repression in Cuba

According to The NY Times, change is happening in Cuba:  “Within Cuba’s Revolution, Glimmers of Tolerance for Voices of Dissent”

“Glasnost it is not, say Cuban intellectuals and analysts. But glimpses of candor in the official news media and audacious criticism from people who, publicly at least, support the revolution suggest widening tolerance of a more frank, if circumscribed, discussion of the country’s problems.

“There is more space for debate,” said Armando Chaguaceda, a Cuban political scientist and blogger who lives in Mexico. “People are more outspoken.””

Dios mio!  How did I miss that one?

I am sure that these new “glimmers of tolerance” will come as a shock to “Las Damas en Blanco” and other dissidents in the island.

Perhaps they need to get a complimentary subscription to The NY Times to read about all of these “glimmers of tolerance”.

Of course, the “glimmers” do come with a few limitations, as you read further in the article:

“There are still limits. While the government preaches frankness, it continues to crush opposition, and those who step over the fickle line between loyal criticism and dissent risk ostracism, loss of employment, harassment or jail.

The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, an independent group that tracks treatment of activists, said there were 761 short-term arrests of dissidents in November, one of the highest figures in the past two years.

And in October, five independent journalists were detained for several days, according to Reporters Without Borders.

“It’s ambiguous,” said Mr. Chaguaceda, the political scientist. “It depends who you are, how you say things, where you say them.””

Maybe it depends on what the definition of  “glimmer” is!    It always does in Castro’s Cuba!

In the meantime, “Las Damas” will march on Sunday and see no “glimmer” that the harassment and name calling have disappeared.

No “glimmering” for “Las Damas” this Sunday!   It’s another repressive Sunday in Cuba for them!