People carry an image of Cuba's president Raul Castro at the May Day parade in Havana's Revolution Square May 1, 2013. REUTERS\/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA - Tags: POLITICS) (ENRIQUE DE LA OSA) <\/p>\n
GENEVAThe Castro government's easing of foreign travel restrictions on Cubans has not led to greater freedoms on the island, a leading dissident said on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
Elizardo Sanchez said 19 opposition activists had been allowed to leave since a new exit policy was introduced on January 14. Dozens more would go in the next few weeks, he said. <\/p>\n
But the Communist government, in power since 1959, was keeping strict control on dissident voices at home, he said. <\/p>\n
\"They calculate it will be freedom of expression for people outside <\/p>\n
Elizardo Sanchez, spokesman for the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, talks to reporters during his arrival at Laura Pollan house in Havana October 15, 2011. REUTERS\/Enrique De La Osa ( Enrique de la Osa \/ Reuters) <\/p>\n
A total of 92 political prisoners were currently held in Cuban jails, which the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed visit since 1989, he said. A further 350 were held in short-term detention on political grounds. <\/p>\n
Sanchez is president of the Havana-based independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights and for years has been one of the most prominent opposition figures tolerated by the government. <\/p>\n
President Raul Castro has introduced some economic and other reforms since taking over Cuba's leadership from his brother Fidel in 2008 but they have stressed it will not stray from the revolutionary path. <\/p>\n
Sanchez, who said he had spent nearly 12 years in jails and was on his first foreign trip in more than a decade, said he worried he would face reprisals when returned to Cuba in June. <\/p>\n
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Freedom of speech still elusive for Cubans despite easier travel<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" People carry an image of Cuba's president Raul Castro at the May Day parade in Havana's Revolution Square May 1, 2013. Continue reading