CUBA. DEATH PENALTY OPPONENTS ENCOURAGED BY NO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN PRISON UPRISING CASE

August 30, 2007: four men involved in a prison uprising that killed two military officers have been spared the death penalty, an encouraging sign for opponents of capital punishment, according to Elizardo Sanchez of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation. Sanchez said that relatives of the accused reported that two life sentences and two 30 year sentences were handed out for involvement in the Dec. 20 uprising at the El Manguito prison just outside the eastern city of Santiago.
Cuba's government has released no documents or reports about the uprising or the trial, which reportedly was carried out by a military tribunal in June. "We hope this is a good sign for 50 or so people currently on death row" or who face a possible death sentence. Capital punishment in Cuba is always carried out by firing squad. (Sources: HDnews.net, 30/08/2007)