the release of political prisoners, held a protest in front of Raúl Castro's office Monday.

from the April 22, 2008 edition

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But critics say they have little faith that real political change is under way, as long as freedom of expression is restrained.

On April 16, an article called "There will be no space for subversion in Cuba," appeared on the website of Cuba's state newspaper, Granma, and left no room for doubt about the government's view of political opposition. "There is no space," it reads, "for adversaries, fifth columnists, or internal mercenaries."

Jose Agramonte Leyva, a political dissident who spent three years in jail as part of the independent library movement, says that the Raúl Castro administration might have to find ways to justify imprisonment, but that those who wish to speak outside the government line will be just as much at risk and considered lackeys of the US – a label he disdains.

"I want to fight for justice here; until we have free elections we will have no liberty," he says. "All I want is to sit at my table and eat a piece of meat peacefully."

In the past five years, 20 of the 75 dissidents have been released from jail. Pollán, who sometimes has 25 women sleeping in her home, says that even though her husband remains in jail, she is hopeful.

On their fifth anniversary, when they marched for five consecutive days, they handed out popcorn in bags with the number "55" written on them – for those who are still behind bars. Not all accepted the gifts, but most did – a move that might be meaningless in a more open society but is telling in Cuba, she says.

"The more time passes, the worse it will be for the government," she says, pointing to a tiny statue of Santa Rita on her bookshelf. She's the saint of the "impossible," she says. "There is, every day, more solidarity. One way or another, it is a slow awakening."

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