In an article published late yesterday, the AP reports on the Cuban dictatorship's new plan to rid the island of all prisoners of conscience.

Cuba may free more political prisoners into exile

By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ (AP) 

HAVANA — Cuba's government has contacted about a dozen islanders jailed for crimes against the shadowy state-security apparatus and asked if they would be willing to accept freedom in return for leaving their homeland, a leading human rights activist said.

If such a deal became a reality, it would mark the year's second major release of Cuban political prisoners — once unthinkable in a single-party communist state.

Why Cuban authorities have pushed to reduce the number of political prisoners is unclear, though some have speculated it may be part of an effort to promote reconciliation with the United States.

Not only is Andrea Rodriguez "unclear" as to what the motives are behind the regime's moves however obvious they may be, she also finds the release and subsequent forced exile of Cuban political prisoners "unthinkable," although it has occurred dozens of times in the past. It is as if the Cuban regime appeared out of nowhere a few months ago and has no history whatsoever.

It is apparent that neither anyone at the AP, nor in the free press for that matter, has ever bothered to read a history book or the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 9.

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 13.

• (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
• (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 15.

• (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
• (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

I am still waiting for one "news organization" and one, just one "Cuba Expert" to mention any of this, but I am not going to hold my breath.