Raul Rivero

The freeing of Rivero and four other political prisoners appears aimed at showing Spain's new socialist government that Fidel Castro's communist regime is willing to clean up its human rights record to help thaw its icy relations with the rest of Europe.

Rivero, 59, was among 75 dissidents rounded up in a massive crackdown in March 2003, and had been sentenced to 20 years on charges of working with the U.S. government to undermine Castro's government.

Also freed Nov. 30 was opposition party member Osvaldo Alfonso Valdes, 39, who was among the original 75 and had been sentenced to 18 years.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 11, 2004
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